Peter Nolan was the son of Martin and Bridget Nolan. Peter’s father was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Peter Aloysius Nolan was born on 27th June 1890. He was the second youngest of five children, all born in Omagh. By 1901, his father was acting sergeant, in charge of the barracks at Stewartstown. Peter Nolan also became a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary in May 1910. Peter joined the Irish Guards on 13th January 1915. Lance Corporal Nolan arrived in France with the Irish Guards on 17th August 1915. In 1916 Peter Nolan was awarded the Military Medal for his exploits on 15th September 1916. Sergeant Peter Nolan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards when he killed on 27th November 1917. In 1918 Sergeant Nolan was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Further Information
Peter Nolan was the son of Martin and Bridget Nolan. Martin Nolan and Bridget Owens were married on 6th September 1886 in the district of Fermanagh.
Peter’s father, Martin Nolan, was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Peter Aloysius Nolan was born on 27th June 1890. He was the second youngest of five children, all born in Omagh.
Known family: Martin Nolan, Bridget Nolan, John James Nolan (25th December 1888), Peter Aloysius Nolan (born 27th June 1890), Anna C Nolan (born 7th June 1892), Patrick J Nolan (born 11th August 1894), Martin Leo Nolan (born 2th June 1897).
The 1901 census lists Peter A as age 10 living with the family at house 1 in Hill Head, Stewartstown, County Tyrone. His father was Acting Sergeant, in charge of the barracks at Stewartstown.
Peter Nolan, like his father became a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary in May 1910.
The 1911 Census does not list Peter as living with the family at house 15 in Gortmore, Omagh, County Tyrone.
The 1911 Census lists Peter A as age 20, lodging at barracks in Watergate Street, Navan, County Meath. His previous occupation is listed as solicitor’s apprentice.
After serving in Navan, he was transferred to Belfast in October 1912.
1915
Peter Aloysius Nolan joined the Irish Guards on 13th January 1915.
Lance Corporal Nolan arrived in France with the Irish Guards on 17th August 1915.
1916
In 1916 Private (?) Peter Nolan was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette dated 9th December 1916).
1917
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th January 1917:
Sergeant Peter Nolan, Irish Guards, son of Mr Martin Nolan, Woodview Terrace, Omagh, has been awarded a bar to the Military Medal which he won on the 15th September last for bravery on the field. Sergeant Nolan is the only man in the battalion to gain this double decoration. He was formerly employed as a law clerk in Omagh, but joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.), and was stationed at Musgrave Street Barracks, on the outbreak of the war.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 6th November 1917: Gallant Irish Guardsman
Sergeant (Acting Company Sergeant Major) Peter Nolan, Irish Guards, has been awarded a second bar to his military medal for gallantry in the field last month. The captain of his company was killed after the battalion went over the top, the other officer was wounded son afterwards, but Sergeant Nolan took charge and led the company to their final objective, which was one and a quarter miles from the starting point. He had his equipment smashed to pieces, his rifle broken in his hand, yet he luckily escaped without a scratch. Sergeant Nolan, is a son of Mr Martin Nolan, Woodview Terrace, Omagh, and was serving in the R.I.C. at Musgrave Street Barracks, Belfast, before he volunteered. He won the Military Medal for a brilliant exploit in September 1916, and the first bar in December last.
Sergeant Peter Nolan was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards when he was reported missing, presumed dead, on the 27th November 1917.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 29th December 1917: Military Medal Reported Missing
Mr Martin Nolan, Woodview Terrace, Omagh, has been officially informed that his son, Sergeant Peter Nolan, Irish Guards, has been missing since 27th November, this soldier, who was formerly a constable in the R.I.C. at Musgrave Street, Belfast, won the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry in September 1916, and in December of the same year was awarded a bar to the Medal, while on 9th October last he gained the further distinction of a second bar for gallantry and resourcefulness in leading his company in their objective after his captain had been killed and other officers wounded.
1918
In 1918 Sergeant Peter Nolan was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette dated 4th March 1918).
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 7th March 1918: Heroic Deeds Described
It is officially announced that his Majesty the King has been pleased to award Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) to the undermentioned: 6484 Sergeant P A Nolan, Irish Guards (Omagh)
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He rendered valuable services to the only surviving officer of his company in consolidating the captured position. Later, he was instrumental in re-establishing a position which was very heavily shelled. He set an excellent example of courage and fearlessness.’
Later, Sergeant Nolan was officially declared dead (on 27th November 1917) in a letter dated 20th August 1918.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 21st October 1918: Tribute to Omagh Guardsman
Mrs Nolan of Woodside, Omagh, wife of Mr Martin Nolan, ex-sergeant R.I.C., has received a bequest of £50 from the estate of the late Captain the Honourable H A V S Harmsworth, M.C., of the Irish Guards, who died of wounds received at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. This sum was left by Captain Harmsworth in his will to the recipient’s son, the late Sergeant P A Nolan, who fell in the same battle. The late Sergeant Nolan, before volunteering, was serving in the R.I.C. at Belfast. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field in September 1916, when the late Lieutenant Colonel Eric Greer, a Tyrone officer in the Guards, wrote to his father congratulating him on his son’s bravery. In March 1917, he was awarded a bar to his Military Medal and in Octoberr 1918, he was awarded the D.C.M.
Memorials
Sergeant Peter Nolan D.C.M., M. M., has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval in France.
Sergeant Peter Nolan D.C.M., M. M., has no known memorial in Ireland.
The CWGC record Sergeant Peter Nolan D.C.M., M. M., as the son of Martin and Bridget Nolan of Woodview, Omagh. He is recorded as having enlisted from the Royal Irish Constabulary.
NOTE No information available on the Bar for the Military Medal. The newspaper reports are confusing and contradictory. Only one award for the Military Medal can be found in the London Gazette. Only one Military Medal card can be found.
