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Private William Andrew Bamford

 

 

William Andrew Bamford was born on 29 May 1893 at Woodburn, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, the last of seven children of farmer and carter Andrew Bamford and his wife Eliza (nee Martin). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Carrickfergus with his parents, two sisters and a nephew and working on the family farm.

He initially enlisted in the North Irish Horse (date and number at present unknown).

In November the following year Bamford, together with around 100 other North Irish Horsemen, volunteered to transfer to the Royal Irish Rifles (No.40852). They embarked for France on 7 December, where they joined the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, on the Somme front. At the end of January 1917 he was admitted to the 31st Ambulance Train suffering from diaharrea and trench feet.

Little more is known of his military service, other than that he survived the war.

 

 

 

Carrickfergus Loyal Orange Lodge Roll of Honour

 

Images 1 and 2 kindly provided by Karen Clark of Toronto, Canada. Images 3 and 4 sourced from Carrickfergus Roll of Honour.