James Duffy

He went back alone to carry both wounded comrades to safety.

James Duffy was born in Gweedore, County Donegal, on 17 November 1889 and grew up near Letterkenny. He worked in fishing and later moved to Scotland, finding employment at John Brown’s shipyard on the Clyde. When war came, he enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in December 1914.

With the 6th Battalion, part of the 10th Irish Division, he served at Gallipoli and then in the difficult Salonika campaign. By 1917 the battalion had moved to Egypt and Palestine. Duffy served as a stretcher-bearer, carrying out a task that repeatedly required movement across ground exposed to enemy fire.

On 27 December 1917, near Kereina Peak, his company occupied an exposed position. Duffy and another bearer went out to recover a seriously wounded soldier. When his companion was hit, Duffy returned for help. The replacement bearer was killed during the next attempt. Duffy then went forward alone, brought both surviving wounded men under cover and treated them. His persistence saved their lives and earned the Victoria Cross.

The battalion transferred to France in 1918, and George V presented the decoration at Buckingham Palace that July. Duffy married Maggie Hegarty and returned to Donegal after demobilization. They raised a large family, but employment was irregular and the illnesses acquired during service continued to affect him. He received help from veterans’ organizations and attended hospital for malaria and rheumatism.

Maggie died in 1944. Duffy remained associated with his old regiment and attended commemorations, including the Victoria Cross centenary in London in 1956. He arranged for his medals to pass to the regiment, ensuring that the story of his stretcher-bearing work would be preserved.

He died on 8 April 1969 and was buried beside his wife at Conwal Cemetery, Letterkenny. Soldiers of the Royal Irish Rangers attended his military funeral while the town paused to honour him.