Sergeant Thomas McAra Majury
Thomas McAra Majury was born on 29 December 1877 at 19 Castle Lane, Belfast, the fourth of six children of hotel-keeper Andrew Majury and his wife Margaret Brown Majury (nee Tod). His mother died when he was just four years old. His father, having remarried in 1883, died in 1901. By 1911 Thomas was living with his sister, stepmother and half-brother at Castle Lane, and working as a spirit merchant.
Majury enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 11 December 1914 (No.1352). He rose to the rank of sergeant and embarked for France in the first half of 1916, probably with E Squadron on 11 January.
In April or May 1916 he was accidentally injured, and was evacuated to the UK for treatment. On 4 May the following year he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for service due to sickness (paragraph 392 xvi King's Regulations).
Majury later married Lillian Leighton in Windsor, Berkshire. He died at his residence 'Whynot', Crafordsburn Road, Bangor, County Down, on 25 October 1950.
Majury's half-brother Andrew also served in the war, as a private in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Majury and his wife Lilian riding their horses in Windsor Great Park.
By the river alongside Windsor Castle with his daughter Barbara.
I am grateful to Thomas Majury's grand-daughter, Carol Kosy, for providing these images.