“Hugh McCabe from Balbriggan, born in Latton, County Monaghan. In 1915, at the age of 22, Hugh was one of the many young Irishmen who volunteered to join the British Army during the First World War. He enlisted at Mullingar and was first posted
to the Leinster Regiment. He also served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Hugh was the recipient of three wound stripes, having been injured in the field of battle on three separate occasions, and was awarded several medals for gallantry. Having witnessed the horror of trench warfare, Hugh was declared ‘no longer fit for war service’ and was discharged from the army in 1919. Following his discharge from the army, Hugh served in the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). He spent some time as a bodyguard to the famous Irish republican politician, Harry Boland. The RIC was disbanded in 1922 and was replaced by An Garda Síochána and Hugh stayed in the Gardaí until his retirement in 1950”
(1930)
Submitted by Anne Toner