Private John James Milligan
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, but he may have been the John James Milligan born on 22 January 1886 at Drummacahan, Ederney, County Fermanagh, the third of four children of farmer George Milligan and his wife Catherine (née Barton). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Drummacahan with his parents and siblings and working on the family farm.
Milligan enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 13 January and 1 February 1913 (No.785). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men transferred to the infantry. Like most, Milligan was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September, joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. He was issued regimental number 41326. He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
No information has been located about Milligan's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through 1918.