Lieutenant Leslie Earl Richmond
Leslie Earl Richmond was born on 26 October 1895 at Killynaher, County Cavan, the last of nine children of farmer (later timber merchant) William Richmond and his wife Bessie (or Elizabeth) (nee Armstrong). Educated at Farnham National School, by 1911 he was living with his mother, grandmother and three siblings at 24 College Street, Cavan, and working as a shop assistant.
Richmond enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 10 October 1914 (No.1302 – later Corps of Hussars 71327). He was promoted to lance corporal on 1 June and corporal on 28 July 1915. On 17 November 1915 he embarked for France with F Squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 33rd Division.
Seven months later F Squadron came together with C Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.
Richmond was promoted to lance sergeant on 3 February 1917 and sergeant three weeks later.
On 27 August 1917 Richmond applied for a commission in the infantry, with a preference for the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He left his regiment for the UK on 24 September where, after a period of leave, on 9 November he reported for duty at No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion, Fermoy. After a period of training he was assessed as having a fair standard of education, and good military knowledge and power of command and leadership, with riding as a special qualification. He was "a good type of Cadet."
On 27 March 1918 Richmond was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and posted to the Somerset Light Infantry (but attached to the 52nd Devonshire Regiment). Later that year or in 1919 he embarked for France, where he was posted to the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. For a period of time he was attached to a prisoner of war company.
Richmond was promoted to lieutenant on 27 September 1919. On 6 December that year he was demobilised and relinquished his commission.
On 15 December 1923 he married Clare Locke at Islington, London. The couple had two children in Northern Ireland before emigrating to Canada in 1929. He died at Ridgetown, Ontario, in 1993.