Private Alexander Corry
Alexander Corry was born on 16 April 1891 at 65 Silvergrove Street, Belfast, the first of three children of carpenter Thomas John Corry and his wife Rachel (née Lindsay). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Carmel Street, Belfast, with his parents (his two siblings having died), and working as a linen lapper.
Corry enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 22 May 1915 (No.1565 – later Corps of Hussars No.71444). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916. In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. It then served as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Corry remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 2 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. His name is recorded on the Ekenhead Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.
By 1940 Alexander and his wife Agnes were living at 18 Ypres Park, one of the ex-servicemen's colonies in Whiteabbey. He died in hospital on 3 November 1954, aged 63, and is buried in the Carnmoney Cemetery.
