Private Samuel Crozier

 

This North Irish Horseman was probably the Samuel Crozier born on 29 May 1896 at Longfield, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, the fourth of eight children of farmer George Crozier and his wife Mary (née West). By the time of the 1911 Census he and his brother George were living at Drumillard, Castleblayney, in the home of grocer Andrew Wilson, where they worked as grocer's assistants.

Crozier enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 23 or 24 November 1915 (No.1961). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1916 or 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 Crozier, 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. Crozier was issued regimental number 41476.

No information has been discovered about Crozier's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918.