Farrier Sergeant James Mooney
Number: 35491
Company: 74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion, Second Contingent
ENLISTMENT
Date: 18 March 1901
Place: Belfast
Age: 39 years stated on enlistment. (Born 19 September 1858 at Moira, County Down.)
Trade or calling: Farrier
Place of birth: In the Parish of Moira, in or near the Town of Belfast, in County Down
Family: Married. Wife Jane Mooney (nee McAdam), of 31 Pearl Street, Belfast. Father John Mooney, labourer, mother Mary Mooney.
Previous military service: 5th and 17th Lancers
Description: Height 5' 10 1/2". Complexion fresh, eyes grey, hair brown.
Religion: Church of England
ACTIVE SERVICE
Date to South Africa: 16 April 1901
Date home: 13 March 1902
Service medal, clasps and other awards: Queen's South Africa Medal. Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, 1901, 1902 clasps.
DISCHARGE
Date: 13 April 1902
Place: Shorncliffe
Reason for discharge: Medically unfit for further service - dental caries
On 10 June 1878 Mooney enlisted in the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers at Belfast (No.2015). On 15 February the following year he transferred to the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers (No.2285). Days later he embarked for South Africa, where he saw service in the Zulu War. Later that year he went with his regiment to India, remaining there until he returned home on 8 November 1888. By then he had reached the rank of farrier sergeant. At the end of the year he was discharged and entered the army reserve, his character recorded as 'very good'.
On 24 May 1889 Mooney married widow Jane McAdam (nee Kennedy). The couple had five children, as well as raising Jane's child from her first marriage.
Mooney was appointed Farrier Sergeant immediately on enlisting in the Imperial Yeomanry, holding that rank until his discharge.
At the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his children and step-son at 6 Frank Place, Belfast, and working as an iron works furnace man. His wife Jane had died the previous year.
In World War 1 he served in the North Irish Horse. Further details can be seen here.
This page last updated 3 May 2026.