Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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251083
Gdsmn. Michael McHale
British Army 2nd Battalion Irish Guards
from:Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland
(d.2nd July 1916)
Michael McHale enlisted into the British Army, joining the 2nd Irish Guards on 23rd of December 1915. He was married to Maria, and had two children. Mary aged 4years and Michael Joseph aged 2years. His wife Maria was pregnant with their 3rd child, James. Michael had been employed as a groom in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. Family stories talk of him being, or wanting to be, a Jockey. It appears before he enlisted, he was no longer working as a groom, but working as a farm hand. The family story was that the family were poor, and Michael, along with other local men, were offered £5 to enlist. Michael was killed in action on 2nd of July 1916, 6 months after enlisting. His body was never recovered. He is remembered on the Menin Memorial Gate, Ypres, and also on the Mayo Peace Wall in County Mayo, Ireland.