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Corporal Michael Joseph Deegan

Michael Joseph Deegan enlisted for World War One on 10 February 1916 as a Driver in the 8^th Field Artillery Brigade, 31^st Battery.

Michael's role involved driving a team of horses to the soldiers operating artillery on the front lines.  Due to his blacksmithing skills, he also maintained the horses' shoes and hooves. Michael remained in this role for most of his service. Michael’s final rank was a Corporal in the 4^th Divisional ammunition column.

Michael returned home from the First World War on 12 May 1919 but did not return to Queenstown for the celebrations. Instead, he disembarked the train in Lynchford to join his family and friends.

Michael’s return home was not much cause for celebration as his mother, father and brother had all passed away during his time of service.

Once Michael returned from the war, he married Mary Maud Leahy. They later had three children Leo, Ambrose, and Marry Lorraine. Leo served in the Second World War in New Guinea as an engineer in the 12^th Field Company, and returned home from the war in 1947. Ambrose attempted to enlist but his job made him of high priority in Tasmania. Ambrose was a pattern maker in the Mount Lyell mine machine shop, creating wooden casts for machinery parts that metal copies could be cast from. This was of great significance to create ammunition.

Michael went into the mining industry. On the 9 April 1945 Michael was awarded the bronze medal by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia at age 51 for assisting in the rescue of Charles Lee from falling ore at West-Lyell Queenstown on 4 October 1944.

Michael was also involved in various sporting activities.

Michael was researched for the Frank MacDonald Memorial Study Tour 2024 by Macy Deegan, of Devonport High School. Macy’s research including speaking to Michael's daughter, Lorraine, who said he was a good father. She did not remember any stories of her father. Although, when we asked Lorraine if Michael was a good father “he was always calm; he never raised his voice and he never hit me.”

Michael passed away on the 12 July 1957.

Read Macy Deegan's research about Corporal Michael Deegan.

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