North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private Francis Tate

Francis (Frank) Tate was born on 10 December 1897 at 46 Donegall Pass, Belfast, the youngest of six children of fruiterer (later a carpenter) William Edwin Tate and his wife Sarah (nee McClune). By 1911 Frank was living with his family at Harrow Street, Belfast, and working as an apprentice designer.

Tate enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim between 1 and 3 March 1916 (No.2119).

In late 1916 or the first half of 1917 he arrived in France and was posted to the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, probably the latter.

In September 1917 the 2nd Regiment was dismounted and most of its officers and men, and some from the 1st Regiment, were transferred to the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – which was then re-named the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Tate was transferred to the battalion with the majority of the men on 20 September and issued a new number – 41195. He was posted to D Company.

Private Tate was posted as missing during the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 27 March 1918. His body was located and buried by the Germans in the vicinity of Ham (map reference Ham 1/20000, 331.3x166.4) – this suggests he was killed in the first days of the retreat.

After the war Tate's body was exhumed and re-buried at Noyon New British Cemetery, Oise, France, grave II.B.5. His gravestone inscription reads:

41195 PRIVATE
F. TATE
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
21ST MARCH 1918