Private Clifford Benjamin Cole Arnold
Clifford Benjamin Cole Arnold was born on 16 March 1899 at 27 Indiana Avenue, Belfast, the first of four children of commercial traveller Thomas Spurgeon Arnold and his Yorkshire-born wife Blanche Evadne (nee Cole). Educated at the Belfast Mercantile College, by the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents and siblings at Indiana Avenue.
Arnold enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 29 January and 12 April 1917 (regimental number between 2394 and 2398 or 2400 - later Corps of Hussars No.71801). He embarked for France later that year, or during 1918, where he was posted to one of the three squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.
In March 1918 the 1st NIH Regiment was converted to a cyclist regiment, serving for the remainder of the war as corps cyclists to V Corps. They saw considerable action during the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918.
During the fighting in October, Arnold was gassed. He was treated at Beaulincourt before being evacuated to Etaples and then, probably, to the UK.
Arnold was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 31 January 1919.
After the war Arnold returned to live at Indiana Avenue and worked as a manufacturer's agent. He died on 9 July 1925 as a result of septicemia from a carbuncle.
Belfast Telegraph, 14 July 1925
Image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph, from the last quarter of 1918, kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster (www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com).