Private James McConnell
The background of this Norh Irish Horseman is not known for certain. He may, however, be the James Alexander McConnell born on 21 December 1893 at Manorcunningham, Letterkenny, County Donegal, the fifth of seven children of carpenter James McConnell and his wife Jane (nee Hughes). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Manorcunningham with his parents, four siblings and a nephew, and working as a carpenter.
McConnell enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 19 August 1912 (No.731). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 21 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
On 7 September 1914 he was admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance suffering from an inflammation to the ear.
At some point soon after McConnell was evacuated to the UK, and on 8 February 1915 he was discharged, having been found medically unfit for military service (paragraph 392 xvi, King's Regulations).