Private Henry Creighton
Henry Creighton was born on 8 July 1889 at Doon, Tempo, County Fermanagh, the first of three children of farmer Robert Creighton and his wife Sarah (née Emerson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Doon with his parents and two siblings and working on the family farm.
Creighton enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 28 June and 29 July 1912 (No.711). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
The Fermanagh Times of 25 February 1915, reporting on an 'Orange Soiree' at Drumderg, near Tempo, noted that:
Troopers Henry Creighton of Doon, and Willie McKenzie Carrowkeel, N.I.H., who had returned from the front were amongst the audience and were the recipients of many hearty welcomes. Trooper Creighton had only a few days' leave, while Trooper McKenzie, who had his leg broken through his horse falling on him on 13th November, while relieving an outpost will be at home for some time.
C Squadron served as corps headquarters cavalry until April 1915, when it was attached as divisional cavalry to the 3rd Division. In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and most of its men transferred to the infantry.
Creighton, however, was found to be not physically fit for infantry service. On 10 October 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.384865) and posted to No.767 Home Service Employment Company.
He remained with the Labour Corps until the end of the war. Discharged on 14 June 1919, he was granted a pension due to illness or injuries sustained during his military service. In June 1922 his level of disability was assessed at 20 per cent.
His name is included on the Tempo Church of Ireland Roll of Honour.
Image of the Tempo Church of Ireland Honour Roll kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster.
This page last updated 28 March 2024.