Private George Hagan

George Hagan (or Haggan) was born on 4 September 1896 at Coagh, Cookstown, County Tyrone, the first of six children of car-owner Thomas Hagan and his wife Minnie (née Bryson). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Ballinderry Street, Coagh, with his parents and five sisters and working as a car-driver.

Hagan enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Coagh on 30 January 1914 (No.893). He was mobilised following the declaration of war, but on 17 October was admitted to Belfast Military Hospital suffering from conjunctivitis in both eyes, a complaint he said he had been subject to all his life.

Following a report by a medical board, on 10 November 1914 Hagan was discharged as permanently unfit for military service (paragraph 154(xi) Special Reserve Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'very good'.