Major William (Bill) Egan DSO OBE Royal Army Medical Corps
Born: September 30th. 1881, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Died: Military Hospital, Up Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica, December 11th. 1929.
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Home Address: Ballygegan, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Youngest son of Maurice Egan and Anne Duggan.
His siblings were
Patrick Egan, Born May 15th. 1878 - Died May 14th. 1945
David Egan, Born 25th. October 1879 - Died 26th. May 1907
Educated at St. Vincent's College, Castleknock, Dublin; Queens College, Cork and Medical School, Cecilia St; Dublin; (Royal University of Ireland.)
Qualifications: M.B. Bch. B.A.O. (Royal University of Ireland) Diploma in Public Health (London)
After qualifying was appointed Resident Surgeon, County & City Infirmary, Waterford 1905. After 12 months left and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on 30th. January 1906. Completed his Junior Officers Training Course at Aldershot and was a Lieutenant Medical Officer (General Duties) at Netley and Nilsea to September 20th. 1907 when he embarked for India. Was Medical Officer (General Duties) in Rawalpindi 1907, Ferozepore 1907/08, Multan 1908/10, Rangoon 1910/11 and Mandalay 1911/12. Embarked for home February 1912.
M.O. General Duty Dublin 1912. Curragh 1912/13. Senior Officer Course 1913/14 at the RAMC College, London.
WAR SERVICE:
Attached to No. 6 Field Ambulance (which was with the 2nd. Division). (Aldershot from 4/8/1914 to 17/8/1914). On Active Service in France and Belgium from 17/8/1914 to 17/10/1914. Captured at Landrecies on 18/10/1914 and interned at Sennelager Prisoner of War Camp, Germany until 29/6/1915. Arrived back in London on 30/6/1915 and married Norah Wall, (native of O'Connell Street, Dungarvan) the following day, 1/7/1915 in Harrow. (Norah Wall had been working in London). Was on leave for the month of July and returned to Aldershot on 1/8/1915. On 4th. August 1915 departed to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force where he was 2nd in Command of No. 17 Stationary Field Hospital to the 2/11/1915. (Was C.O. of No. 17 Stationary Field Hospital from 12/9/1915 to 10/10/1915). From 3/11/1915 was C.O. of 16th. Sanitary Section (which was with the 29th. Division) and Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services, Sanitation. On the evacuation from Gallipoli (Cape Helles, 2/1/1916) , reverted to No. 17 Stationary Hospital and was invalided from Alexandria, 28/2/1916. Was C.O. 27 M.A.C. Grove Park (Mobilizing Unit) from 16/4/1916 to 14/5/1916. Back to Active Service in France & Belgium on 15/5/1916. Officer Commanding No. 44 Field Ambulance from 20/9/1916 to 13/3/1919. (44th. Field Ambulance was part of the 14th. (Light) Division) The previous OC of the 44th. Field Ambulance was a Victoria Cross recipient and former Irish Rugby International, Dublin man Major Thomas J Crean VC DSO)
POST BELLUM
Embarked for 2nd. tour of Service in India on April 15th. 1919. Landed in Bombay May 23rd. 1919. Registrar 43rd. B.G.H. Quetta (Afghan War) 2/6/1919 to 15/10/1919. Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services (Sanitation) Baluchistan Force 15/10/1919 to 30/10/1919. M.O. General Duty Quetta 1/11/1919 to 31/3/1921. Specialist, Dermatology, Quetta, for Baluchistan District 1/4/1921 to 7/2/1923. Embarked for U.K. 9/2/1923. Arrived U.K. 7/3/1923.
Assistant Instructor, School of Hygiene, Aldershot 3/4/1923 to 11/6/1923. Connaught Hospital, Aldershot, 12/6/1923. Assistant Director Hygiene (Temporary) 15/6/1923. Appointed Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services, Scottish Command, Edinburgh 2/10/1923. Embarked for Service in Jamaica 3/3/1927. Landed Jamaica 24/3/1927. Posted to Newcastle, Jamaica, 26/3/1927. O.C. Military Hospital Newcastle 1/11/1927 to 30/5/1928.Service between Up Park Camp and Newcastle to his death on December 11th. 1929 following an accident. (He fell on to concrete from a Veranda on December 5th. 1929 and ruptured his spleen.)
PROMOTIONS
Captain July 30th. 1909.
Major January 30th. 1918.
Acting Lieutenant Colonel 20/9/1916 to 13/3/1919 while commanding No. 44 Field Ambulance.
Wounds
Rupture of Right Tympani Memb. 23/3/ 1917. Arras, France.
Honours and Awards:
Mentioned in Despatches, Sir Douglas Haig. November 7th. 1917.
Distinguished Service Order: London Gazette 28/12/1917
O.B.E. Kings Birthday Honours List 1926.
Sporting
Was a scratch golfer, winning many trophies and competitions.
Family
Married to Hanora or Norah (Nan) Wall, O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, (4/4/1881 - 6/1/1961) daughter of John Wall & Catherine Hayes.
Children: Patricia Mary (Patsy) Egan (1/12/1916 - 3/5/1997)
Catherine Nora Denise (Norrie) Egan (5/12/1919 to 31/12/2008) Married Patrick Harty February 1947.
William Patrick Michael Egan (Billy, Jammy) (3/10/1921 - 25/5/2005)
Officers and NCOs' No. 44 Field Ambulance. 1917 Medals
Link to Bill Egan's War Photographs Drawing by Official War Artist Muirhead Bone. Link to Family Photos
A Copy of His Passbook A copy of his Medals Card Clips from the "Waterford News"
Image of Bill Egan on Scottish National War Memorial His Grave in Jamaica
With the Forty Fourths is a book about the 44th. Field Ambulance, from its inception to when it was de-mobilised in 1919. The full book is here.
This site is under development by Noel Harty, a grandson of Bill Egan. e-mail: noelharty@yahoo.com
Any comments welcome. If any persons in the photographs can be identified, please contact me.