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Sergeant William Baxter, MM

 

William Baxter, from Belfast, enlisted in the North Irish Horse following the outbreak of war.

In November 1916 Baxter, together with around 100 other North Irish Horsemen, volunteered to transfer to the Royal Irish Rifles (No.40855). They embarked for France on 7 December, where they joined the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, on the Somme front.

On 25 September 1917 the Belfast News-Letter and Northern Whig reported that Baxter had been killed in action. These reports were incorrect – the man they meant to refer to was probably No.40854 John Baxter.

He was reported as having been wounded in the War Office Casualty Lists of 4 April and 21 August 1918, though the dates and circumstances are not known at present.

Baxter was awarded a Military Medal in October 1918.