WWI 1914-15 Star Medal - John Dignan
code: LVSAV2023.043
Description
WWI bronze Star Medal, 1914-1915, for Private John Dignan, Royal Scots. No ribbon.
John Dignan was born in East Calder in 1897 and by 1911, the family had moved to Goschen Place in Uphall where John was already working as a shale miner at the age of 15. However by the 1921 census, the family had moved to Tarbrax where he and his brothers worked in the shale mine. His father was born in Roscommon in Ireland.
He served in the Royal Scots Third Battalion during WW1 and was awarded the 1914-1915 Star Medal.
Although John and his brothers all worked in the shale industry, John emigrated to the USA, leaving from Glasgow on 10th April 1923 destined for Ellis Island in New York. He ended up working for the Goodrich Tire company in Akron, Ohio and whilst there, met and married Elizabeth Johnstone from Aberdeenshire. They married on 31st December 1925 and had 4 children.
John died on 11 May 1977.
