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Corporal James Russell

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present.

James Russell enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 6 and 16 November 1914 (No.1343 – later Corps of Hussars No.71344). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot before embarking for France with a reinforcement draft on 22 September 1915. There he was posted to A, D or C Squadron – probably one of the first two.

In May 1916 A and D Squadrons came together with E Squadron to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers, and it may have been at this time that Russell was posted to the UK for officer training.

Russell was posted to No.2 Cavalry Cadet School at Kildare, but did not receive his commission before the end of the war. Sent to the dispersal centre at Dublin on 17 January 1919, on 13 February he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.