Private James Croy
James Croy was born on 24 July 1896 at 64 Douglas Street, Belfast, the ninth, tenth or eleventh child of Inverness-born labourer (formerly a private in the 108th Regiment of Foot) William Croy and his wife Susan (née Brady). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 9 Lecumpher Street, Belfast, with his parents and five of his eight surviving siblings.
Croy enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 23 November 1917 (No.2747 – later Corps of Hussars No.72001). He was described as being 5' 8" tall, with a sallow complexion, dark hair and blue eyes. He gave his occupation as a shipyard labourer.
On 8 December 1917 he married Mary Ryan in St Matthews' Roman Catholic Church, Belfast.
Croy was reported to have deserted from the regiment's reserve base at Antrim on 2 and 14 March 1918. It is not known if he was subsequentially apprehended.
He appears to have been the same man who, from later that year, served in the Royal Irish Rifles (No.23021) and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Nos.44656 and 6973667).
This page last updated 18 February 2024.