Private Albert Alderdice
This North Irish Horseman is probably the Albert Alderdice born on 24 December 1897 at Stewart's Court, Lisburn, County Antrim, the sixth of eight children of dyer (formerly soldier in the Surrey Regiment) William Alderdice and his wife Annie (née Pelan). His father died when he was just seven years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 7 Longstone Street, Lisburn, with his mother, six of his siblings and his grandmother.
Alderdice enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 27 June and 30 July 1917 (regimental number between 2547 and 2555 – later Corps of Hussars No.71892). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1917 or 1918. There he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Alderdice remained with the regiment until the end of the war. On 13 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
His name is included on the Roll of Honour in Lisburn Cathedral.