Private Thomas C. E. Phelan
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present. He may, however, be the Thomas C. E. Phelan referred to in the Kilkenny Moderator newspaper of 17 October 1914 as a junior grade student at the Maryborough Christian School, Queen's County, who had been awarded a prize of £4.
Phelan probably enlisted in the cavalry in 1917 or 1918 (regimental number 42693). Initially posted to the 5th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry at Tidworth, Wiltshire, he was soon after attached to the North Irish Horse.
Having trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp, he embarked for France, probably during 1918. There he would have been posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
On 8 March 1919 Phelan was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.