Pte Bernard Duggan

Bernard Duggan was originally from Lacken, Co. Mayo, Ireland, and joined the Irish Guards during the first world war - enlisting at Ballina, Co. Mayo.

The Irish Guards were stationed at Warley Barracks, and there is where Bernard found himself training by January 1916.

At a little after 10am on Saturday 8th January 1916, Bernard was part of a group of soldiers being trained how to fire rifle granades. One of these granades failed to explode and had been prepared to be reused, but again failed to go off. Bernard and two other soldiers, Dominick Doyle and Richard McEvoy, approached to see what was wrong and were quickly shouted at to stay back - but it was too late. The granade exploded, killing McEvoy instantly and leaving the other two fatally wounded.

The three men were buried at Lorne Road Cemetery on 12th January 1916. Each coffin was placed on a gun carriage draped with the Union flag, with the cap, belt, and sticks of each soldier on top. A large number of locals and soldiers turned out to pay their respects - so many that entry to the churchyard itself was restricted only to soldiers.