Son of Marcus Michael and Eileen Hartigan, of Battle, Sussex. The only son of Lieut. Colonel M. M. Hartigan, Secretary of the 1820 Memorial Settler's Association in London, Captain Hartigan was born at Grahamstown, South Africa in May, 1915. He was educated at Cheltenham where he got his colours for Rugby football, and was an under-officer in the College O.T.C. He obtained the Headmaster's nomination from Cheltenham to Sandhurst, where he again became an under-officer. At the age of 20 he received a commission in the Sherwood Foresters. He was a keen and intelligent soldier, who would most certainly have attained high rank in the Army. In athletics he excelled, being an exceptionally fine fencer and a good boxer. As a Rugby footballer he played for the Aldershot Command, as well as for the London Irish.