Corporal Shoeing-Smith John Dumigan
John Dumigan was born on 15 April 1895 at 27 Lake Street, Belfast, the first of three children of carter (later dock and builder's labourer) James Colvin Dumigan and his wife Elizabeth (née Nesbitt). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Lake Street with his parents and siblings and working as an apprentice horse-shoer.
Dumigan enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 6 or 7 October 1914 (No.1275 – later Corps of Hussars No.71375). On 1 May 1915 he embarked for France with D Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 51st Division.
In May 1916 D Squadron came together with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit.
In late 1917 or early 1918 Dumigan was transferred to the Corps of Dragoons (No. D/22683) and posted to the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) with the rank of shoeing-smith corporal.
On 30 April 1919 Dumigan was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He returned to Belfast, living at 10 Livinia Street and working as a blacksmith. On 25 September that year he married Martha Beattie at the Rugby Avenue Congregational Church.
Crescent Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour, Belfast
Image courtesy of Nigel Henderson, History Hub Ulster.