Private William Orr

 

 

William Orr was born at Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, on 23 September 1895, the third of eight children of carpenter John Orr and his wife Rebecca ((née Cranston). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Brookeborough Town with his parents and six surviving siblings, and working as a carpenter's apprentice.

Orr enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 26 October 1914 (No. UD/63) with his brother Henry and uncle Thomas. His father, another brother and another uncle had already joined the squadron. 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.

The Fermanagh Times of 11 January 1917 reported that:

A number of men of the Inniskilling Dragoons, including Troopers Harry and Willie Orr, and Andrew Nixon, ... are at present at home on leave from the front.

In September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry battalion. Most, including Orr, 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 some days later. Orr was issued regimental number 41092.

Orr was wounded during the Battle of Cambrai, probably during the fighting around Marcoing in December 1917. Probably evacuated to the UK for treatment, he was found to be suffering from phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis). On 29 July 1918 he was discharged, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations).

 

Two of Orr's brothers, Henry Orr and John Robert Orr, his father John Orr and two of his uncles, Henry Orr and Thomas Joseph Orr, also served in the war in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron.

 

The image of Private Orr is part of a family military photograph which can be seen in its full context here.

 

This page last updated 19 April 2023.