Sergeant John Douglas
John Douglas was born on 28 April 1889 in Templepatrick, County Antrim, the third of nine children of railway station-master Daniel Douglas and his wife Mary (née Christy). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Templepatrick with his widowed mother and his eight siblings and working as a postman. They later moved to 'Norbrae', 9 Linden Gardens, Cliftonville Road, Belfast.
Douglas enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 24 May 1915 (No.1588). He gave his occupation as railway shunter. He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France on 11 January 1916 with E Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 34th Division. In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII Corps.
On 25 May 1916 Douglas was promoted to lance corporal.
On 16 November 1916, following a proficiency test in railway shunting at Audruicq, Douglas was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Railway Operating Division), with the rank of sapper (No.207108 – later No. WR/261162). On the same day he embarked for the UK, remaining there until 17 February 1917 when he returned to France. He was promoted to lance corporal on 3 March and corporal on 9 September 1917. On 1 February 1919 he was appointed acting sergeant.
On 8 June 1919 Douglas was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He later claimed a pension for 'neurasthenia', but this was rejected.
After the war Douglas returned to his home at Linden Gardens and worked as a railway official. On 26 July 1921 he married Maria Currie Smyth in the Ballylinney Presbyterian Church. He died on 19 October 1923 after what was described as 'a lingering illness'.
Two of Douglas's brothers also served in the war – Daniel in the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), and William in the Royal Irish Rifles.