Private Alexander Darragh
This North Irish Horseman was probably the Alexander Darragh born on 1 October 1896 at 51 Epworth Street, Belfast, the first of two children of iron turner James Darragh and his wife Margaret (née Todd). His father died when he was just two years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Henderson Avenue, Belfast, with his mother, sister and a great aunt.
Darragh enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 12 or 13 December 1916 (No.2324 or 2327 – later Corps of Hussars No.71755). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in late 1917 or during 1918. There he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Darragh remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 27 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
By 1962 Darragh was living at 39 Ardmillan Drive, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, having retired from work as a gasfitter. He died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on 30 May that year.