| Matthew Hagan was a son of William and Matilda Hagan. William James Hagan married Matilda Sands in the Cookstown District on 2nd August 1876.
|
| Matthew was born on 13th May 1893 in Coagh.
|
|
| The 1901 census lists Mathew as age 6, living with the family at house 12 in Great Georges Street, Coagh. His father was a carpenter, his elder brother a carter.
|
| Matthew Hagan was educated at Tamlaght National School, Coagh.
|
| Family: William Hagan, Matilda Hagan, James Hagan (born 24th May 1877), Henry Hagan (born 28th April 1882), Thomas Hagan (born 16th August 1884), Mary Sands (born 26th January 1887), Lizzie Hagan (born about 1889), Robert Hagan (born 24th February 1889), Samuel Hagan (born 22nd May 1891), Mathew Hagan (born about 13th May 1893), David George Hagan (born 4th October 1895), Sarah Anne / Sissie Hagan (born 29th November 1897).
|
| The 1911 census lists Mathew as age 18, living with the family at house 21 in Great Georges Street, Coagh. He is described as a fowl dealer.
|
| Before Matthew enlisted in Antrim he was employed by his brother John in the fowl and egg business in Coagh.
|
| Matthew Hagan joined the North Irish Horse in the early months of the war, and after training in Antrim, went to France, where he took part in some heavy engagements for 18 months.
|
|
| Private Hagan was invalided home suffering from pleurisy.
|
| After spending some time in Hilden Hospital in Belfast, and visiting his parents, he returned to his unit and volunteered again for overseas service.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd December 1916:
|
|
| Trooper Matthew Hagan, of the North Irish Horse, has been home on furlough with his parents, who reside at Aughavey, Coagh. Although over 15 months in the shell swept area, he is in good health and spirits. On Monday evening a large number of his friends and old chums met at his brother’s residence to bid him goodbye, prior to his departure. After a sumptuous supper, songs and dancing were indulged in until a late hour.
|
| Matthew Hagan’s medal card records that he was a Private with the North Irish Horse (No. 1480), the Staffordshire Yeomanry (No 71398) and the Corps of Hussars (No 71398).
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th January 1918: Coagh
|
|
| Privates Thomas Creighton, Joseph Curry, James Mitchell, of the Inniskillings, and Trooper Matthew Hagan and Thomas Collins, North Irish Horse, spent Christmas with their friends at Coagh.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 19th January 1918: Coagh
|
|
| Trooper M Hagan, North Irish Horse, spent the week in Coagh before going out with a draft from Antrim Camp, which left for Egypt on Tuesday.
|
| In January 1918 he was transferred to the Staffordshire Yeomanry.
|
| Private Matthew Hagan contracted malaria while serving in Palestine and died on 17th October 1918, aged 24.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th October 1918:
|
|
| HAGAN – 71398 Private Matthew Hagan, Staffordshire Yeomanry, died 17th October from malaria, contracted while serving with his regiment in Palestine, the seventh beloved son of William and Matilda Hagan, Aughavey, Coagh, County Tyrone, aged 24 years.
|
|
'Far away from all who loved him
|
|
Soldiers gently laid him to rest
|
|
In a heroes grave he lies sleeping
|
|
One of God’s brightest and best
|
|
As He rose again he shall also rise
|
|
From the quiet bed where he now safely lies
|
|
Cheer ye fond mourners who sadly weep
|
|
For happy are they who in Jesus sleep"
|
| Deeply regretted by his sorrowing parents, brothers and sisters.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st October 1918: Private Matthew Hagan
|
|
| Private Matthew Hagan, Staffordshire Yeomanry, son of William Hagan, Aughavey, Coagh, who has died from malaria while serving. The sad intimation was conveyed to his sorrowing parents on Monday in a wire from the Record Office, York, saying he was dangerously ill, and even then high hopes were entertained for his recovery, but the sad news came on Tuesday saying he had died of malaria on 17th October. The deceased was only 24 years of age. He joined the North Irish Horse in the early months of the war, and after training at Antrim he went to France, where he took part in some heavy engagements for eighteen months. He was invalided suffering from pleurisy, and after spending some time in Hilden Hospital, Belfast, and a visit to his parents, he returned to his unit and volunteered for foreign service. In January last he was transferred to the Staffordshire Yeomanry. Before he enlisted he was employed by his brother John in the fowl and egg business in Coagh, and made hosts of friends, not alone in Coagh, but in all the district for miles around, who now extend their sympathy to his grief-stricken parents, brothers and sisters.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th November 1918:
|
|
| HAGAN – A tribute of love and respect to the memory of 71398 Trooper Matthew Hagan, Staffordshire Yeomanry, died of malaria 17th October1918.
|
|
‘Though in the fray, we pass the vale of death,
|
|
And those we love are call to yield their breath;
|
|
Since Jesus lives, our spirit calmly saith – Thy will be done.
|
|
Now he sleeps, calmly sleeps,
|
|
While the days and the years go by;
|
|
Let him sleep, calmly sleep,
|
|
Till the call of the roll on high.’
|
| Ever remembered by his loving friends.
|
| Trooper Matthew Hagan is buried in Beirut War Cemetery.
|
|
| Matthew Hagan is commemorated on Coagh War Memorial.
|
| A memorial to the men of the North Irish Horse can be found in Belfast City Hall, Matthew Hagan is named there.
|
|
|
