Sergeant-Major Alfred Alexander Dunlop
Alfred Alexander Dunlop was born in early 1876 in Hackney, London, the second of nine children of Scottish-born French-polisher James Dunlop and his wife Eliza (née Anson). He learnt his father's trade, but in the 1890s enlisted in the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) (No.3989). He served with that regiment in the Boer War, rising to the rank of drill sergeant before taking his discharge from the army around 1910.
In about 1907 he married Antrim-born Mary Law. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at 718 High Road, Leyton, Essex, with their two surviving children, Alfred working as a 'Customs watcher' for the Customs and Excise Service. The following year they moved to Belfast.
Dunlop enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 4 and 10 June 1915 (No.1687 – later Corps of Hussars No.71501). He served at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp as a squadron sergeant-major throughout the war. On 5 July 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
In 1919 Dunlop was one of a number of North Irish Horsemen recognised for their work on the home front. According to a report in the Londonderry Sentinel of 2 September 1919:
The following list of names brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services in the Northern District, Irish Command, was issued officially on Friday evening, but will not be gazetted. ... Sergeant (acting Squadron Sergeant-Major) A. Dunlop, North Irish Horse
After the war Dunlop returned to Belfast and resumed work with the Customs Service. He died at his residence, 51 Lisburn Avenue, on 7 March 1934.
Belfast News-Letter, 9 March 1934