Private Thomas Johnston

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present. One possibility is a 'Tom Johnston, North Irish Horse', whose name appears on the Drumkeeran Church of Ireland Roll of Honour in County Fermanagh.

Johnston enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 5 and 16 May 1917 (regimental number between 2455 and 2458 – later Corps of Hussars No.71843). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1917 or 1918. There he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse 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 3 December 1919 Johnston was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.