Private Andrew McIlvenny
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not clear. He may have been one of the following:
Andrew McIlvenney born on 28 July 1892 at 22 Somerset Street, Belfast, one of eight children of labourer John McIlvenney and his wife Margaret (née Dunlop). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 15 Raby Street, Belfast, with his parents and his six surviving siblings, and working as an apprentice painter.
Andrew Davis McIlvenny born on 8 March 1893 at Kenlis Street, Banbridge, County Down, one of at least five children of linen tenter Richard McIlvenny and his wife Sarah Jane (née Green). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Woodlee Street, Belfast, with his brother, his sister and her two sons, and working as a grocer's assistant.
McIlvenny enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 14 and 26 January 1916 (No. 2081, 2082 or 2084 – later Corps of Hussars No.71690). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918 (probably in late 1917 or 1918), where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
On 9 February 1919 McIlvenny was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
The Andrew McIlvenny born in Somerset Street married Annie Rogers in St Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Belfast on 15 July 1919. At the time he was living at 97 Great Victoria Street and working as a painter. His brother John also served in the war, in the Royal Irish Rifles, and was wounded twice.