Lance Sergeant Albert Oldcroft
Albert Oldcroft was born on 5 July 1894 at Bellisle, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, the eighth of nine children of butler John Oldcroft and his wife Elizabeth (nee Lindsay). By 1911 he was living with his parents and three siblings at his father's farm at Mulrod, Derrybrusk, County Fermanagh.
Oldcroft enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 17 January and 18 February 1911 (No.577 – later Corps of Hussars No.71042). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
On 31 March 1915 he was admitted to No.10 Stationary Hospital at St Omer.
He elected to remain in the service (and collect the £15 bounty) when his term of service expired at the beginning of 1916.
Oldcroft remained with A Squadron throughout the war. In March 1918, the squadron, by then part of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, was converted to a corps cyclist regiment, attached to V Corps for the remainder of the war.
Oldcroft was wounded during the latter part of the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918.
On 10 February 1919 he was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.