Shoeing Smith Corporal Thomas Bailey
Thomas Bailey was born on 7 March 1878 at Allen, Cookstown, County Tyrone, the second of five children on blacksmith James Bailey and his wife Margaret (nee Wallace). He grew up at Clogher, County Tyrone, but by the time of the 1911 Census was living with his father and three siblings at Edenmore, Florence Court, County Fermanagh, and working as a blacksmith.
Bailey enlisted in the North Irish Horse on its formation at Newbridge on 6 July 1908 (No.180). It is likely therefore that he had served in the regiment's predecessor, the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry, which was disbanded at Newbridge at the same time.
He embarked for France in 1916 or 1917, either with D Squadron in January 1916 or with a later reinforcement draft for the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
On 16 December 1916 he married Mary Jane Johnston in Belfast.
On 1 October 1917 Bailey was discharged, being no longer physically fit for military service (Paragraph 392 xvi King's Regulations). He was suffering from sciatica, which was attributed to his military service, and was therefore granted a pension.
The image above shows Bailey (at rear) in late November 1914. The full picture can be seen here.