Shoeing Smith Maxwell Chism
Maxwell Chism was born on 19 November 1889 at Meeting House Hill, Omagh, County Tyrone, the fourth or fifth of five children of blacksmith George Chism and his wife Jane (nee McCaffrey). By 1911 he was living at Orchard Terrace, Omagh, with his mother and older brother George and working as a blacksmith.
Chism enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 16 January 1909 (No.266). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
He remained with the squadron in France and Belgium until his term of service ended. He then elected to not continue in the army and on 15 January 1916 was discharged at Antrim as 'time expired'.
Chism returned to his work as a blacksmith at Omagh. On 5 February 1917 he married Matilda Emily Lyle. Their first child, Robert, was born on 27 March that year. Another child, Maxwell, was born in 1924.
Chism emigrated to the United States in 1924. He died at 37 North Seventeen Street, Philadelphia on 15 December 1924.