Private John McFetridge
John McFetridge was born on 29 July 1895 at 13 Wensley Street, Belfast, the seventh of ten children of labourer (later engine driver) James McFetridge and his wife Susanna (nee Lowry). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents and six siblings at 166 Snugville Street, Belfast, and working as a machine boy in a mill.
On 17 September 1913 McFetridge enlisted in the Royal Navy. However he was invalided out four months later with a 'disease of the right ear'.
McFetridge enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 and 23 November 1915 (No.1941). He embarked for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.
In September 1917 the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment was disbanded and most of its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Like most of the men, McFetridge was transferred on 20 September. He was issued a new regimental number – 41464 – and was posted to B Company. It is likely that he saw action with the battalion in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and perhaps also in the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918.
McFetridge was wounded on 12 April 1918 in the actions between Wulverghem and Kemmel on the Ypres front.
Image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster (www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com).