Private Henry Harrison Adair
Henry Harrison Adair was born on 1 August 1887 at 1 Wellington Park Terrace, Belfast, the third of seven children of printer and stationer Hugh Ainsworth Adair and his wife Elizabeth Jane (née Long). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cultra, Holywood, County Down, with his parents, two of his siblings and a great-aunt, and working as an assistant printer and stationer.
Adair enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 4 and 10 June 1915 (No.1674). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and the first half of 1917.
In May and June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, and A, D and E Squadrons combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units. In September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the infantry. Like most, Adair joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September. He was issued regimental number 41496.
No information has been located about Adair's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918.
By 1920 Adair was living at Lynton Cottage, Craigavad, County Down, and working as a printer. On 31 March that year he married Louisa Adams at St Nicholas Church of Ireland Parish Church, Belfast.