Private Robert James Cathers
Robert James Cathers (or Cather) was born on 26 September 1881 at Creeduff, Castlederg, County Tyrone, the last of four children of farmer Alexander Cather and his wife Ellen (née Knox). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Creeduff with his parents, a brother and and aunt, and working as a labourer.
Cathers enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 21 December 1912 and 10 January 1913 (No.777). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men transferred to the infantry. Like most, Cathers was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September, joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. He was issued regimental number 41291 and posted to C Company. It is likely that he saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Cathers was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March during the German spring offensive. It was later learned that he had been captured, unwounded, on 27 March at Erches, near Roye, when much of the battalion had been overwhelmed by the fast-moving German advance.
Cathers remained a prisoner until the end of the war, held at camps in Giessen and Limburg.