MADIGAN, Edward Patrick
Born 17 October 1887; died 18 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 30
Service Number 49422
Edward was in trouble from a young age, in and out of mental asylums and up before the courts as well as being in strife with army authorities in New Zealand and overseas. Joining up to get out of prison, he did not see active service in the war despite a year in the army. Months after his discharge in 1918 before the Armistice, he contracted influenza and died.
He was born in Wellington, son of James Joseph Madigan and his wife Elizabeth. His father was born in Limerick, Ireland around 1849; Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown, was born in Ireland around 1851. Their marriage has not been located. In late 1878 they travelled to New Zealand on the Opawa, as assisted immigrants, arriving in Lyttelton on 7 December 1878. James was listed as being a 24-year-old ploughman.
Their first daughter, Mary Theresa, was born in Wellington in April 1879. They had five other children: John Joseph was born in 1880, James Michael b1882, Frederick William b1886, Edward Patrick b1887 and Catherine Elizabeth b1890. Their mother died in 1896, aged 45, leaving a young family. She was buried in Karori Cemetery and her husband, who died in 1925, is buried with her.
In Wellington, the family lived in Brook Street, Thorndon, and later in Little George Street (off Tinakori Road). James worked as a government messenger while the 1905 Electoral Roll listed his sons as labourers.
Edward was not a strong boy and had problems from the age of 8 years. By 1911 he was committed to a mental asylum. Released in March 1913, in August he was before the courts, pleading guilty to a serious assault. He was remanded for medical observation. On 12 August 1913 the Dominion reported that Edward was to be detained for six years’ reformative treatment for the sexual offence.
On 8 May 1917 he enlisted for the army, in Invercargill. He was in prison there at the time and was released on condition that he joined up. During his training at Trentham Camp he was court-martialled for being absent without leave and was also admitted to the Cottage Hospital with gastritis from tobacco chewing.
He sailed for Glasgow from New Zealand on 15 August 1917 with the 29th Rifle Battalion, arriving on 2 October 1917. From here he marched to Brocton Camp, home of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. It was on the edge of Cannock Chase, County Staffordshire and close to the village of Brocton. In December 1917 Edward was in Dublin, where he spent time in King George’s Hospital.
By January 1918 he was once again before the camp authorities, having been apprehended by the civil police after escaping from camp and being absent without leave. The Medical Board at Brocton Camp declared him unfit with psychasthenia (delusional insanity), so he was transferred to the 4th London General Hospital. On 6 April he was returned to New Zealand aboard the Marama.
Edward was discharged from the army on 8 July 1918 and admitted to the Porirua Mental Hospital. He became unwell with influenza and died on 18 November 1918. He was buried in the services section in Karori Cemetery on 20 November. There was no newspaper or In Memoriam notices published. He did not marry.
Born 17 October 1887; died 18 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 30
Service Number 49422
Edward was in trouble from a young age, in and out of mental asylums and up before the courts as well as being in strife with army authorities in New Zealand and overseas. Joining up to get out of prison, he did not see active service in the war despite a year in the army. Months after his discharge in 1918 before the Armistice, he contracted influenza and died.
He was born in Wellington, son of James Joseph Madigan and his wife Elizabeth. His father was born in Limerick, Ireland around 1849; Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown, was born in Ireland around 1851. Their marriage has not been located. In late 1878 they travelled to New Zealand on the Opawa, as assisted immigrants, arriving in Lyttelton on 7 December 1878. James was listed as being a 24-year-old ploughman.
Their first daughter, Mary Theresa, was born in Wellington in April 1879. They had five other children: John Joseph was born in 1880, James Michael b1882, Frederick William b1886, Edward Patrick b1887 and Catherine Elizabeth b1890. Their mother died in 1896, aged 45, leaving a young family. She was buried in Karori Cemetery and her husband, who died in 1925, is buried with her.
In Wellington, the family lived in Brook Street, Thorndon, and later in Little George Street (off Tinakori Road). James worked as a government messenger while the 1905 Electoral Roll listed his sons as labourers.
Edward was not a strong boy and had problems from the age of 8 years. By 1911 he was committed to a mental asylum. Released in March 1913, in August he was before the courts, pleading guilty to a serious assault. He was remanded for medical observation. On 12 August 1913 the Dominion reported that Edward was to be detained for six years’ reformative treatment for the sexual offence.
On 8 May 1917 he enlisted for the army, in Invercargill. He was in prison there at the time and was released on condition that he joined up. During his training at Trentham Camp he was court-martialled for being absent without leave and was also admitted to the Cottage Hospital with gastritis from tobacco chewing.
He sailed for Glasgow from New Zealand on 15 August 1917 with the 29th Rifle Battalion, arriving on 2 October 1917. From here he marched to Brocton Camp, home of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. It was on the edge of Cannock Chase, County Staffordshire and close to the village of Brocton. In December 1917 Edward was in Dublin, where he spent time in King George’s Hospital.
By January 1918 he was once again before the camp authorities, having been apprehended by the civil police after escaping from camp and being absent without leave. The Medical Board at Brocton Camp declared him unfit with psychasthenia (delusional insanity), so he was transferred to the 4th London General Hospital. On 6 April he was returned to New Zealand aboard the Marama.
Edward was discharged from the army on 8 July 1918 and admitted to the Porirua Mental Hospital. He became unwell with influenza and died on 18 November 1918. He was buried in the services section in Karori Cemetery on 20 November. There was no newspaper or In Memoriam notices published. He did not marry.
Sourced from Wellington City Council cemetery database
Several of his siblings remained in Wellington during their lifetimes. They are also buried in Karori Cemetery.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 12 C
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical - www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture> Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls / Madigan Family tree– www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Digitised World War 1 papers – Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Immigration to New Zealand – www.familysearch.org
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 12 C
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical - www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture> Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls / Madigan Family tree– www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Digitised World War 1 papers – Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Immigration to New Zealand – www.familysearch.org