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Private Charles Magill

 

  

 

Private Charles Magill, North Irish Horse, Service No. 2043. Later Private in the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (No. 41592), and Gunner in the 22nd Battalion Tank Corps (No. 304865). Magill is pictured above with his family, including his father Charles and mother Annie, probably in 1915 shortly before he enlisted. They lived at Corkermain, Cairncastle, County Antrim.

A horseman and assistant contractor, Magill enlisted on 11 December 1915, aged 19. He was sent to France in November 1916, where he joined the 2nd Regiment North Irish Horse as a reinforcement. In late 1917 he joined the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers when the NIH Regiment was dismounted to become infantry. Magill was part of the contingent which transported the North Irish Horse Regiment's horses to Egypt in August-September 1917. The picture below was taken in Egypt (Magill standing, right). Soon after the Battle of Cambrai he transferred to the 22nd Battalion Tanks Corps, sustaining a wound to his right foot in August 1918. This caused tremendous leg pain in later life, and on damp and cold days, he walked with a limp.

After the War he returned to Ireland, joined the Royal Irish Constabulary, and then emigrated to New York. He died there in 1972.

 

 

Images and much of the information above kindly provided by Paul Magill.