Private Richard Malcomson
Richard Malcomson was born on 23 March 1897 at Drumadonnell, Banbridge, County Down, the first of nine children of farmer Thomas Park Malcomson and his wife Minnie (née Osborne). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Drumadonnell with his parents and siblings. He later worked as horse trainer.
Malcomson enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Newry on 14 November 1917, reporting for duty at Antrim the following day. He was issued regimental number 2738 – later Corps of Hussars No.71992).
On 4 February the following year, however, according to a medical board report:
... when on a week-end leave he caught his hand in a turnip slicer. The local M.D. Dr Lavery amputated his 4 finger ... He remained at home under said D[octo]rs treatment until March 4 '18, when he was admitted to Military Hospital Belfast, where hand was dressed & he was transferred to Hilden Conv[alescent] Home ...
The board recommend that he be discharged as permanently unfit, which took place on 25 April (paragraph 392(xvi), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'good'. 'Sober, honest & hardworking.'
Malcomson returned to Drumadonnell where, on 2 April 1919 he married Sarah Jane McIlveen in the Registrar's Office, Banbridge.
Image sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees – contributor 'noelmalcolmson'.