Private Thomas Henry Reavy
Thomas Henry Reavy was born on 22 March 1887 at Derryneskan, near Portadown, County Armagh, one of twelve children of farmer Robert Reavy and his wife Mary (née Guy). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Kernan, Portadown, with his parents and four siblings and working with his father as a fowl-dealer.
Reavy enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Portadown on 16 August 1913 (No.860 – later Corps of Hussars No.71133). He did not see active service until 3 January 1916, when he embarked for France and was posted to C Squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 3rd Division.
In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In September or October that year Reavy fell ill with an infectious disease and was evacuated to the UK for treatment.
Reavy later served at the regiment's reserve depot at Antrim, but it appears he saw no further overseas service. On 11 September 1917 he married Edith Agnes Montgomery of Spring Farm, Antrim, at the Randalstown Presbyterian Church. Their first child, Eileen, was born the following year.
On 6 March 1919 Reavy was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.