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Private James Alexander Winnington

 

James Alexander Winnington was born on 11 May 1896 at 96 Cromwell Road, Belfast, the fourth of six children of commercial traveller James Winnington and his wife Isabella (née Robertson). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in South Parade, Belfast, with his parents, four surviving siblings, and a cousin.

Winnington enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 6 and 16 July 1915 (No.1707 – later Corps of Hussars No.71513). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.

In May 1916 E Squadron came together with A and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.

Winnington remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 2 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

 

One of Winnington's brothers, Albert, also served in the war, in the Army Service Corps.