2nd Lieut Wilfrid James Finigan

• Age: 29
• From: Wallasey
• Regiment: MGC (15 BN)
• Died on Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 10

Wilfrid James Finigan was born in the first quarter of 1889 in New Brighton, the son of Joseph A. Finigan and his wife Mary (nee Williams) who married in the first quarter of 1879. 

The 1891 Census shows the family were living at 4 Meadow Street, Liscard, Cheshire. Wilfred's father, Joseph, is recorded as a 39 year old lithographic artist born in Liverpool, his mother, Mary, is shown as 33 years of age. They have three children in the household; Elizabeth Agnes aged 10 born in Liverpool, Austin J. aged 4 and Wilfrid J. aged 2 were born in New Brighton.

By 1901 the family have moved to Liverpool and are living at 16 Verulam Street, Toxteth Park. His father is now shown to be aged 47 and a lithographer, his mother is shown to be 45. There are three children declared int eh household; Elizabeth aged 20, Austin J. aged 14 and Wilfred J. aged 12.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved back across the Mersey and are now living at 4 Danehurst Road, Wallasey. His father is now recorded as a 61 year old lithograper - employer, his mother is shown as aged 55. They advised that they had been married for 32 years and have had four children, three of whom have survived and are in the household; Elizabeth a 30 year old typist (lithographer), Austin a 24 year old lithographer and Wilfred a 22 year old insurance clerk.

Wilfred enlisted in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16043. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was reported as wounded in the Liverpool Echo on 27th July 1916 under the header:

AN INSURANCE CLERK

Lance-corporal Wilfred Finigan, King's Liverpool Regiment, has been wounded in the left arm, and is in hospital in London. He is the son of Mr. J. A. Finigan, printer, 16 School-lane. He was formerley employed by the Royal Insurance Company, Dale Street.     

His brother Austin J. died on 01st November 1916, though no war record can be found. His death was reported in the Catholic Times and Catholic Opinion newspaper on 17th November 1916:

FINIGAN - Of your charity pray for the soul of Austin J. Finigan, aged 29 years, who died on November 1st, Feast of All Saints, dearly beloved elder son of J.A. and M Finigan, 4 Danehurst-road, Wallasey. Jesus, Mercy, Mary, help! RIP     

Wifred was discharged to Commission on 25th January 1917 and was Gazetted Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the Machine Gun Corps on 10th February 1917.

He was killed in action on 28th March 1918, the second loss that the family had to endure.

His death was reported in the Nottingham and Midland Catholic News on 13th April 1918:

Second-Lieutenant Wilfred J. Finigan, younger son of Mr. J. A. Finegan, 16 School Lane, Liverpool and 4 Danehurst Road, Wallasey, Cheshire was killed in action in France on March 28. He joined a battalion of the Liverpool "Pals" in August 1914 and was wounded in France in July 1916. He was educated at St Francis Xavier's College.   

Also in the Macclesfield Courier and Herald on 04th May 1918:

SEC. LIEUT W.J. FINIGAN 

Second-Lieutenant Wilfred J. Finigan, brother of Miss Finigan, one of the Macclesfield Public Health Society's visitor's and a school nurse was killed in action in France on March 28th. He joined the first "City" Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment in August 1914 and was wounded in the Somme battle in 1916. After his recovery he obtained a commission in the Machine Gun Corps, and returned to France in August 1917. He was educated at St Francis Xavier's College in Liverpool and previous to the outbreak of war was on the head office staff of the Royal Insurance Company.        

Wilfred's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His death was reported in the local press:

OFFICER KILLED.

A telegram has been received from the War Office, Mr. A. Finigan, of 16, School-lane, Liverpool, stating that his younger son, Second-lieutenant Wilfrid J. Finigan, was killed in action in France on March 28. He joined the Ist Battalion Liverpool "Pals" in August, 1914, and was wounded France in July, 1916. After his recovery he obtained his commission in the M.G.C., and returned France in Auugst, 1917. He was educated St. Francis Xavier's College, and previous to the outbreak war was on the staff of the head office of the Royal Insurance Company. 

Probate was granted to his sister Elizabeth.

FINIGAN Wilfrid James of 4 Danehurst-road, Wallasey Cheshire lieutenant H.M.Forces died 28th March 1918 in France killed in action. Probate London 8 June to Elizabeth Agnes Finigan spinster. Effects £515 16s 6d.

His birth record, CWGC and Probate all show his name as Wilfrid. 

Wilfrid is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 2

St Francis Xavier College.

The extract below was taken from The Liverpool Scroll of Fame.

Second Lieutenant Wilfred J Finigan.

15^th Battalion

Machine Gun Corps

Save the Guns! Second – Lieutenant Wilfred James Finigan and his detachment determined, at all costs, to prevent their weapons falling into the enemy’s hand, made a bold and heroic attempt to do so but most of them perished in the attempt. This gallant incident occurred near Arras on March 28^th 1918. The Germans had opened their mighty offensive, and for a week the battle had been raging bitterly, our troops retreating only with the most obstinate fighting.

Second – Lieutenant Finigan set his men a noble example by his own steadfast bearing with words of encouragement. “They fought till all their guns were knocked out, and after that those I could collect went up with me and held a gap in the front line, acting as infantry men.” So wrote his Captain, one of the two Officer’s who survived the fight, and he tells how the young Lieutenant had stuck to his post until shot through the heart by a sniper. From the Colonel there was an equally cordial tribute to his utter devotion to duty.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Finigan of Danehurst Road, Wallasey. Educated at St Francis Xavier’s College, where he won his Senior Oxford and Matriculation Examinations and other distinctions, he passed into the Liverpool Office of the Royal Insurance Company. Scarcely had his business career commenced when he heard the call all to arms, and, like the keen young patriot he was, he was one of the earliest volunteers to enrol with the Liverpool “Pals”. Going abroad with them, he was wounded in the Brigade’s succession of victorious assaults on the Somme in July 1916. Upon his recovery he was selected for a commission, and this he obtained with the 15^th Machine Gun Corps, with whom he saw further service in France.

Nobody could know Finigan long without being attracted by his warm-hearted and pleasant disposition. He had a gift of friendship, and to his military acquaintances, of whom he had many, the news of his death came as a tragedy. He took a delight in open-air sports, boating being one of his favourite pursuits, and he was also a chess player of no little ability.

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