Bridge of Weir
Memorial

SGT PETER CALLIGAN R.G.A.

21812 Sergeant Peter John Calligan, MM

23rd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

died of wounds 16th August 1916

aged 30


Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l'Abbe
St Machar's Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir



Torr Bothy, Bridge of Weir
Son of John Calligan and Mary Ann Thow
Husband of Euphemia Currie Boyd

His Life

Peter John Calligan was born on 8th October 1885 at 32 Nelson's Lane, Dundee, the second of a family of ten born to John Calligan, from Dundee and Mary Ann Thow, from Brechin, Forfarshire (now Angus) who had married in Dundee on 21st April 1884. John was a potato merchant's labourer when Peter was born.

In 1891 John (29), Mary (28), and four of their children Bella, Peter, James and Maggie were living in 237 Blackness Road, Lochee, Dundee, Forfarshire. John was a labourer. The family took in a boarder, Mary Jane Clark (18), a weaver from Montrose.

In 1901 the Calligan family was living at 6 Ford's Lane, Liff and Benvie, Forfarshire. John was a market gardener, Isabella a jute weaver, Peter John (15) a greengrocer's message boy and James (aged 11) a half-time millworker. Margaret was at school.

By 1911 Peter (25) had left the family home and was working as a domestic gardener and living on his own in Torr Bothy, Bridge of Weir. The rest of the family, now of nine, were in 184 Perth Road, Dundee. John was employing staff in his market garden business, Margaret was a hessian weaver in a jute mill, and Charles was an apprentice gardener. James and Margaret were no longer in the family home.

Peter, although resident in Bridge of Weir, enlisted at Dundee in September 1914 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA), perhaps after transferring from 2nd Battalion, London Scottish. Heavy Batteries of the RGA were equipped with 60 pounder (5 inch) guns, although some still had obsolete 5 inch howitzers. Large calibre high explosive shells were despatched in fairly flat trajectories. As British artillery tactics developed, the Heavy Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, stores, roads and railways behind enemy lines.

Corporal Calligan's Medal Index Card does not record when he first joined the theatre of war but he was not awarded the 1914 -15 Star. The 23rd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, to which Peter was posted, was raised for the 23rd Division but left and moved independently to France in September 1915. In November it became part of XXII HA Brigade.

Peter married Euphemia Currie Boyd, dressmaker, and daughter of John Boyd, a horse dealer, and Margaret Dunlop, Graham Terrace, Stewarton, Ayrshire in the Established Church of Scotland Manse, Stewarton on 7th June 1916. Peter was described as a gardener, presently Corporal, Royal Garrison Artillery. His father John was by then a fruit merchant.

Peter died of wounds on 16th August 1916 leaving a widow barely two months' married. He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery between Amiens and Albert in northern France, established in May 1916 and used by the 36th, 38th and 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Stations. The date and location of his burial suggests he was in the Battle of the Somme when he was wounded.

Peter Calligan is the only one of the 72 men on Bridge of Weir WW1 memorials to have received an award for bravery. The Military Medal was established on 25th March 1916 as the Other Ranks and NCO equivalent of the Military Cross. Peter's award was first published in the London Gazette on 22nd August 1916, within a week of his death.

Siblings

* = not in John and Mary Ann Calligan's family home - see text for details

Sources

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Scottish National War Memorial
• Wasted Journey, The Buddies who never came back. Paisley Library. 940.467; PC17430: O/S
• Peter John Calligan birth certificate, 8th Oct. 1885. Regd. St Peter Dundee 23rd Oct 1885.
• 1891 UK Census: Parish: Liff, Benvie and lnvergowrie; ED:5A; Page:6; Line:11; Roll: CSSCT1891_97.
• 1901 UK Census: Parish: Liff and Benvie; ED:15; Page:17; Line:2; Roll: CSSCT1901_91.
• 1911 UK Census:
  • Parish: Kilbarchan; Ward: Bridge of Weir; Parish: Kilbarchan & Bridge of Weir. Page 1; line 7. 559/0B 005/00 001.
  • Parish: Dundee: Ward: Second; Page 11; lines 16-23. 282/01 010/00 011
• Peter Calligan and Euphemia Boyd marriage certificate, 7th June 1916. Regd. 8th June 1916, Stewarton, Ayrshire
• Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
  o 19th September 1914: ROLL OF HONOUR: Peter Calligan, Torr, 2nd London Scottish.
• St Machar's Church of Scotland Death and Interment Register:
  o Calligan, Peter; Sergt, R.G.A.; Torr Hall Gardens; Died of wounds in France. Undated. Inserted between Aug 7 and Oct 24 1916.
• London Gazette:
  o Supplement: 22nd August 1916: War Office, 23rd August 1916: His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men: [list includes] 21812 Cpl. P. Calligan, R.G.A.
• Edinburgh Gazette:
  o Supplement: 24th August 1916: War Office, 23rd August 1916: His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men: [list includes] 21812 Cpl. P. Calligan, R.G.A.
• The People's Journal, Saturday, August 26, 1916. p7
  Sergeant's Death
  News reached Dundee on Tuesday of the death from wounds of Sergeant Peter J. Calligan, of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Sergeant Calligan was in his 31st year, and was the oldest son of Mr John Calligan, market gardener, 186 Perth Road, who has other [sic] two sons in the army - Corporal James Calligan, with the armoured car section of the R.G.A. in France; and Private David Calligan, recently invalided home from the front after six months' service with the Black Watch.
  This is the first break in the family's fine record, and a feature which makes the sad news all the more distressing is the fact that he was home on leave only two months ago, when he was married. He was wounded soon after his return to the front, and death took place at the Casualty Clearing Station on 16th inst.
  Sergeant Calligan was a Reservist, and for a year after the outbreak of war was engaged drilling recruits in England. He was a popular instructor, and deep sympathy will be expressed for his wife, who resides at Bridge of Weir. Before re-enlisting Sergeant Calligan was engaged as gardener at Torrhall there. Sergeant Calligan was recommended for distinction for gallant work under heavy shell fire.
• Medals: Military Medal, Victory, British War.

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