Corporal Shoeing Smith John Henry Kingsbury

 

John Henry Kingsbury was born on 12 November 1882 at Tullylorcan, Cootehill, County Cavan, the second of eight children of blacksmith George Kingsbury and his wife Mary Jane (née Wade). At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Galbolie, Bailieboro, County Cavan at the home of grocer and blacksmith James Corrie, for whom he worked as a blacksmith.

By 1908 he was living at College Square, Bessbrook, County Armagh, and following his trade as a blacksmith. On 17 April that year he married Annie Henning in the Bessbrook Church of Ireland Parish Church. The couple had three children over the next six years. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living in nearby Derrymore, County Armagh, John working as a blacksmith and Annie as a spinner in a linen mill.

Kingsbury enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 25 November 1914 and 9 February 1915 (No. UD/205 – later Corps of Dragoons number 21258). He was soon after given the rank of shoeing-smith.

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 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 1917.

Prior to August 1917 Kingsbury returned to the UK, probably due to sickness or injury. He spent the remainder of the war at the squadron's reserve camp at Enniskillen. On 8 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

In the late 1920s or 1930s Kingsbury moved with his family to England. At the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 25 Ivy Road, Birmingham and working as a blacksmith.

 

This page last updated 30 January 2023.