Private John Thomas Booth

 

John Thomas Booth was born on 25 May 1890 at Aghnaskew, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, the third of nine children of agricultural labourer Thomas Booth and his wife Mary Anne (née Boothe). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Tullyneevin, Lisnaskea, as a boarder with farmer Robert Woods and working as a farm servant. On 21 May 1913 he married domestic servant Harriet Wilson of Chanterhill, Enniskillen, in the Garvary Church of Ireland Parish Church. The couple had four children over the next seven years.

Booth was one of the first to join the newly-formed 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron, enlisting between 2 and 6 October 1914. He was issued regimental number UD/5. The squadron embarked for France in October 1915 as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division. Booth initially remained with the reserves at Enniskillen, but joined the squadron in the field in 1916 or 1917.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917 when the regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Booth, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Booth was issued regimental number 41528.

No information has been discovered about his service through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918, but he probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917. Records suggest that he may have returned to Enniskillen, perhaps sick, injured or wounded, and there rejoined the Inniskilling Dragoons squadron.

After the war Booth lived in Enniskillen (at Chanterhill then Drumclay) and worked as a labourer.

 

This page last updated 9 January 2023.