Leo Duggan

Ancestors

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Biography

Leo Christopher Duggan was born in Waterford on the 18th December 1894.^[1] He was baptized in Waterford Cathedral on the 23rd December 1894.^[2] The sponsors at his baptism were Patrick Duggan and Julia Lannen (sic). The sponsor Patrick was presumably his father’s nephew. The family kept in touch with their Duggan relations on the farm in Laois and sometimes spent holidays there.

Incident in Waterford and emigration to England

In 1912 when he was seventeen years old, Leo was involved in a quarrel and ended up in court where he was charged with stabbing Michael Upton and causing him grievous bodily harm.^[3] In the family it is related that there was a confrontation over some political question. There may be some truth in this as we know the victim was related to James Upton, a famous Sinn Fein journalist who later took part in the 1916 Easter Rising.^[4] However it also seems to be generally agreed in the family that Leo himself had a somewhat volatile temper. The incident may have arisen as his father who had recently died had been a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, his older brother was a serving member and indeed the family were undoubtedly loyal to the crown. It was a time of intense national feeling in the country and the R.I.C. were regarded by many nationalists as the arm of British domination in Ireland. After the quarrel it was thought that Leo’s life was in danger and he moved to London.

Royal Navy in World War 1

During the war Leo was a wireless operator of Royal Navy Reserve serving on board commissioned ships. He is listed among the Warrant Telegraphists with his commission dating from the 18th February 1915.^[5] He appears as radio officer aboard the “Andes” in 1916 and the “Orbita” in 1918. ^[6] For his service at sea during World War 1 he received the medals - Star, Victory Medal, British War medal WW1 - Europe.^[7]

Leo then worked as radio operator at Jersey airport in the Channel Islands just before World War II. ^[8]

Marriage to Sonia Maude Priestly and Family

Leo married Sonia Maude Priestly at the Parish of St. Helier, on the island of Jersey in 1935.^[9] Sonia was born in Leeds in 1899. Her father was a master butcher.^[10] She had been previously married and had two children by that former marriage, a boy and a girl. Leo and Sonia had one son:

1. Michael Peter Duggan was born c. 1935. Michael lived in Malta for some time. He married Sheila Cansdale who already had a son,
   • Steve Paul. Though Steve was not Michael’s son, Michael brought him up as his own. Steve married Sharon Ann in 2001. At this time he changed his name by deed pole and adopted the Duggan family name and was now Steven Paul Duggan. Steven Paul died in 2009 at the age of only 43.
     

Michael died in 2010.

Malta

Leo lived for some time in Malta, and perhaps their son Michael was born there.^[11] The family travelled out from England to the British Colony of Singapore in August of 1940. Michael was only 4 at the time. They spent only two months there in that year of 1940. Though the capture of Singapore by the Japanese was already planned at this stage, it was not actually occupied by them until early in 1942. In 1947 the family travelled to Malta, returning in 1949 and again in 1952 when in the Ship’s manifest they give their country of residence as Malta. In these years they give their address in England as 3 Fraser Terrace, Leeds and Leo gives “Civil Servant” as his occupation.^[12]

Retired to Winchester

Later Leo’s family lived in Winchester, Hampshire. It was there that Leo Christopher died on the 3rd of April 1978 at the age of 83.^[13] He was a member of the Knights of Columba and his death was announced in the Catholic Newspaper “The Universe.” ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Register 1894, Group Registration ID 11469914, SR District/Reg Area Waterford.
2. ↑ Baptism Register, Waterford Cathedral 1878-1898, p. 147.
3. ↑ Petty Sessions Order Books, Waterford CSPS 1/10513, 1912, June 16th, June 25th, and June 28th.
4. ↑ Irish Tim es 20 May 2017. An Irishman’s Diary about James W Upton, the forgotten journalist of 1916.
5. ↑ Thanks to Mandy Vickers for information regarding Leo’s Navy Career: Royal Navy Reserve, Temporary Warrant Telegraphists, serving on the Orbita, P. 1587.
6. ↑ Merchant Vessels Commissioned. P. 987, Andes 1029, Orbita, 1918
7. ↑ Information from Mandy Vickers.
8. ↑ Marriage Certificate and Lucie Duggan. “The Family Story of the Duggans and the Butlers by Lucie Duggan (Sister Stephana O.P.)” - this is a history of the family, written by Bridget Butler Duggan’s daughter Lucie Duggan c. 1990
9. ↑ Marriage Certificate from the Register of Marriages
10. ↑ Marriage Certificate
11. ↑ There is no trace of his birth in British records of the time.
12. ↑ Thanks to Mandy Vickers for information concerning these travels of the family taken from the ships’ manifests.
13. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZ3-DY3M : 4 September 2014), Leo Christopher Duggan, 1978; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006; citing Death Registration, Winchester, Hampshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
14. ↑ "The Universe" 1978. "Knights of St Columba regretfully announce the death of the following brother Duggan. Winchester Co. 558 regrets to announce the death on April 3rd of Leo Duggan. aged 83 R.I.P."