Private Robert Dempsey
Robert Dempsey (and his twin brother Thomas) were born on 10 June 1890 at Mullinsallagh, Portglenone, County Antrim, the second of seven children of labourer and army pensioner Robert Dempsey and his wife Sarah (née Boyd). At the time of the 1911 Census Robert was living at nearby Casheltown [Castletown], Ahoghill, with his widowed mother, his grandmother and his three surviving siblings, and working as a labourer.
According to the Ballymena Observer of 24 November 1916, Dempsey had "recently" enlisted in the North Irish Horse.
Between 28 May and 2 June 1917, however, he transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles (No.1764). (Alternatively, he may have been discharged from the NIH and re-enlisted in the RIR at that time.) Initially posted to the 18th (Reserve) Battalion at Clandeboye, in late 1917 or early 1918 he embarked for France, where he joined the 15th (Service) Battalion.
Dempsey was made a prisoner of war on 21 March 1918 near St Quentin at the beginning of the German Spring offensive. He was held at camps in Stendal and Diedenhofen until repatriated at the end of the war.