Private William Smith
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that soon after the war he lived at Berrick Hill, County Cavan.
Smith enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 and 22 October 1914 (No.1327). On 9 February 1915 he embarked for France with a reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons.
In May and June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, and A, D and E Squadrons combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units. In September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the infantry.
Smith, however, must have been found unfit for frontline service, for at the end of October 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.414925). He remained with that regiment until the end of the war. On 28 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve.