Private William John McWatters
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that, soon after the war, he was living at Magheraleave Road (Magheralave), Lisburn, County Antrim.
McWatters enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 29 April and 1 May 1915 (No.1506 – later Corps of Hussars No.71411). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.
In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
McWatters remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 28 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. Until December 1921 he received a pension for a displaced knee cartilage, which was attributed to his military service.