Private Samuel J. Armstrong
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not clear, but he appears to be the Samuel John Armstrong born on 13 April 1876 at Teehill, Clones, County Monaghan, a child of labourer William Armstrong and his wife Ann (née Beatty). By the time of the 1901 Census he was living as a boarder at Cherryville Street, Belfast, and working as a grocer's shopman. He was later employed as a gas meter inspector. On 8 April 1907 he married Margaret Ann Reilly in St Mark's Church of Ireland Church, Dundela, Belfast. The couple had two children over the next six years. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at 77 Palestine Street, Samuel working as a meter inspector.
Armstrong enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 13 and 15 November 1915 (No.1877 – later Corps of Hussars No.71611). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, where 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.
Armstrong remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 24 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He unsuccessfully applied for a pension due to cardiac weakness, rheumatism and bronchitis.
Following his discharge, Armstrong resumed work as a gas meter inspector, living at 79 McClure Street and 77 Palestine Street.