Corporal William James Leinster, 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, Service No. 7/9357, formerly North Irish Horse, Service No. 986.

Born Kilmore, County Cavan, Enlisted Dublin, Residence Breandrum, Drumconllick, County Cavan. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Leinster of Breandrum, Drumconllick.

Killed in action on 24 July 1916, aged 20.

Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave V.G.29.

Grave inscription reads:

7/9357 CORPORAL

W. J. LEINSTER

ROYAL IRISH RIFLES

24TH JULY 1916

WHOSOEVER LIVETH

AND BELIEVETH IN ME

SHALL NEVER DIE

Note: There is no certainty that this man did serve in the North Irish Horse. Although he is shown as such in the Soldiers Died list, with NIH Service Number 986, no other reference confirms this, and the 986 Service Number is shown elsewhere as belonging to another man.

Image kindly provided by Mick McCann, through his British War Graves website www.britishwargraves.co.uk.