More about Christopher Moffat Finnigan

Christopher M. Finnigan   CZ/322   Anson Bn   R.N.D.

KILLED AT THE DARDANELLES.

Petty Officer C. M. Finnigan, Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who has been killed at the Dardanelles.  His widow resides at 9 North Wellington Street, Dundee.

Dundee People’s Journal 11th September 1915

FINNIGAN—Killed in action at the Dardanelles, on 10th August, Petty Officer Christopher M. Finnigan, Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, aged 31 years.

Inserted by Mrs Finnigan and family, 18 Paterson Street.

Dundee People’s Journal 11th September 1915

Christopher Finnigan was the husband of Mrs Finnigan and they lived at 9 North Wellington Street in Dundee and he was employed as an Engineer’s Labourer. In September 1914 he was one of the first to volunteer to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was advanced to Petty Officer in December 1914. He was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training and on completion joined the Collingwood Battalion serving in C Company, 3rd Platoon. The Collingwood Battalion landed in Gallipoli in late May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. This was their first and last action because, as they advanced towards the enemy line, they were caught in heavy Turkish artillery and machinegun fire. The number of dead and wounded was very high and the Battalion was disbanded two days later. The survivors were distributed to the other RND battalions to replace their losses and Christopher Finnegan transferred to the Anson. During the Suvla Bay Landings in August 1915 the Anson Battalion provided beach support and he was killed in action on 10 August 1915. He was buried in the C Beach Cemetery by the Reverend R Corcoran on 11 August. His body was re-interred after the war in the Lala Baba Cemetery, Suvla Bay. His mother lived at 18 Paterson Street, Dundee and he is mentioned in the Peoples Journal dated 26 December 1914 on page 5 in a report from the Crystal Palace.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie