Private John Henry Hurst
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not entirely clear. Based on his military record in 1919, he was born around 1899, was a horse trainer, lived at 3 North Bridge Place, Frog Island, Leicester, and his father was named Joseph. The 1901 and 1911 Censuses show a Hurst family living at North Bridge Place, Frog Island which includes a John Hurst, aged 2 in 1901, born in Leicester, although his father is shown as William rather than Joseph. In 1911 John was living as a boarder at the Desford Industrial School, Leicester.
Hurst enlisted in the cavalry on 11 December 1916 (regimental number H/33022). Initially posted to a Hussars regiment, in 1917 or early 1918 he was posted to the North Irish Horse, embarking for France on 31 March 1918. There he was posted to the 1st (NIH) Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
On 16 April 1919 Hurst was transferred to the Dragoons (No. D/32859) and was posted to the 6th Dragoon Guards. He returned to the UK on 12 August 1919 and on 16 December was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
This page last updated 3 January 2023.