---

 

Private John James Gillespie

 

 

John James Gillespie was born on 1 April 1888 at Mullinroe, Granard, County Longford, the first of thirteen children of land steward Thomas Gillespie and his wife Sarah Jane (nee Bell). By 1911 he was living with his family at nearby Derrycassan.

Gillespie had enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 6 July and 7 August 1908 (No.187 – later Corps of Hussars No.71008). He embarked for France on 17 August 1914 as part of A Squadron, seeing action in the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

He served with the regiment throughout the war, and was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 17 April 1919.

Gillespie returned to farming at Derrycassan after the war. He married Mary Jane Noble at Columbkille Parish Church, County Longford, on 1 January 1920.

 

Image sourced from Richard Doherty's The North Irish Horse: A Hundred Years of Service.