Corporal Samuel Hives
Samuel Hives was born in 1895 in Dumbarton, Scotland, the first of five children of County Antrim-born parents, tenter and potato salesman Samuel Hives and his wife Matilda (nee Cummings). His family returned to Ireland between 1904 and 1910, and by the time of the 1911 Census were living at Kathleen Street, Belfast, the younger Samuel working as a message-boy.
Hives enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 1 November 1915 (No.1764 – later Corps of Hussars No 71546). He embarked for France between 1916 and 1918, where he was posted to one of the three squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.
In 1918 Hives applied for a commission in the infantry. He embarked for the UK, where he was posted to No.14 Officer Cadet Battalion at Catterick. The war ended before he could complete his training and gain a commission, however, and on 15 January 1919 he was struck off the strength of the battalion and posted to the 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, at West Hartlepool.
Hives was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 11 February 1919. He returned to Ireland, and by 1920 was living at 118 Mountpottinger Road, Belfast, and working as a 'holder up to riveter'. On 26 June that year he married Catherine Thompson at Knock Methodist Church.
In 1924 the couple emigrated to Canada. Samuel died on 18 May 1992 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was buried in the Saint Vital Cemetery.
Image sourced from the Find-a-Grave website.