Sergeant William Martin
William Martin was born on 1 September 1878 at Carrygolan, Camus, County Tyrone, the youngest of four children of farmer William Martin and his wife Mary (nee Inch). Both his parents had died by 1901 and Martin was running the family farm with his sisters Rebecca and Minnie.
Martin enlisted in the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry in December 1906. On 6 July 1908 at Newbridge the regiment was disbanded and re-formed as the North Irish Horse. Martin was one of those who transferred to the new regiment – he was assigned No.35 on the North Irish Horse roll.
He was promoted to lance corporal on 7 April 1911, corporal on 30 April 1912, and sergeant on 23 May 1912.
Martin was mobilised at the beginning of the war, but on 13 August 1914 was admitted to hospital at Londonderry suffering from ruptured tendons. The following month he appeared before a medical board and was found unfit for further service. He was discharged at Londonderry on 14 September under paragraph 154 of the Special Reserve Regulations, his military character recorded as "very good".
The image shows Martin in 1912. The full picture can be seen here.