Private Herbert George Timbey
Herbert George Timbey was born on 30 September 1896 at 58 Elizabeth Street, Belfast, the last of eleven children of printer and compositor John Timbey and his wife Eliza Jane (nee Hinds). By 1911 he was living with his family at 18 Athol Street, Belfast, and working as a message boy.
Timbey enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 8 November 1915 (No.1823 – later Corps of Hussars No.72110). In 1916 or 1917 he embarked for France, where he joined one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment in the field.
Around August 1917 Timbey was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.309906). He was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service (Para 392 xvi King's Regulations) on 20 February 1919.
Timbey died in Belfast on 9 December 1960.
Timbey's medals, inscribed '1823 PTE. H. Timbey, N. IR. H.'
Timbey's identity disc - on the reverse is 'N I H', pencil 'H/72110
Private Timbey's older brother William Fairburn Timbey, who also served in the North Irish Horse (No.1547), was killed in action on 4 September 1918.
Images of Timbey's Identification disc and medals sourced from the National Museums of Northern Ireland site.