Private Joseph Duncan
This man appears to be the John Joseph Duncan born on 11 October 1894 at Glackstown, Devlin, County Westmeath, the second of eight children of shepherd John Duncan and his wife Kate (née Neill or O'Neill). Soon after the family moved to Aghaboe Townland, Queen's County. At the time of the 1911 Census Joseph was living with his parents and seven siblings at nearly Moyne, Durrow.
Duncan enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 25 August 1914 (No.1033). He was described as being 5' 10½" tall with a fresh complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes, and an appendicitis scar. He gave his occupation as a butcher.
On 28 April 1915 he embarked for France with a small reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons. Later that year or in the first half of 1916 he returned to the UK, probably due to illness, injury, or having been wounded. After he recovered he was posted to the regiment's reserve depot at Antrim.
Duncan was reported to have deserted from Antrim on 1 July 1916. It appears that he was not apprehended, and his service medals were withheld.
This page last updated 1 January 2024.