Corporal Richard Hoy
Richard Hoy was born on on 27 June 1885 at Clanrolla, Lurgan, County Armagh, one of seven children of butcher (later farmer) Thomas Hoy and his wife Anne Eliza (nee Graham). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Clanrolla with his parents and three siblings, and working as a butcher.
Hoy enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 16 and 20 August 1910 (No.528 – later Corps of Hussars No.71032). On 11 January 1916 he embarked for France with E Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 34th Division.
In May 1916 A, D and E Squadrons came together to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX then V Corps until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist regiment. It served as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Hoy remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 24 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
The above image, taken in France in 1916, can be seen in its full context here.