The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment

Three: Corporal J. O’Loughlin, Manchester Regiment, late King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, who died of disease on active service in Baghdad in 1920

British War and Victory Medals (20377 Cpl. J. O’Loughlin. R. Lanc. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (77806 Pte. J. O’Loughlin. Manch. R.) silver medals black toned, nearly extremely fine (3) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

View
Collection

John O’Loughlin was born in Portarlington, Ireland, about January 1891. By 1911 the family had relocated to Wigan, Lancashire. On 27 August 1914 he attested for service in the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner No. 93494, giving his occupation as ‘horseman in a circus’. He went absent without leave on two occasions and on 27 February 1915 he was sentenced by District Court Martial, discharged ‘with ignominy’, and imprisoned for six months. Surprisingly perhaps, he re-enlisted at Lancaster on 11 August 1915 to serve in the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, being posted to 11th (Bantam) (Service) Battalion.

Promoted Corporal on 27 May 1916, O’Loughlin went to France with his battalion on 3 June 1916, disembarking at Le Havre. He was wounded in action on 22 June, with gunshot wounds and a ‘crushed’ chest and was invalided to the U.K. Following his recovery he again went to France and was posted back to his battalion in December 1916. During 1917 his battalion took part in the capture of Fifteen Ravine, Villers Plouich, Beaucamp and La Vacquerie, the Cambrai Operations and Bourlon Wood. In February 1918 he was transferred to 3rd Battalion Machine Gun Corps. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 19 January 1919. He re-enlisted into the 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment which had been placed under orders for service in Mesopotamia. He had several entries in the regimental defaulters book and his health suffered being admitted to hospital with ‘sand fly fever’ on 7 August 1920. He died the following day of heart failure following sand fly fever and was buried at Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery. He was the son of Patrick and Ellen O’Loughlin and husband of Annie Malone O’Loughlin of 6 Lyon St., Wallgate, Wigan.

Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.