Second Lieutenant Robert Craigan
Robert Craigan and his twin brother John were born on 10 June 1891 at Magherascouse, Newtownards, County Down, the last of four children of National School teacher John Craigan and his wife Eliza (nee Mulholland). Educated at Belfast Mercantile College, on the outbreak of war he was working as a warehouse assistant for the firm John Lytle & Sons Ltd., Victoria Street, Belfast.
Craigan enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 20 August 1915 (No.1721 – later Corps of Hussars No.71520). He embarked for France on 22 March 1916, where he was posted to A Squadron, joining it in the field at Humbercourt a few weeks later. On 4 June 1917 he was appointed to the post of unpaid acting lance corporal.
On 31 May 1917 Craigan applied for a commission in the infantry, with a preference for the 12th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. In a letter dated 13 June 1917 fellow Horseman Thomas Morrow wrote:
How did Ballygowan go? I suppose it was as good as ever, a lot of people there. Bob Craigan was just speaking to me about it, a day or two ago, ... he is just after coming in to tell me that he is going home for his Commission in about a week, but I knew he had his papers in and was expecting to hear of it any time, so he is leaving me anything that he doesn't require. he will be up at our house, as soon as he gets home, so you can look out for him, he is glad to get a run home, he is good crack if you get him started.
I'll miss him here, as I have seen him pretty regular lately, he and Billy Duff, and Billy Gordon were great pals as he knew Duff well, being about the Islands [in Strangford Lough] so much with Miss Wilson. they are both in this Squadron with Officers Major & Captain.
Craigan left France at the end of June and after a short period of leave, on 3 July reported for duty at the 25th Reserve Brigade at the Curragh. He began his officer training at No.17 Officer Cadet Battalion at Rhyl on 9 November 1917. After several months he was assessed as having a good education, and fair military knowledge and power of command and leadership. "Inclined to be slow. Physical Training and Topography weak. Has shown improvement in general work. A good type of cadet."
On 1 May 1918 Craigan was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and posted to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was posted to the 1/8 Battalion, joining it in France in September or October 1918. (The battalion had arrived in France from Italy on 19 September.)
He saw action in the last weeks of the Advance to Victory offensive. On 23 and 24 October the 1/8 Battalion took part in an attack on Pommereuil (east of Le Cateau, France) and the territory beyond it. Although successful, they lost 58 other ranks killed, wounded or missing, and three officers wounded. It is likely that Craigan was one of the three officer casualties. On 24 October he was admitted to a Red Cross hospital in Rouen suffering from a head wound.
Craigan recovered, and was demobilised on 12 April 1919. He relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921. After the war he returned to business in Belfast. In 1925 he was appointed manager of the Ulster Automobile Club, the local branch of the Royal Automobile Club, serving in that role for many years until his retirement.
He died at Belfast on 25 September 1980.
His name is included on the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Roll of Honour: 1914-1919.
Ballymena Weekly Telegraph 26 December 1925
Ballymena Weekly Telegraph 13 February 1926
Belfast News-Letter, 4 February 1939
First image sourced from the blog of Neil Craigan here.
This page last updated 8 September 2025.