Private Stanley Murrell
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was born around 1892 and was from Regent's Park NW, London. By the time war broke out he was living at 94 Denmark Street, Belfast.
Stanley Murrell (or Daniel Murrell in some records) enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 1 October 1914 (No.1238). On 28 April 1915 he embarked for France with a reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons – he was probably posted to the latter.
In May and June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, and A, D and E Squadrons combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units until August-September 1917, when the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Murrell, were transferred on 20 September and were posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Murrell was issued regimental number 41245.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Murrell was badly wounded – losing his right leg – probably in the fighting between Wulverghem and Kemmel on the Ypres front from 11 to 18 April 1918. He was discharged on 16 August 1919, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations), and was granted a disability pension.
After the war he returned to England, at one point living at 63 Clarendon Road, Middlesbrough.