Lance Corporal William Henry Alexander
William Henry Alexander was born on 21 October 1896 in Ban Road, Dromore, County Down, the last of five children of RIC constable (later investment company agent, then sexton at Christ Church, Belfast) William Henry Alexander and his wife Mary (née Spence). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 31 College Square North, Belfast, with his parents, three surviving siblings and a grandmother.
Alexander enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 4 and 10 June 1915 (No.1676). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917. There he was posted to one of the five North Irish Horse squadrons then serving in France and Belgium.
In May and June 1916 A, D and E Squadrons combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, and C and F Squadrons joined the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units until August-September 1917, when 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 Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Alexander, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Alexander was issued regimental number 41404 and posted to A Company.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Alexander was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. It was later reported that he had been wounded. Whether he saw any further front-line service during the war is not known at present.
Alexander was discharged or demobilised an 26 February 1919. He was awarded a pension due to 'disordered action of the heart', which was attributed to his military service. In the years following the war he emigrated to Canada.