Private William Moffat Clow
William Moffat Clow was born on 10 August 1892 at Killycooly, near Emyvale, County Monaghan, the third of nine children of Scottish-born miller and merchant Peter Clow and his wife, clergyman's daughter Ellen Henrietta (née Carse). His parents died in 1909 and 1910, and by the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 23 Thorndale Avenue, Belfast, with six of his seven surviving siblings, an aunt and two cousins, and working as an apprentice in the linen trade.
Clow enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 4 and 10 June 1915 (No.1681). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot before embarking for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the five North Irish Horse squadrons then serving on the Western Front.
In May and June 1916 C Squadron of the North Irish Horse combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, and A, D and E Squadrons combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units. 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 Clow, were posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. When Clow joined the battalion, and what number he was issued, is not known at present.
It is probable, however, that he fell ill soon after, for on 24 April 1918 he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.517230). He remained with that regiment until 12 July 1919 when he was discharged, suffering from rheumatism, which was attributed to his service.
On 29 July 1931 Clow married Amy Priscilla Heatly. By 1952 he was living at Whitehouse, Doagh Road, County Antrim, and working as a civil servant. He died on 3 November that year and was buried in the Dundonald Cemetery.
Portadown Times, 7 November 1952
Clow's brother, Harry Carse Clow, also served in the war, as a gunner in the Canadian Field Artillery. His cousin, James Moncrieff Clow, served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers and Machine Gun Corps. He was killed in action on 29 September 1918.
Gravestone image sourced from the Billion Graves website.