Private Bernard (Bert) Myer Weiner
Bernard Myer Weiner was born in Riga, Latvia, around 1885, the fourth or fifth of ten children of Moses Weiner and his wife Namoi (née Rabinovitz). Around 1892 the family emigrated to Ireland, settling in Dublin, where their last three children were born. At the time of the 1901 Census they were living at 8 Walworth Road, Dublin, Moses and his older sons working as general dealers.
Bernard later worked as a photography commercial traveller. On 1 January 1910 he married Marie Josephine Dale (or Marks) in Barnsley, Yorkshire. Their child David Leon was born later that year. At the time of the 1911 Census Bernard was staying as a boarder at 6 Mountpleasant, Rathmines, Dublin, at the home of master picture framer David Marks. His wife and child were living at 7 Levingstone Street, Leeds.
Weiner enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 7 September 1914 (No.1147). He gave his place of birth as Dublin, his occupation as photographer, and his address as 7 Glenravel Street, Belfast.
On 1 October, however, he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Belfast suffering from a severe sprain to his right knee (not sustained while in performance of his military duty).
Weiner was discharged on 6 January 1915, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392(xvi) King's Regulations). It is not known whether this related to his knee sprain, or some other injury or illness. His military character was recorded as 'fair'.
Weiner went on to lead what could best be described as a colourful life and was frequently in trouble with the authorities, as illustrated by the articles below.
Belfast News-Letter, 24 December 1915
Northern Whig, 12 June 1918
Belfast Telegraph, 18 February 1930
The Scotsman, 31 December 1942