CORPORAL 2413 FRED GALLAGHER, 1/6th BATTALION WEST RIDING REGIMENT.


 CORPORAL 2413 FRED GALLAGHER, 1/6th BATTALION WEST RIDING REGIMENT. DIED 19th DECEMBER 1915 AGED 24





At 5.30am on the 19th December 1915 ‘A’ Company of the 1/6th West Riding Regiment were in a position known as Hulls Farm, near to the village of Brielen, north west of Ypres. Most of the men were asleep in dugouts when a sentry noticed a gas cloud coming from the German lines. As the alarm was raised men began to reach for the recently issued smoke helmets which afforded some protection against asphyxiate gas. In reality the helmets were pieces of linen formed into a hood, soaked in various chemicals and equipped with two glass eye holes and a rubber mouth piece which allowed exhalation. As the men prepared to move away from the position a stretcher bearer noticed Corporal Fred Gallagher lying on the floor of the trench. Fred was wearing his helmet but a small bullet hole could be seen above the eye piece of the helmet and further investigation revealed an exit wound at the back of his head. As other man came to assist, Fred was found to be dead and a small calibre revolver found next to his body.

A few days later a court of enquiry was convened to investigate the circumstances of Fred Gallagher’s death and after hearing the evidence of several witnesses concluded that death was self inflicted. The court noted that the revolver was not a service type and his possession of it was unexplained it was also surmised that inhalation of gas had effected Fred very badly and he had shot himself.

Fred Gallagher was born in Skipton in 1892 the son of John and his wife Elizabeth. His father died in 1899 and Elizabeth and her 6 children moved to live with her mother who owned a drapers shop on Sheep Street in the centre of the town. After leaving school Fred worked as a weaver and in his spare time was a territorial soldier in the local 1/6th West Riding Regiment. He was also a noted rugby player and joined Ilkley RUFC.

The War Office did not report Fred’s death for several days although reports and speculation about his passing where noted in the local Skipton newspapers before official news was given to his family. It is not known if his family were aware of the circumstances of his death as  reports note that he was killed accidently and it seems possible that his suicide was hidden from the family.

Today Corporal Fred Gallagher lies in the British Military Cemetery at Talana and he is remembered with pride on the war memorial at Skipton and the Roll of Honour at Ilkley RUFC.

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