Pte 57591 Matthew Lynch Horan

• Age: 19
• From: Dundee
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 3rd August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Matthew Lynch Horan was born in 1898 at Dundee and was the son of  Joseph P. Horan and his wife Agnes Cavanagh.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 53 Rosebank Street, Dundee.

The father Joseph aged 40, born 1861 occupation furniture dealer and his wife Agnes aged 42, born 1859 no occupation and born in Dundee as were her four children, Joseph aged 6, born 1895 and Matthew aged 3, born 1898 are both scholars, Patrick aged 2, born 1899 and John born 1901.

He enlisted in Dundee and was formerly 6355, Army Cyclist Corps and serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57591 when he was killed in action on the 3rd August, 1917 aged 19 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Details of the actions of the 19th KLR in late July and early August 1917 are listed below:  

He was initially reported missing in Dundee People's Journal 22nd September 1917

Pte Matthew Horan, Liverpools, 45 Crescent St., missing.

Subsequently his death was reported in the Dundee People's Journal 27th April 1918

HORAN - Reported missing 03rd August 1917, now reported killed in action, No. 57591, Pte Matthew Horan, second eldest son of Agnes Horan, 45 Crescent Street, Dundee. R.I.P.

Matthew has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres, 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 and Pension to mother Agnes Cavanagh Horan

Matthew is also commemorated on the Dundee Roll of Honour.

His brother P.J.Horan reported prisoner in Dundee People's Journal 15th June 1918

The ICRC records state he was Pte Patrick John Horan 50597 R.Scots, b.11/12/1898, captured 4th March 1918 at Meroille (probably Maroilles). He survived the war.

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