Lance Corporal Henry Stafford Corbett
Henry Stafford Corbett was born on 25 June 1886 in Ross, Herefordshire, the fourth or fifth of five children of parish clerk and sexton Francis Corbett and his wife Maria (née Thorne). By the time of the 1901 Census he was living in The Churchyard, Ross, with his parents. At some point in the next decade he enlisted in the 3rd (King's Own) Hussars (No.306). At the time of the 1911 Census he was serving with his regiment at Roberts' Heights, Transvaal, South Africa.
Following the outbreak of war Corbett embarked for France with his regiment on 15 August 1914. At some point he was subsequently attached to the headquarters of the 70th Infantry Brigade.
It is probable that during 1915 or early 1916 Corbett returned to the UK, perhaps sick or wounded. He re-embarked for France at the end of June 1916, having been posted to the headquarters establishment of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment following the formation of that regiment in France from C and F Squadrons and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron. The headquarters, formed in England and comprising 40 officers and men, joined the new regiment in France at the beginning of July.
Corbett was mentioned in the war diary of the 2nd NIH Regiment on 17 August 1916:
Routine work. Capt Foster, Ptes Corbett & Greer (N.I.H.) proceeded to 95th Inf[antr]y Bde for duty.
The 2nd NIH Regiment served as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917, when it was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Corbett, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Corbett was issued regimental number 41520.
No information has been discovered about Corbett's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918.
After the war Corbett returned to England. The 1939 Register shows him living at 40 Bath Parade, Cheltenham, and working as a commercial traveller for a wholesale chemist.