Eoin McGonigal
Eoin McGonigal | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 December 1920 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 17 November 1941 (aged 20) Libya |
| Cause of death | Died in deployment |
| Buried | Libya Desert |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army SAS |
| Years of service | 1939–1941 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Service number | 97290 |
| Unit | Royal Ulster Rifles No. 11 (Scottish) Commando SAS |
| Battles / wars | |
| Memorials | Alamein Memorial |
| Relations | Ambrose McGonigal (brother) |
Eoin Christopher McGonigal (5 December 1920 – 17 November 1941) was an officer of the British Army and a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS).[1][2][3]
Before joining the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1939, he studied law at Trinity College Dublin. He later became a member of the No. 11 (Scottish) Commando before joining the Special Air Service along with his best friend, Paddy Mayne.[2] He was killed after a parachute jump during Operation Squatter, an unsuccessful raid on forward Axis airfields in North Africa, in support of Operation Crusader.[1][4]
Personal life
Born in Dublin to John McGonigal and Margaret McGonigal, he was brought up in Belfast. He was the younger brother of Ambrose McGonigal, who later became a High Court Judge in Northern Ireland.[2]
In popular culture
McGonigal is portrayed by Dónal Finn in the BBC action drama SAS: Rogue Heroes.
References
- ^ a b McGonigal, Patric (2022). Special Forces Brothers in Arms: Eoin and Ambrose Mcgonigal: War in the SAS and SBS. Havertown: Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN 1399082191.
- ^ a b c "Eoin McGonigal: Paddy Mayne's best friend and SAS original". Belfast Telegraph. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Michael Asher (2011). Get Rommel: The Secret British Mission to Kill Hitler's Greatest General. Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 9781780222554.
- ^ Michael Murphy (8 November 2022). "Brave, brutal and misunderstood: Paddy Mayne, the daring Irishman who pioneered the modern SAS". The Irish Post. Retrieved 3 May 2025.