Private Charles Doherty
Charles Doherty (or Dogherty) was born on 13 March 1888 at Rylagh, Omagh, County Tyrone, the fifth of seven children of farmer Alexander Doherty and his wife Sarah (Cochrane). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Rylagh with his parents and three siblings and working as a farm labourer.
Doherty enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Omagh on 16 November 1912 (No.758). Mobilised at the beginning of the war, he reported for duty at Londonderry. In August 1914 at riding school, however, he was kicked in his right leg by a horse. Despite an operation and other treatment at hospitals in Londonderry, Omagh and Belfast over the next year the injury failed to heal. A medical board on 12 July 1915 found:
Tibia greatly thickened over lower half. Tenderness on pressure and complains of pain. Ankle-joint stiff and he is unable to walk except with aid of a stick.
Doherty was discharged at Antrim on 3 August 1915 as permanently unfit for war service (paragraph 392 xvi, King's Regulations).
His conduct was recorded as "very good".