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Sergeant John McClure

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is clear at present, other than that in 1915 he lived at Townhead Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. He was probably the John McClure, aged 17, blacksmith, living in High Street, Ballymoney, with his grandmother Ellen McFarland, at the time of the 1911 Census.

McClure enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 24 May 1915 (No.1595 – later Corps of Hussars No.71463). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.

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. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers, and it was at this time – between mid-March and early-May, that McClure was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (No.148341).

McClure remained with that regiment until the end of the war. On 22 May 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.