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Private Thomas Kane

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was born around 1887.

Thomas Kane enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 16 November 1915 (regimental number unknown). At the end of December he was one of forty North Irish Horsemen who volunteered to transfer to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The formal transfer took place on 9 January 1917, and on the same day they embarked for France, where they were posted to the 10th Battalion, joining it at Ploegsteert Wood on the Ypres front on 16 January. Kane was issued regimental number 40648.

During 1917 Kane fell ill and was evacuated to the UK for treatment. Initially diagnosed to be suffering from 'VDH' (valvular disease of the heart), on 1 January 1918 he was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). The illness was later downgraded to 'DAH' (disordered action of the heart).

Soon after his discharge Kane was living at 20 Cranburn Street, Belfast.