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Private Samuel Matchett

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present.

Samuel Matchett enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 28 March 1912 (No.694 – later Corps of Hussars No.71074). He was aged about 23.

He embarked for France on 17 August 1914 with A Squadron, seeing action on the Retreat from Mons and Advance to the Aisne.

He remained with A Squadron in France and Belgium throughout the war. In May 1916 the squadron joined with D and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment and in March 1918 the regiment was dismounted and converted to a corps cyclist regiment.

Matchett was wounded on 24 March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. The regimental war diary for that day states:

Morlancourt. At 11.45 pm Regiment retired to Toutencourt. No H/71689 LCpl McNabb S C, H/71593 LCpl Cassidy E, H/71074 Pte Matchett G Wounded

Matchett was discharged on 25 February 1919 under Paragraph 392 xvi (a), 'surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service'.