Private Thomas Cushley
Thomas Cushley was born on 9 August 1897 at 14 Cromwell Street, Belfast, the third of ten children of labourer George Cushley and his wife Ellen (formerly Foreman, née Shannon). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Cromwell Street, Belfast, with his parents and eight siblings. They later moved to Harold Street.
By 1915 Cushley was working as a labourer for Woolworth & Sons, High Street, Belfast. He enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles on 18 January 1915 (No.3250) and was posted the the 15th (Service) Battalion. Soon after, however, he was found to be suffering from flat feet, and on 19 May he was classified as fit for home service and was posted to the 18th (Reserve) Battalion at Clandeboye Camp. Three disciplinary offences followed, between August and November, all involving absence from camp for several days, and he was fined and confined to camp on each occasion.
On 26 November 1915 Cushley embarked for France, where he was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, joining it in the field on 15 December. His flat feet soon became a problem, however, and on 9 January 1916 he was admitted to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen. Eight days later he was discharged to the 36th Division Base Depot at Havre and on 10 March he was classified 'PB' (permanent base) and was attached to a Royal Engineers company for labour.
Cushley was hospitalised again at the beginning of April and was evacuated to England, where he was admitted to Netley Hospital. On 12 April a medical board recommended that he be discharged as permanently unfit.
Patient was transferred to 'D' Block Netley on 7/4/16 from No.2 General Hospital Havre as suffering from Mental Deficiency (? Epilepsy) with the following history:- Dull & apathetic in appearance: Childish in conversation: Intelligence & knowledge of a low order for his age. Has no idea of day, month or year: Was unable to earn his own living before joining the Army owing to fits due to an accident 3 years ago when he fell off a ladder. On admission to D Block he stated he was sent sick on 2/4/16 with fits to which he has been subject since he was 15 years of age. Had his last fit on 4/4/16.
... In civil life was unable to do his work on account of these seizures and dizziness in his head. He is deaf and his memory is defective. Has always suffered with bad feet. He cannot read and write.
Cushley was discharged on 9 May 1916, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'fair'.
On 26 April 1917 Cushley re-enlisted, in the North Irish Horse (No.2433), training at the regiment's base depot at Antrim. On 23 May he was admonished and lost two days' pay for being absent without leave. On 5 June 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (No.10988), being employed as a bakehouse assistant.
At Belfast on 10 July Cushley was awarded seven days' detention for 'highly irregular conduct having four women in a barrack room about 12.30 pm'. Two months later he was given 21 days' detention for being absent for 21 days until being found drunk by the Military Foot Police in Donegall Street, Belfast.
Cushley continued to suffer from epileptic fits and problems with his feet. On 24 October 1917 a medical board reported on his condition, having accepted a different story from him on the cause of the fits:
He states that he never had an Epileptic fit prior to entering the Army, and that he took the first Epileptic fit on 22nd April in Belgium after being blown up by a shell. He was soon after sent to No.2 Field General Hospital, and about a month after he was invalided to Netley Hospital where he remained about a month.
The board found that his level of disability was 50 per cent, and recommended that he be discharged:
... owing to ill health, aggravated by shell shock. He desires employment as a Postman in Belfast, on failing such, hopes to obtain light work at his trade (Baker's assistant). Employers are asked to give him a preference in view of his voluntary enlistment for the war.
Cushley was discharged on 5 December 1917, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'fair'.
After the war, on 10 November 1919, Cushley enlisted again, in the Royal Irish Rifles (No.25935), and was posted to the 1st Battalion. Soon after, however, he became ill due to the neurasthenia and flat feet, and on 31 March 1920 he was again discharged as 'no longer physically fit for war service'. This time his military character was recorded as 'good'. He was awarded a pension, his disability assessed at 20 per cent.
At least one of Cushley's brothers, Hugh, also served in the war, in the Royal Irish Rifles.