Private William Likely
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not clear, but on the balance of probabilities he was the William John Likely born on 19 February 1894 at Park, Kinlough, County Leitrim, the fifth of ten children of farmer and grocer George Likely and his wife Catherine (née Stewart). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Sleeven, County Leitrim, and working as a farm servant for farmer Thomas McKeown.
Likely enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 October and 12 December 1913 (No.878 – later Corps of Hussars No.71144). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
He remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 18 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
Likely emigrated to the USA in May 1922. He died in 1978 and was buried in Morrisville Cemetery, Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Image sourced from the Find a Grave site, via Robert Mitchell.
This page last updated 28 April 2026.