Private Gordon Lyle McCotter
Gordon Lyle McCotter was born on 14 February 1892 at Roddenfoot, Ballymoney, County Antrim, the fourth of twelve children of labourer (later cycle mechanic) Robert McCotter and his wife Sarah (née Boal). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Roddenfoot with his parents and four of his five surviving siblings and working as a general labourer.
McCotter enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 22 and 24 May 1915 (No.1580 – later Corps of Hussars No.71455). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot before embarking for France in 1916 or 1917, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.
In May and June 1916 A, D and E Squadrons of the North Irish Horse combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, and C and F Squadrons joined the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, both serving in France and Belgium as corps cavalry units.
On 28 December 1917 McCotter was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.476791).
A report in the Ballymoney Free Press of 24 October 1918 stated that he was home on leave from France, but had been laid up with pneumonia.
Following his demobilisation in 1919, McCotter returned to Ballymoney and worked as a labourer. On 1 December 1920 he married Mary O'Neill at the Finvoy Church of Ireland Parish Church. He died at Ballymoney on 3 September 1947.
Image sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees - contributor 'SidwellW'.