Private George Posnett

 

George Posnett. (It is odd that his cap badge appears to be that of the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars.)

 

George Posnett was born on 13 June 1894 at Kennedies, Tynan, County Armagh, the first of two children of railway porter George Posnett and his wife Annie (née Hodge). His father died when he was just two years old. His mother remarried, but died in May 1902. At the time of the 1911 Census George's brother Robert John was living as a boarder at the Meath Industrial School in Blackrock, Dublin. Where George was at the time is not clear, although he may have been the George Posnett shown in the Census as living at Derryclone, Aghagallon, County Antrim, on the farm of Francis McConville, where he worked as a farm servant.

Posnett enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 2 and 9 November 1914 (No. UD/113). 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 Posnett, 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. Posnett was issued regimental number 41168 and was posted to B Company.

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

Posnett was captured 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 at camps in Stendal and Meresberg in Germany. He was repatriated in early January 1919.

On 5 April 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

By 1920 Posnett was living at Killymaddy, Killylea, County Armagh, and working as a labourer. He married Sarah Jane Frazer on 27 May that year in the Knappagh Presbyterian Church, Eglish, County Armagh. He died on the South Tyrone Hospital on 6 June 1962 and was buried in Drumsallen Churchyard.

 

George Posnett in later life

 

Posnett's brother Robert John Posnett also served in the war, in the Divisional Cyclist Company of the 36th (Ulster) Division (No.6659).

 

Robert Posnett, wearing four overseas service chevrons and a signaller's badge.

 

Images sourced from Ancestry.com Public Members Trees – contributor 'edwinherron'.

 

This page last updated 11 February 2023.