Corporal Hugh Macauley
Hugh Macauley was born on 6 May 1891 at Knocknakeeragh, Ballyrashane, County Londonderry, the fourth of eight children of labourer Robert Macauley and his wife Jane (née Moore). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at nearby Articrunaght South with his parents and five of his siblings, and working as a dairy assistant.
Macauley enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 13 and 19 May 1915 (No.1549 – later Corps of Hussars No.71436). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France on 11 January 1916 with E Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 34th Division.
In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. It then served as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Macauley remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 17 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
The above image, from the Belfast Weekly Telegraph of 26 February 1916, can be seen in its full context here.