26/893 Sgt Michael Finan, Northumberland Fusiliers

26/893 Sergeant Michael Finan of the Northumberland Fusiliers was an old soldier who died in England on the 22nd January 1916. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was 56 years old at the time of death and that he was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers Depot, although his number belongs to the series in use by the 26th (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Irish). Soldiers Died in The Great War records his battalion as the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion.

Two pages of service papers survive for Michael Finan. On 29th March 1900 he attested with the Royal Northern Reserve Regiment as a 41-year-old time expired regular who had served with the Durham Light Infantry. His occupation in 1900 was that of a miner and he was a widower, living in Durham. His next of kin is recorded as his mother, Mrs Mary Finan, of 62 South Street, Durham, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission also notes that he was the son of Peter and Mary Finan of 14 Millburngate, Durham, and the husband of Elizabeth Finan.

The 1901 census has Michael Finan as the head of the household at 91 Framwellgate, Durham. He is recorded as a 41-year-old Durham-born general labourer, living with his 66-year-old mother, his 35-year-old married sister, Rose Hall; his six-year-old niece, Sarah Jane Hall, and his daughter, six-year-old Lizzie Finan.

Ten years earlier, the 1891 census has 31-year-old Michael living at 84 Framwellgate with his wife Elizabeth, and two daughters: Agnes (aged three) and Bridget (aged two). Michael's trade is again recorded as general labourer and presumably he had already served his time with the Durham Light Infantry by this stage. I have been unable to find him on the 1881 census and presume that he was soldiering abroad at the time the census was taken. If he joined up at the age of eighteen, he would have already served three years in the army by 1881 and it's quite conceivable that he was overseas.

Agnes Finan would die in 1893, aged six years but Bridget appears to have survived into adulthood; at least, I have been unable to find her name on pre-1915 death registers.

Michael's wife, Elizabeth Finan, died in 1894, her death being registered in Durham in the September quarter of that year. It's possible that she died during childbirth or as a result of complications arising from the birth of Lizzie, although this is pure conjecture on my part. Michael though, appears not to have re-married. He is buried in St Bede's Roman Catholic cemetery in the city of Durham.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1891 and 1901 census, BMD registers)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War