William Bogan

Died of Wounds on the 29/08/1917 in No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Remi Sidings (Lijssenthoek)

The Battalion was formed at Omagh in October 1914 and came under command of 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division. William's older brother Thomas James Bogan died 13 days earlier (7th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) and is remembered on the Addenda panel on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He was only added here on the 15/06/2009. He died on the opening day of the Battle of Langemarck (16 - 18 August 1917) with William falling later on from wounds received in the battle. This was a phase of the Battles of Ypres (Third Ypres), 31st July - 10th November 1917 : The British finally got what they had wanted since 1914 : the opportunity to attack at Ypres and breakout of the confines of the salient of trenches around it. Often known as the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British, at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY AUGUST 1917. Thomas is NOT on the Coatbridge Memorial although he is listed as living in Coatbridge (see photo). The brothers joined up together. Thomas' Service number was 29399. William and his brother Thomas' Pension was awarded to their mother Mary then their sister Miss Mary Agnes Bogan of 28 Kildonan St, Coatbridge then Canada. For another view of William's grave see photos. Both brothers are remembered on the St. Patrick's Church (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, William's Army Register of Soldiers Effects, William and Thomas' Service Medal and Award Rolls, William and his brother Thomas James' names on the Ireland Casualties WW1, William's brother Thomas James, William's Headstone Report x 2, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cap Badge, William's and his brother Thomas' Pension Records x 4 and family information from the St. Patrick's Roll of Honour book x 3. William's Grave Inscription reads "YOUR BODY MAY MINGLE IN FOREIGN CLAY BUT IN OUR THOUGHTS EVER YOU STAY". Finally, see photos for Thomas James Bogan's Medal Index Card and his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, a map of the gradual eastwards advance from Ypres, PHOTOS x 15 FROM THE IRELAND'S UNKNOWN SOLDIERS BOOK (Terence Denham book on the 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War), the 16th (Irish) Division Order of Battle x 14 and Newspaper clippings x 7 regarding William and his brother Thomas (Belfast Newsletter x 1, Londonderry Sentinel x 2, Strabane Weekly News x 1, Strabane Chronicle x 1, Derry Journal x 1 and the Northern Whig (Co. Antrim) x 1).