Lieutenant Richard Knox
Richard Knox was born on 25 March 1885 at Clyhore, Beleek, County Donegal, the second of six children of farmer William Knox and his wife Ellen (nee Hill). He grew up on the family farm and was educated at Rockfield National School.
Knox enlisted in the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry on 1 March 1906 (No.544). On 6 July 1908 at Newbridge the regiment was disbanded and re-formed as the North Irish Horse. Knox was one of those who transferred to the new regiment – he was assigned No.67 on the North Irish Horse roll (later Corps of Hussars No.71004). He was promoted to corporal on 30 November 1908, lance sergeant on 28 December 1909, sergeant on 9 April 1910, squadron quartermaster sergeant on 8 April 1913, squadron sergeant-major on 16 August 1913 and warrant officer (class II) on 29 January 1915. He reverted to the rank on sergeant on 26 October 1915.
On 17 November 1915 he embarked for France with F Squadron of the North Irish Horse.
In June 1916 F Squadron joined with C Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until August 1917. In that month orders were received that the regiment would be dismounted and the men transferred to an infantry battalion. Knox applied for a commission on 27 August and the following month returned to Ireland where, on 7 December, he was posted to No.7 Officer Training Battalion at Fermoy.
In the meantime, Knox had been awarded a Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Knox performed fairly well at officer training. He was assessed as "a slow type but should make a reliable officer" [and] "an average Cadet, who will do." On 1 May 1918 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians).
Following a period of illness Knox was ordered to France where he joined the 6th Battalion, Leinster Regiment, in the field on 31 August 1918. Two weeks later that battalion was disbanded and Knox was posted to the 6th Leinsters and within days to the 1/12th Battalion, London Regiment.
On 8 February 1919 he was posted to the 2/16th Battalion, London Regiment, remaining with that unit until the beginning of November 1919 when he returned to the UK.
Knox was promoted to lieutenant on 1 November 1919 and five days later relinquished his commission on completion of his service.
The image shows Knox in 1912. The full picture can be seen here.