Michael Gannon

Rank:	Corporal
Street:	Bridge Street
Townland:
Town/Village:	Longford
Civil Parish:	Templemichael
Catholic Parish:	Templemichael
Country:
Alternative Address:	Dublin Street; Richmond Street;
Census 1901:	Resident at Dublin Street, with his mother and siblings. www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Dublin_Street/1555722/
Census 1911:	Resident in Richmond Street, with his in-laws, the Wrenns www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Richmond_Street/651576/
Regiment/Unit:	Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 7th/8th Battalion
Regiment Number:	17210 (& 65432?)
Date of Death:	06-06-1922
Cause:	Gastroparesis
Memorial:	Ballymacormack Cemetery, Longford
Information:	Michael was born on Dublin Street, on or about 10 October 1882, to Christopher (Christy) and Bridget Gannon, who were tailors: Christopher sadly died in 1898. In his POW files, Michael lists his birth date as the 8 October 1884. He married Margaret Wrenn c.1904, and they went on to have seven children. Margaret's brother, Frank Wrenn, also served in WW1. Prior to the war, Michael initially worked in Longford for Guinness as a clerk, and by 1911 was a law clerk. Michael enlisted c.1915. He was captured at Ronssoy on the 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive or 'The Kaiser's Attack', a battle that involved many Irish regiments, including Gannon's Inniskillings; he was one of at least 21 POWs from his regiment. He was detained at Cassel POW camp, and Mannheim for 9 months. It is believed that he later escaped. One of his POW entries lists him as 'unwounded', however his death notice states that he had been. He was discharged from the Army in March 1919, and received a disability pension; his primary disability was gastritis**, which was attributed to his service. After the war, Michael returned to Longford and initially worked with the Pensions Committee and later returned to work with Guinness Stores, and became an income-tax collector in July 1919 . He was secretary of the Comrades Club and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Michael died at Longford Union Infirmary on the 6 June 1922.
Parents Names:	Son of Christopher Gannon and Bridget (née Flannagan), Dublin Street, Longford
Notes:	* The cause of death was given as 'paralysis of the stomach and intestines', or gastroparesis as well as gastritis*. This was a condition that was not uncommon among prior prisoners of war, due to a prolonged lack of food. Entry added with thanks to Stephen Callaghan. It is uncertain where Michael and Margaret got married, as their marriage is not recorded in the accessible Irish Civil Records, however a Michael Gannon may have married a Margaret Wrenn in Barnsley, Yorkshire in late 1903/early 1904. British War Medal was reissued after his death. If the Civil Record links below are not working, please ensure that the website address ends in .pdf. If not, add this and refresh; it should then bring you to the document.
Links:	Link to Civil Record of Birth; ink to Civil Record of Death; link to notice of death, Longford Leader, 10 June 1922; link to his index in the Red Cross POW files (listed under Gammon); Irishman's Diary on the German Spring Offensive, Irish Times 20 Mar 2018; Longford Leader, <a href="https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=LOL%