Shoeing Smith William Murray
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not certain. He may have been the William Ernest Murray born on 27 February 1890 at Bohermore, Bagenalstown, County Carlow, second of four children of farmer Thomas Murray and his Londonderry-born wife Susan (née McKeeman). His father died when he was just seven years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Bohermore with his mother and older sister and working on the family farm.
Murray enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 8 October 1914 (No.1290). On 1 May 1915 he embarked for France with D Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 51st Division.
In May 1916 D Squadron came together with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps.
At some point, however, Murray sustained an injury, which was serious enough to end his military career. On 9 January 1917 he was discharged, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392(xvi), King's Regulations).