Lance Corporal Victor Eccleston Cassidy

 

Victor Eccleston Cassidy was born in Belfast on 29 July 1893, son of commercial bookkeeper Thomas Edward Cassidy and his wife Jeanie (nee Hamilton). His mother died when he was still an infant.

By 1911 he was living with his father and stepmother Sarah Jane at 48 Ligoniel Road, Shankill, Belfast, and was working as an office assistant (commercial).

He enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 11 and 13 November 1915 (No.1854 – later Corps of Hussars No.71593). In 1916 or 1917 he was sent to France as a reinforcement for the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.

Cassidy was wounded on 24 March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. The regimental war diary for that day states:

Morlancourt. At 11.45 pm Regiment retired to Toutencourt. No H/71689 LCpl McNabb S C, H/71593 LCpl Cassidy E, H/71074 Pte Matchett G Wounded

He was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 14 March 1919.