| Thomas McGonigal was the son of Frederick and Eliza Jane McGonigal. Frederick McGonigal married Eliza Hutchinson on 13th September 1874 in the district of Magherafelt.
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| The spelling of the family name changes from McGonigal to McGonigle throughout. McGonigal will be used for simplicity here.
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| It is believed Thomas McGonigal was born on 28th July 1889 in Tobermore. Thomas was one of at least 8 children.
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| Known family: Frederick McGonigal, Eliza Jane McGonigal, John McGonigal (born 27th September 1874), Robert McGonigal (born 5th April 1877), Joseph McGonigal (born 26th April 1881), Anne Bella McGonigal (born 22nd May 1884), Mary McGonigal (born 27th August 1886), Thomas McGonigal (born 28th July 1889), Hugh Aloysius McGonigal (born 16th January 1896), Alfred McGonigal (born 15th July 1897).
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| The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 11 living with the family at house 12 in Moneyshinare, Tobermore, County Londonderry. Frederick was a farm labourer.
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| The 1911 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 88 in Tobermore Town, County Londonderry.
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| Thomas enlisted in Glasgow.
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| Thomas McGonigal, with his brother Joseph, joined the 5th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
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| In the photo Thomas is sat alongside his friend Driver Robert Hassan/Hessin. Robert Hassan survived the war.
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| The two brothers landed at the Dardanelles on 7th August and went into a severe bayonet charge. Joseph tells of Tom being severely wounded on the right side from a shell, but he never saw him after that.
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| Private Thomas McGonigal was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of wounds at Gallipoli on Monday 16th August 1915.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 18th September 1915: Tobermore Roll of Heroes
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| The second we have to record is Thomas McGonigal, who with his brother Joseph, joined the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His mother received information that her son, Thomas, fell in action at the Dardanelles. He was 24 years of age on 12th July and was well known for his wit and humour. In a letter from his brother, Joseph tells of Tom being severely wounded on the right side from a shell, but he never saw him after and doesn’t know that he is dead, as he thinks he is in hospital all the time. Joseph tells of his own marvellous escape in the same battle. The brushes in his knapsack were riddled with bullets, but he received no harm. The two brothers landed at the Dardanelles on 7th August and went into a severe bayonet charge. Much sympathy is felt for the widowed mother who has three of her sons in the army – Joseph still at the Dardanelles and John with the Ulster Division.
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| Private Thomas McGonigal is buried in Hill 10 Cemetery, North Anzac, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was 26 years old.
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| Another brother, John McGonigal, served with the Ulster Division. He and Joseph McGonigal both survived the war.
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| The CWGC record Private Thomas McGonigal as the son of Fredrick and Eliza Jane McGonigal, of Tobermore, County Derry.
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