William Regan (1893-1942)
Miner from Byers Green served with Royal Field Artillery in Macedonia
Submitted by R C Regan:
William Regan, a miner from Byers Green, served as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery in Macedonia from 1915 to 1918 before being invalided home.
He enlisted on 3 Sept 1914 and, after training, was assigned to the 68 Field Artillery Brigade, attached to 13 Division. The division sailed for Egypt in mid-June 1915 where half the artillery, including 68 Brigade, disembarked in Alexandria before the rest of the division went on to Gallipoli.
In October 1915, 68 Brigade was sent to Macedonia to join 10 Division as the nucleus of the British Salonika Force.
William served with his brigade at the battle of Kosturino Ridge in December 1915 and in a number of other significant actions in the Struma Valley in 1916 and 1917. During his service he was gassed by Bulgarian gas shells and contracted malaria. In January 1918 he was admitted for treatment for recurring malaria and was eventually invalided home and discharged from the army in October 1918.
After the war he returned to being a coal miner, married and raised three children. However the damage to his health forced him out of the mine. Unable to find work he eventually moved his family to London.
In November 1942 he was working as a nightwatchmen in an engineering works when he suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 49.
Please note that a full and detailed account of William Regan’s life and military service entitled “We Shall Remember Them” can be found as “Supporting Material” at the bottom of this page.
Civil Parish: Byers Green
Birth date: 1893
Death date: 1942
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: North Street, Byers Green (1911 census)
Employment: Coal conveyor lad at Patent Ovens (cokemaking) (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Thomas Regan, Mary Jane Regan
Siblings: Jane Ann Regan, Elizabeth Ann Regan, Frederick Regan, Thomas Regan, Olive Regan (died in infancy), Doris Regan (died in infancy), Joshua Regan (died in infancy), Thomas Regan (died in infancy), Albert Regan (died in infancy)
Medal(s): 1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Silver War Badge
Gender: Male
Contributed by [email protected], Perth, Australia
