Corporal Thomas Greer

 

Thomas Greer (sometimes spelled Green) was born on 17 February 1896 at 16 Euston Street, Belfast, the third of nine children of labourer Thomas Greer and his wife Agnes (née Rainey). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 33 Eversleigh Street, Belfast, with his parents and five of his siblings, and working as a pawn broker.

Greer enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons between 2 and 13 November 1914 (No.UD/130). He trained at Enniskillen before embarking for France with his squadron on 6 October 1915.

The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron served as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division until June 1916, when it was brought together with B and C Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.

Greer may be the soldier mentioned in the regimental diary of 17 August 1916:

Capt Foster, Ptes Corbett & Greer (N.I.H.) proceeded to 95th Inf[antr]y Bde for duty.

In September 1917 the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the infantry. Most, including Greer, 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. Greer was issued regimental number 41105 and posted to A Company.

He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and perhaps also during the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918.

Greer was captured, unwounded, during the fighting on the Messines Ridge on 12 April 1918. He remained a prisoner, held at the Friedrichsfeld camp in Germany, until the end of the war. He arrived in England following his release, in November 1918.

On 21 March 1919 Greer was demobilised and transferred to ClassZ, Army Reserve.

After the war he returned to 33 Eversleigh Street and found work as a checker. On 27 April 1920 he married Agnes Cooper in the Willowfield Church of Ireland Parish Church, Belfast. The couple lived at 87 Donegall Pass, where their first child, Isabel, was born in April 1921.

 

This page last updated 2 March 2023.