Person:Patrick Hagerty (3)

Patrick was born in the district of Clonmellon, in the union of Delvin, in county Westmeath, Ireland. He died before any of his grandchildren were born, so is remembered only through anecdotes passed down.

One of his daughters reminisced of a loving ‘Pa’ who, on bath night, sat each of his little ones on his knee in turn and told them a story, after they had been bathed by their mother. She also recalled his teasing sense of fun.

Patrick drove a motor car, and was a skilled horseman. He also played the banjo in a band.

His son Arnold could never speak of him without tears welling up. On those occasions when he did briefly talk about him, he always recalled an incident from his childhood: the two of them were walking together along a street near their Everton home one cold, rainy day, when they came by a demobbed soldier, sitting on his haunches, and shivering because he had no coat. Patrick immediately took off his own coat, gave it to the chilled man, and walked on with his son.

Patrick fought in World War One from start to finish. Along with "all the lads” around Delvin, Westmeath, he had volunteered: they believed that “if they all gave England a hand the war would be over in a couple of weeks”. Being skilled with horses, he joined the Royal Artillery as a gunner. According to Arnold he used to say that volunteering was “the most stupid thing he ever did”. He talked of the dreadfulness of life in the trenches, the absurdity of a war that stopped whenever any general turned up at the front line, then recommenced when they left, and of the famous Christmas Day Truce.

On Patrick and Susan’s marriage certificate, his occupation is “farmer”; on his eldest daughter’s birth certificate he is a “mechanic”, and on his son Arnold’s birth certificate an “engine fitter”.

Following injury to his legs, sustained in a workplace accident, he died of lung cancer, and it is believed that exposure to battlefield gasses was to blame for the disease.

This WW1 posed photograph is the best known image of Patrick Hagerty (at the oars). The portrait is taken from this photo.

Taken in Cologne and sent home to Susan during WW1

The reverse of the Cologne photo.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Cert: birth, Hagerty 1868 Patrick Joseph.

   Births Registered in the District of Clonmellon in the Union of Delvin in the County of Westmeath
   No. 238
   Date and Place of Birth 1868 Thirteenth April, Sheepstown
   Name: Patrick Joseph
   Sex: m
   Name and Surname and Dwelling-place of Father: James Hagarty Sheepstown
   Name and Surname and Maiden Surname of Mother: Katie Hagerty formerly Skelly
   Rank or profession of Father: farmer
   Signature, Qualification, and Residence of Informant: James Hagerty, Sheepstown, Delvin, Father
   When Registered: 1886 Fifteenth September
   (Copy made 29 Apr 1898)

2. ↑ Personal Knowledge [Helen-HWMT].
3. ↑ Cert: death: Hagerty 1937, Patrick Joseph.

   Patrick Joseph died at his home, 32 Heygarth Road, Eastham, in the sub-district of East Wirral, in the district of Wirral, Chester, England, UK.

4. ↑ Official burial document Hagerty 1937.
5. ↑ Parish Magazine.

   Heading 'Burials': '15-Patrick Joseph Hagerty, aged 51 years.'
   also
   'Two other deaths took place during the month. ....... The other death was that of Mr. Hagerty of Heygarth Road-one of our new residents. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the respective families in this sorrow. R.I.P.'
   
   Whether this magazine page is from Eastham Parish Church which has the burial ground, or a Roman Catholic church - Patrick was a Catholic - is not known.