Lance Corporal George Thomas Honer
George Thomas Honer (originally named Thomas George) was born on 19 August 1897 at 17 Thompson Street, Belfast, the third of five children of locomotive engine driver Thomas George Honer and his Glasgow-born wife Margaret Gilmour (nee Brown). By 1911 he was living with his parents and four siblings at 36 Madrid Street Belfast.
Honer enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 4 January 1915 (No.1374 – later Corps of Hussars No.71360). It is likely that he over-stated his age by a year or two. He embarked for France with F Squadron on 17 November 1915.
Honer probably fell ill or was wounded or injured prior to August 1917, and returned to the North Irish Horse reserve depot at Antrim.
On 3 January 1919 he was discharged as surplus to military requirements, not having suffered impairment since entry into the service (paragraph 392 xxv(a) King's Regulations).
After the war Honer emigrated to Canada, where he joined his older brother Walter. On 8 August 1927 he married Laura Mary Lamb at Timiskaming, Ontario. Honer died on 11 June 1973 and was buried in the Kirkland Lake Cemetery. Ontario.
Honer with fellow Horseman Private Brennan at Bethune between December 1915 and April 1916.
Image of Honer and Brennan sourced from Richard Doherty's The North Irish Horse: A Hundred Years of Service. Image of Honer later in life sourced from Ancestry, contributor George Schoemaker. Gravestone image sourced from Find-a-Grave website.