Pte 34416 Cornelius O'Hagan

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 2nd August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Cornelius O’Hagan was born was born on 18th October 1896 at Liverpool and was baptised at St Sylvester, Liverpool on 19th October, 1896. He was the son of  John O'Hagan and his wife Mary Ann (nee Purnell). His mother was born on 24th February 1867 and was baptised at Old Chirch, St Pancras, London on 11th November 1867.  

On the 1901 census the family are at Quay Street, Dundalk Urban No. 4., Louth, Ireland. Father John is a 45 year old sailor born in Louth, whilst mother Mary Ann is 34 years of age and was born in London.  Cornelius is aged 4 born in Liverpool, and his siblings are listed as; Mary Bridget 15 born in Donegal, Philip 14 born Dundalk, Rose Ann 12 born Liverpool, John 10 born Liverpool, James 7 born Liverpool, Margaret 6 born Liverpool and  Mary Ann 2 born in Liverpool. 

On the 1911 census the family are back in Liverpool at 83 Westmorland Place. Father John 55 is a dock labourer born Dundalk, mother Mary Ann is now 44 years of age. THey have been married for 26 years and have had 15 children, 13 of whom have survived. Cormac?(Cornelius) is aged 14 an office boy,  siblings Philip 24 clerk and telegraphist, Rose Ann 22 school mistress, James 17 clerk, Margaret 16, Mary Ann 12 at school, Frances 9 at school b.Dundalk, Agnes 8 at school b.Liverpool, Joseph 6 at school b.Liverpool, Winifred 4 b.Liverpool, Ethna 3 b.Liverpool. 

Cornelius enlisted in Liverpool originally joining the 1st Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was subsequently transferred and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Private No 34416 when he was killed in action on the 02nd August, 1917 aged 20 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. As such it is impossible to say exactly how each of the men who fell on 01st or 2nd August met their death.

20^th Battalion Diary 01^st August – 08^th August

The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31^st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners. 

Cornelius has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects to mother Mary Ann, Pension to parents John, Mary Ann, and sister Agnes. 

He was reported as killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th September 1917, and in the Weekly Casualty List of 18th September 1917

- O'Hagan 34416 C.(Liverpool)

His next of kin was his sister Agnes O'Hagan of 52 Guelph Street, Liverpool.

His mother died aged 52 in the March quarter of 1920.

His father died in the June quarter of 1927 aged 72. 

We currently have no further information on Cornelius O’Hagan, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.