6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron

Private Christopher Carson

This man appears to be same person as the Robert John Carson born on 5 December 1886 at Lesky, Boho, County Fermanagh, the fifth of ten children of shopkeeper Christopher Carson and his wife Mary (née Wallace). His mother died when he was just seven years old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Muckenagh, Glenkeel, County Fermanagh, with his father and three of his sisters, and working on the family farm.

Carson enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 23 and 31 October 1914 (No. UD/80). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

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. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Carson, 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. Carson was issued regimental number 41076 and was posted to A Company.

He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.

Carson was captured unwounded on 27 March 1918 at Erches, near Roye, at the end of the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin during the German spring offensive, when much of the battalion was overwhelmed by the fast-moving German advance. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war, held in camps at Giessen and Limburg in Germany. He was repatriated in December 1918.

On 20 March 1919 Carson was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

After the war he applied for a land grant under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act 1919 – his address at the time was Corr, Monea, County Fermanagh.

Two of his medals are shown below. The whereabouts of his 1914-15 Star is unknown.

This page last updated 20 February 2023.