An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | vEtERAn'S nEWS vEtERAn'S nEWS vEtERAn'S nEWS By CARolInE CARR, DonEgAl CoUnty MUSEUM WWI Hero Remembered: Pte James Duffy VC (1889-1969) O n 23rd november 2017, in letterkenny, Co Donegal, an Ulster history Circle blue plaque dedicated to Pte James Duffy vC (1889-1969) was unveiled by his daughter, Mrs nellie o'Donnell. James Duffy was born in Gweedore, Co Donegal, on 17th November 1889 and as a young baby was brought to live in Letterkenny. He was working at Brown's Shipyard in Glasgow when war was declared in August 1914. Aged 25, he enlisted in the army on Decem- ber 1st 1914 and was posted to 6th Battalion, Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers, 31st Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division. The battalion was sent to Gallipoli, then to Egypt, and in September 1917 took part in the British invasion of Palestine. In 1917, Pte Duffy was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the defence of Jerusalem. His citation, which appeared in the London Ga- zette on 27th February 1918 read: 'For most conspicuous bravery at Kereina Peak, Palestine on 27th December 1917, displayed whilst his company was holding a very exposed position. Private Duffy, a stretcher-bearer and another stretcher-bearer went out under heavy fire to bring in a seriously wounded comrade. When the stretcher-bearer was wounded, James returned again to get another man. Both men went forward into the line of fire and the relief stretcher-bearer was killed. Private Duffy then went forward alone, and under heavy fire succeeded in getting both wounded men under cover and attended to their injuries. His gallantry undoubtedly saved both men's lives, and throughout he showed an utter disregard of danger under heavy fire'. In early summer 1918, he was trans- ferred to the regimental depot and on July 25th King George V presented him with his VC at Buckingham Palace. James, the only WWI VC recipient from Co Donegal, also received the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, the British Victory Medal (1914-1918) and the 1937 King George VI Coronation Medal. After the war James returned to Letterkenny where he married Mag- gie Hegarty in 1919 and worked at loop fishing and drain digging. He and Maggie, who died in 1944, reared eight children. James died on 7th April 1969 at his home in Drumany and is buried in the Conwal Cemetery, Letterkenny. At the unveiling, Chris Spurr, chair- man of the Ulster History Circle said, "James Duffy made a long journey from his birthplace among the hills of west Donegal to the mountains of Palestine, and it was there that his valour brought him lasting honour. One hundred years after Private Duffy won the Victoria Cross, the Ulster History Circle is delighted to commemorate this heroic soldier with a blue plaque in Letterkenny. The Circle would like to thank the Ulster-Scots Agency for their financial support towards the plaque, and Donegal County Museum for their assistance." After the unveiling, a reception was held in Donegal County Museum, at which there was a short talk on Pte Duffy VC and a poem commemorating him was read. Replicas of Pte Duffy's medals are now on display in Donegal County Museum along with those of Capt Henry Gallagher DSO, who was com- missioned into the Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1914. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme all of Capt Gallagher's fellow officers were killed or wounded dur- ing the advance, and as he carried on with his platoon he shot a number of German snipers who were firing on the wounded. After he reached his objective, with only nine of his platoon still with him, Capt Gallagher went back into no man's land to collect the wounded, in- cluding an officer he carried back to his own lines. Two nights later, a search party he formed rescued a further 28 men from no man's land. Capt Gallagher was recommended for a Victoria Cross but did not receive it as 36th Division had received its quota and was instead awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was killed at Messines Ridge on 7th June 1917 while leading his men in action.

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