Private James Kerr
James Kerr was born on 3 May 1896 at Greenmount Terrace, Ballymena, County Antrim, the last of six children of shoemaker David Kerr and his wife Agnes (nee McNeill). His mother died when he was just four years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Greenmount Terrace, Ballymena, with his father and five siblings.
Kerr enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1914 and mid-1917 (regimental number unknown at present). The only known reference to his service in the regiment is a report in the Ballymena Observer of 18 August 1917:
Mr. David Kerr, Greenmount Terrace, Ballymena, has received a field postcard from his son, Rifleman David Kerr, Royal Irish Rifles, that he has been wounded and is in hospital. Kerr enlisted in the North Irish Horse about two years ago, being subsequently transferred to the Rifles. Prior to joining up he was employed as managing clerk to Mr. James Clarke, solicitor, Ballymena. His brother, Trooper James Kerr, is with the N.I.H.
It is likely that Kerr remained at the North Irish Horse reserve depot at Antrim for the period of his service before being demobilised in 1919.
Kerr's brother David Kerr also served in the North Irish Horse during the war.