Lance Corporal Richard McClure
Richard McClure was born on 14 December 1879 at Derrycorby, Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, the second of eight children of farmer John McClure and his wife Margaret (nee Wilson).
On 22 September 1900 he enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (No.6767) at Enniskillen. Appointed lance corporal on 5 June 1901, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 2 June 1902, embarking for South Africa the same day. He served there until 16 November 1902, when he returned home, having purchased his discharge (at a cost of £10). The discharge took effect on 24 November, his military character recorded as 'very good'.
By the time of the 1911 Census McClure was living at Killynacran, County Fermanagh, with his widowed mother and six of his siblings, and working on the family farm. Soon after, however, he moved to Scotland where, on 29 January 1912 he married Catherine Ann Brady at Alloa. Their first two children were born in Glasgow over the next five years. By 1917 they were living at 13 Rowland Street, Glasgow, McClure employed as a glass-worker.
McClure registered for military service at Glasgow on 9 December 1915. He was mobilised on 8 May 1917, reporting for duty at the 6th (Scottish Cavalry) Depot at Dunbar. He was issued regimental number 22928. On 12 May he was posted to the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth.
On 27 June 1917 McClure was transferred to the North Irish Horse (No.2509 – later Corps of Hussars No.71873), reporting for duty at the Antrim reserve camp. He embarked for France on 31 March 1918, where he would have been posted to the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This unit, however, had just been dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in its numbers, so on 1 April McClure was instead attached to the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers).
On 25 October 1918 he fell ill with suspected dysentery. After treatment at the 18th General Hospital he was evacuated to England, where he was admitted to the Fort Pitt Hospital at Chatham. By mid-November he had been discharged and posted to Antrim. He was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 3 February 1919.
After the war he emigrated to Canada, later living in the United States.
McClure's brother Andrew McClure also served in the North Irish Horse during the war.