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Corporal John Neely

 

This North Irish Horseman may have been the John Blythe Neely born at Market Street, Omagh, County Tyrone, on 21 October 1887, the son of Joseph B Neely and his wife Cassie (nee Bell). By 1912 he was recorded as living at Market Street, and later, at Camowen, near Omagh.

Neely enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 2 and 16 January 1909 (No.265). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

In July 1917 a number of older and less fit Horsemen were transferred to home service units prior to the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment being dismounted and absorbed into an infantry battalion. Neely was one of these. On 9 July 1917 he was transferred to No.664 Home Service Labour Company of the Labour Corps (No.333699).

In late March or early April 1919 at Omagh he transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (No.32051), serving with a reserve battalion until he was discharged later that year.