Sergeant James Clarke Boyd
James Clarke Boyd was born on 6 July 1884 at Ballinagall, County Monaghan, the third of seven children of farmer John Boyd and his wife Elizabeth (nee Clarke).
Boyd enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 7 August and 10 October 1908 (No.203). On 17 August 1914 he embarked for France with A Squadron, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In September 1917 the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment was dismounted and most of its men, together with some from the 1st Regiment, were transferred to the infantry. Like most of the men, on 20 September 1917 Boyd was transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Boyd was issued regimental number 41564 and posted to D Company.
Boyd was listed as missing following the retreat from St Quentin in the German spring offensive from 21 to 28 March 1918. He was one of the many who had been captured, and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was released after the Armistice and arrived in Dover on 30 November 1918.
Boyd returned to farming at Ballinagall and married farmer's daughter Annie Maria Boyd at Ballyalbany on 14 June 1921. He died in 1967.