Private Percy Britt Coulter
Percy Britt Coulter was born on 28 May 1894 in Bow Street, Lisburn, County Antrim, the sixth of nine children of grocer James Coulter and his wife Jane (née Graham). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Princetown Avenue, Bangor, County Down, where he worked as an apprentice for grocer Thomas Cairns.
Coulter enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 27 December 1916 and 1 January 1917 (No.2341). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 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 Coulter, 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. Coulter was issued regimental number 41349.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917, and perhaps also during the retreat from St Quentin and the fighting around Mt Kemmel in March and April 1918.
Coulter was wounded during the Advance to Victory offensive, perhaps on 4 September in the attack near Wulverghem. He was discharged (or demobilised) on 5 February 1919.
After the war Coulter lived at Lisburn and worked as a grocer. On 9 March 1921 he married Lily Williamson Boyd in the Drumbo Presbyterian Church, County Down. Their only son, Kenneth Boyd Coulter, died while serving as a wireless operator and air gunner on a Lancaster bomber which was shot down over France on 28 June 1943 (see details here). Percy Coulter died at his home, 35 Seymour Street, Lisburn, on 25 April 1968.
Two of Coulter's brothers, James and Theodore, also served in the war, in the Royal Irish Rifles. Theodore was made a prisoner of war on 21 March 1918.