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Private James Lightbody

 

The background of this man is not certain, but based on census and birth, death and marriage records, he may have been the James Lightbody born on 16 April 1898 at Ballyminetragh, Bangor, County Down, the sixth of seven children of agricultural labourer Hugh Lightbody and his wife Jane (née Gaw). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at nearby Groomsport with his parents and four of his five surviving siblings.

Lightbody enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 20 August 1917 (No.2667 – later Corps of Hussars No.71951). He was described as being 5' 7¾" tall, with a sallow complexion, fair hair and blue eyes. He stated that he was 20 years old, was born in Bangor, and worked as a farmer.

Lightbody was reported to have deserted from the regiment's reserve base at Antrim on 18 May 1918. It is not known if he was subsequentially apprehended.

 

This page last updated 24 February 2024.