North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private George William Stronge

George William Stronge (or Strong) was born on 28 July 1891 at Aughlish, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the second of eight children of farmer John Stronge and his wife Mary Jane (nee Waterson). By 1911 he was living at Faugher, County Fermanagh and four years later at Sligo, at both places working as a shop assistant.

Stronge enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Sligo on 16 November 1915, reporting for duty at Antrim on 30 December (No.2049). He embarked for France on 23 April 1917, where he was posted to the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, joining it at Boeschepe on 4 June.

In September 1917 the 2nd Regiment was dismounted and most of its men transferred to the infantry. After a brief period of training at the 36th (Ulster) Division's Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, they were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 20 September and soon after posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Stronge was issued regimental number 41561 and posted to D Company. He probably saw action with the battalion during the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.

Stronge was one of the many of the 9th Battalion listed as missing following the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. In fact he had been captured. He died of 'bronchitis and cardiac weakness' at the Bavarian War Hospital, Hautmont, on 8 July 1918.

Private Stronge is buried in the Hautmont Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave V.B.5. The gravestone inscription reads:

41561 PRIVATE
G. STRONGE
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
8TH JULY 1918