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Private William Archibald

 

William Archibald was born on 17 October 1891 in Linenhall Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim, the fifth of seven children of labourer Robert Archibald and his wife Matilda (née Stewart). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Linenhall Street with his parents and two of his four surviving siblings, and working as a tailor. A year later, at the time of the signing of the Ulster Covenant, he and his brother James were in Glasgow.

Archibald enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 19 and 23 November 1915. (Regimental number one of the following – 1929, 1931, 1938 or 1940. Later Corps of Hussars No.71639.)

In January 1918 he embarked for Egypt with a draft of North Irish Horsemen from the regimental reserve depot at Antrim. There he was attached to the 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), serving with that regiment in the Palestine campaign.

On 27 June 1919, following his return to the UK, he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.