Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

By Mary E. Metcalfe ©
2 October 2014


The first man to die abroad from the 4QIB
In case one wonders
Just exactly who was he?
Jimmy Duggan it is told
And so the story unfolds.

Captain W.G. Thompson reported later in August 1901
He’d been in Pretoria
when the Fourth men reached there
Having no sense of euphoria;
For to them it seemed
The fighting was done.

Next day, however patrol duties began
On the outskirts of town
And unfortunately the Brisbane man
Was the first of them to be shot down.

The scene of #77’s death
Was reported in Lt Colonel Murray’s book
as Honen’s Nek.

From 13th July 1900 for ever after
Sadly no more was heard
The sound of his laughter.
His next of kin named Ann
Her own grieving then began.



Inspiration for this taken from “The Capricornian”, Saturday 17 August 1901, pages 38-40, and references are from Murray Pages 475 and 481. James Duggan NOK was given as Mrs Ann Duggan, Kennigo-street, Brisbane.

THE FIRST MAN TO DIE FROM THE 4QIB after enlistment was Peter Hastie, who was evacuated from the “Manchester Port” in Sydney and died of pneumonia there.
See also Colin McInnes’ letter in the “Warwick Argus” 18 Sep 1900. Photo of Jimmy taken from The Queenslander of 19 May 1900
(I researched many of the men in the 4QIB back in 2013-2014.)

Michael James Duggan was born on 19th September 1880. His parents were William Duggan and Ann Connolle. He lived in Kennigo Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Queensland.

When he enlisted, he lied about his age. He was only 19.