Private William James McMahon
William James McMahon was born on 27 July 1886 at Milford, County Donegal, the first of six children of miller James McMahon and his wife Mary Taggart McMahon (nee Meneely). By 1911 he was living with his parents, four brothers and an aunt at The Mills, Milford, and working as a clerk.
McMahon enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Letterkenny on 24 February 1911 (No.591). He gave his occupation as farmer. He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
McMahon's must have been wounded, injured or fallen ill, for he left France for the UK on 22 September 1914. He spent the remainder of his service at the North Irish Horse reserve depot at Antrim.
When McMahon's period of service expired he chose to leave the army. He was discharged at Antrim as 'time expired' on 23 February 1916, his record of service marked as "very good".
Two of McMahon's brothers, John Doak McMahon and Arthur Edwin McMahon, also served in the war with the North Irish Horse.