Private Samuel Black Logan
Samuel Black Logan was born on 26 September 1877 at Ballymully, Limavady, County Londonderry, the third of five children of farmer John Logan and his wife Eliza Jane (nee Black). By the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Ballymully with his parents and siblings.
Between 1908 and 1910 Logan enlisted in the North Irish Horse (regimental number unknown at present). In November 1910, however, he sailed from London for Australia. He had failed to notify the army of his absence, and when he did not report for duty at the 1911 annual training camp at Newbridge, he was declared a deserter.
Logan returned to Ireland the following year and wrote to the commanding officer of the North Irish Horse informing him of his return. He was immediately arrested. According to newspaper reports:
A special court of Petty Sessions was held at Limavady on Saturday afternoon, before Mr. J.D. Boyd, J.P., at which Samuel B. Logan, of Ballymully, a trooper in the North Irish Horse, who recently returned to this country after a sojourn in New Zealand, was brought up in custody and charged by Head-Constable Samuel Doherty, under the Army Discipline and Regulation Act, 1879, at the instance of the Commanding Officer of the North Irish Horse, with having deserted the latter regiment stationed at Newbridge, county Kildare. Prisoner informed the Court that on his return to this country he had communicated with the Commanding Officer of the regiment informing him of his return. Evidence of arrest was given by Constable Madden, who asked for a remand of eight days. His Worship held that it was an indictable offence, and decided to remand the prisoner until next Court of Petty Sessions, accepting bail for his appearance – himself in £10 and one solvent surety in like amount. Bail was immediately forthcoming, and the prisoner was released.
(The Derry Journal, 6 November 1911)At Limavidy Petty Sessions yesterday, before Mr. J.D. Boyd (presiding), Mr. G.B. Butler, R.M., and other magistrates. Samuel B. Logan, of Ballymully, was charged with being a deserter from the North Irish Horse. Sergeant Major E.D. Freeman, of the North Irish Horse was present on behalf of the military authorities, and produced an official certificate showing that defendant, who was a trooper, had absented himself from the annual training last year at the Curragh. It was necessary, he explained, for the defendant to have reported himself two days previous to the commencement of the training, and when he failed to do so he was listed as a deserter. Head Constable Doherty, who had charge of the case for the police, stated that the defendant had gone to Australia at the beginning of the year. The R.M. – (to defendant) – why did you not report yourself before you went? Defendant – I just did not bother. I reported myself when I came back. Their Worships decided they had no alternative other than fine the defendant. A penalty of £2 2s and costs was imposed.
(The Derry Journal, 15 November 1911)
No record has been found of any later service by Logan in the military.
On 23 November 1913 he married Ellen Loughrey of Terrydremont at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Dungiven.