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Private William Cochrane

 

This man appears to be the William Cochrane (or Cochran) born on 17 August 1888 at Oghill, Ballykelly, County Londonderry, one of eight children of farmer John Cochrane and his wife Eliza (née Robinson). Although he grew up at Oghill, it appears that he later moved to County Down, as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Roll of Honour records him as William Cochrane of Oughill, Balykelly, worshipping in the Ballynahinch First Congregation, Down Presbytery.

Cochrane enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 and 23 November 1915 (regimental number 1938, 1940, 1942 or 1943 – later Corps of Hussars No.71641). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and early 1918, joining one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.

In February-March 1918 that regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in its numbers, and it is probable that this was the time that Cochrane was transferred to the 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars. He was still serving as late as December 1919.