Private Maurice George Wheelhouse
This image was taken at the same location and probably around the same time as the photographs on this and this page.
Maurice George (or George Maurice) Wheelhouse was born on 12 June 1896 at Lower Sydenham, Belfast, the third of five children of box maker George Maurice Wheelhouse and his wife Clara (nee McCullough). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents and siblings at 11 Ardmore Avenue, Belfast.
Wheelhouse enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 22 and 24 May 1915 (No.1574 – later Corps of Hussars No.71449), training at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot. That month he played cricket for the regiment in a friendly against Cliftonville (he was bowled for a duck).
on 11 January 1916 Wheelhouse embarked for France with E Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 34th Division. In May that year E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons 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, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
He remained with the regiment throughout the war, and on 12 February 1919 was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
On 16 July 1925 he married Margaret Peden (Rita) McBride at St James's Church, Belfast.
Wheelhouse accidentally drowned while fishing on Lough Neagh on 6 May 1950 (see article below).
Larne Times, 11 May 1950
The picture above, from the Belfast Weekly Telegraph of 26 February 1916, shows Wheelhouse (sitting, first right) with a men of E Squadron in France.
Images 1 and 2 sourced from the North Irish Horse Regimental Association.