Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
11163   Sergeant James McGuffin
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 06/09/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 18/04/1888
Died: 13/09/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age: 29
Summary      
James McGuffin was the son of Robert McGuffin and Margaret Cooke. Robert was born in Belfast at 76 Canmore St. on 18th April 1888. The family hailed from Dungannon. James McGuffin enlisted in Salford, Lancashire. Sergeant James McGuffin was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers when he died of wounds on 13th September 1917. He was 29 years old. Sergeant McGuffin is buried in Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, near Dunkirk in France. In the autumn of 1917, while the XV Corps was holding the Nieuport section, the 34th and 36th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Zuydcoote.
Further Information
James McGuffin was the son of Robert McGuffin. Robert McGuffin and Margaret Cooke were married on 8th February 1878 in the district of Dungannon.
James McGuffin was born on 18th April 1888 at 76 Canmore Street, Belfast. He was one of nine children. The family hailed from Dungannon, but they moved about.
Family: Robert McGuffin, Margaret McGuffin, Mary Minnie McGuffin (born 13th November 1878, Dungannon), Robert John McGuffin (born 23rd August 1880, Tyrone), Margaret McGuffin (born 23rd July 1882, Down), Thomas McGuffin (born 20th August 1884, Lisburn), William McGuffin (born 17th April 1886, Lisburn), James McGuffin (born 18th April 1888, Belfast), George McGuffin (born 30th March 1890, Belfast), Sarah McGuffin (born about 1893, Louth), Samuel McGuffin (born about 1895, Louth).
The 1901 census lists James as age 13, living with the family at house 23 in Yellowbatter, Drogheda, County Louth. He was still at school. Robert McGuffin was a foreman tenter, presumably in a local linen factory.
The 1911 census lists James as age 22 living with the family at house 14 in Newtownstalaban, St Laurence Gate, County Louth. James was a tenter in a linen factory. All the family worked in the linen factory.
After his father died, his mother Margaret returned to Dungannon.
James married in Drogheda in 1912.
James McGuffin enlisted in Salford, Lancashire.
Medal card
Private James McGuffin arrived in France with the Lancashire Fusiliers on 23rd November 1915.
Sergeant James McGuffin was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers when he died of wounds on 13th September 1917. He was 29 years old.
Sergeant McGuffin is buried in Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, near Dunkirk in France. In the autumn of 1917, while the XV Corps was holding the Nieuport section, the 34th and 36th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Zuydcoote. The Military Cemetery contains, for the most part, the graves of officers and men who died in these hospitals.
Sergeant James McGuffin is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
Sergeant James McGuffin is also commemorated on Drogheda War Memorial.
Thanks are due to Shawn McGuffin who provided this information.
Read more
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
08/02/1878 M Cooke Margaret Parent M/1878/T1/1418/3/21b Margt
08/02/1878 M McGuffin Robert Parent M/1878/T1/1418/3/21a
13/11/1878 B McGuffin Mary Sibling U/1878/112/1012/11/321 Cook
23/08/1880 B McGuffin John Sibling U/1880/112/1012/12/387
23/07/1882 B McGuffin Margaret Sibling U/1882/148/1018/18/155 McGuffen
20/08/1884 B McGuffin Thomas Sibling U/1884/148/1018/19/492
17/04/1886 B McGuffin William Sibling U/1886/148/1018/21/465 McGuffen, Corke
18/04/1888 B McGuffin James Casualty U/1888/55/1007/16/325 Clarke
10/03/1890 B McGuffin George Sibling U/1890/55/1007/18/243 Cook
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 census lists McGuffin family Lists James as age 13 living with the family at house 23 in Yellowbatter, Drogheda Town, Louth
2 1911 census lists McGuffin family Lists James as age 22 living with the family at house 14 in Newtownstalaban, St Laurence Gate, Louth
3 Drogheda Great War Memorial Lists SGT. J.MC GUFFIN LANC. FUS
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of James McGuffin's headstone can be purchased here.
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023