Private John Thomas Trotter

 

John Thomas Trotter was born on 27 July 1892 at Maguiresbridge, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, the second of six children of carpenter Thomas Trotter and his wife Elizabeth (née Armstrong). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Culky near Enniskillen with his parents and four of his siblings, and working as an apprentice printer. Soon after the family moved to 9 Castle Street, Enniskillen.

Trotter enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 10 April 1914 (No. UD/246). 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 September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry battalion. Most, including Trotter, 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. Trotter was issued regimental number 41513.

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

In January 1918 the 9th (NIH) Battalion moved to a new sector in front of St Quentin. Trotter was wounded around this time, probably in January or February. Evacuated to the UK for treatment, on 4 September 1918 he was discharged from the army, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' due to his wounds (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). He was granted a pension, his level of disability assessed at 20 per cent in November 1920.

 

This page last updated 2 May 2023.