Corporal Thomas Noble
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was born around 1873. He may have been the Thomas Noble who, at the time of the 1911 Census, was living in Charles Street, Lurgan, County Armagh, with his brother, sister, brother-in-law and niece, and working as a coachman and domestic servant.
Noble enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 3 September 1914 (No.1120). 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.
Noble was transferred to the Labour Corps in late September 1917 (No.415892) – he was posted to No.907 Area Employment Company. He remained with the Labour Corps until early September 1918, when he was transferred to the 43rd (Garrison) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (No.GS/105474).
On 25 February 1919 Noble was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. Later that year he was granted a pension due to an injury to his right knee, which was attributed to his military service.
Records show him living at a number of addresses after the war: 27 Herbert Avenue, Larne; 43 Parkmount Street, Belfast; and Caralea House, Crawfordsburn.