Private Andrew Reid
Andrew Reid was born on 27 July 1897 at Knockroe, Strabane, County Tyrone, the ninth of ten children of labourer William Reid and his wife Sarah (née Reid). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Knockroe with his widowed mother and four of his seven surviving siblings. His father had been killed on 14 February that year when struck by a train while working as a railway labourer.
Reid enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 13 and 15 November 1915 (No.1867 – later Corps of Hussars No.71604). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers, and it is probable that this was the time that Reid was transferred to the 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars.
Reid remained with the Hussars until the end of the war. On 1 May 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
At least one of Reid's brothers, Charles, also served in the war. He was killed in action on 29 September 1918 while serving with the 58th Battalion, Canadian Infantry.