Private Thomas Black
It is likely that this North Irish Horseman was the Thomas Francis Black born on 20 September 1896 at Aughnacloy, Rathdown, County Dublin, the second of three children of gardener, Scottish-born Lachlan Black and his wife Elizabeth (nee McGrath). He also had three half-brothers by his father's previous marriage. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 14.2 Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, with his parents and two siblings.
Black enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 23 November and 2 December 1915 (No.2000 – later Corps of Hussars No.71665).
He embarked for France between 1916 and 1918, where he was posted to A, D or E Squadron of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. In March-April 1918 the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Black was wounded in August or September 1918 during the initial phase of the Advance to Victory offensive.
He was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 5 March 1919.