Private Joseph Bingham
Joseph Bingham was born on 11 April 1895, the second or third of seven children of labourer (later gas stoker) Joseph Bingham and his wife Elizabeth Ann (née Galbraith). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 46 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, with his parents and his one surviving sibling, and working as an apprentice linen lapper for the York Street Flax Spinning Company.
Bingham enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 13 and 15 November 1915 (No.1869). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
In August-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 Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Bingham, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. He was issued regimental number 41357.
For some reason, however, he was almost immediately transferred back to the North Irish Horse (issued Corps of Hussars No.71606) and was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, which was then serving as corps cavalry to V Corps.
In February-March 1918 the 1st Regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war. Bingham was gassed between late August and early October 1918 during the Advance to Victory offensive.
Following his recovery and discharge from hospital, on 18 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
After the war Bingham returned to Beersbridge Road and resumed work as a line lapper. On 10 September 1919 he married Annie Galbraith in the Willowfield Church of Ireland Parish Church, Belfast. By 1945 they were living at 13 Willowholme Drive, Belfast, Joseph working as a bus driver. He died at home on 30 August that year and was buried in the Dundonald Cemetery.
Image of Bingham with his wife Annie and their son Noel, c.1925, sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees – contributor Ian Fearon.