North Irish Horse - War diaries - A Squadron North Irish Horse

A Squadron North Irish Horse

This diary covers the period from the Squadron's mobilisation on 5 August 1914 to 31 May 1916. During this time it operated as GHQ Mounted Troops (23 August 1914 to 2 January 1916), and as the 55th Division's cavalry squadron (3 January to 9 May 1916). On 10 May 1916 the Squadron joined D and E Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 1st Regiment North Irish Horse, VII Corps Cavalry Regiment. The diary is sourced from National Archives documents WO 95/86 and WO 95/2914. It was written and signed by its commanding officer, Major Viscount John Henry Michael Cole.

August 1914
5	Enniskillin, Londonderry, Dundalk, Belfast (Troops). Officers, N.C.Os and men of Special Service Troops came up for mobilization.
6	–
7-16	Dublin. Entrained to Dublin to form Special Service Squadron. Mobilization equipment drawn and training carried on.
17	Embarked S.S Architect at North Wall Docks.
18	At sea.
19	Landed at Havre. Proceeded to No.1 Camp St Addresse.
20	–
21	Entrained for Busigny.
22	Detrained at Busigny. Marched to Le Cateau.
23	Detailed as escort to Commander in Chief.
24	Half Squadron detached to 4th Division marched to Solesmes.
25	One half Squardon formed a (?) to cover detrainment of 4th Division, retired to Beauvois.
26	One half Squadron joined 3rd Division at Caudry, retired to (?)revoir.
27	Rear guard for 3rd Division to Vermand.
28	Rear guard for 3rd Division to Noyon, rejoined 4th Division.
29	Marched out to camp at Sempigny.
30	Rear guard to 4th Division to (Biruial?).
31	Rear guard to St Sauveur.
September 1914
1	Rear guard of 4th Division to Baron.
2	Rear guard for 4th Division to Dommartin.
3	Marched Dommartin to Lagny.
4	Rear guard to Jossigny.
5	Rear guard to Brie-Comte-Robert.
6	Advance guard to 4th Division to Magny-le-hongres.
7	Advance guard to 4th Division to Corbeville.
8	Advance guard to 4th Division to Signy-Signets.
9	Rejoined General Headquarters at Coulommiers.
10	Coulommiers.
11	Marched to La Ferme Paris near Marigny.
12	Marched to Fere-en-Tardenois.
13-30	Fere-en-Tardenois. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
October 1914
1-7	Fere-en-Tardenois. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
8	Entrained for Abbeville.
9	Detrained at Abbeville.
10-12	Abbeville. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
13	Entrained for and detrained at St Omer.
14-16	St Omer. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
17	Marched to Hazebrouck under orders for Assistant Provost Marshall.
18	Marched to Bailleul, detailed for Police duties and Road Control from Messines to Estaires.
19-23	Police duties and Road Control, Messines to Estaires.
24	Reassembled at Bailleul.
25	Marched to St Omer, and joined General Headquarters Troops.
26-31	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
November 1914
	St Omer. Guards and escorts to Commander-in Chief. General Headquarters Troops duties.
December 1914
	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
January 1915
	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
February 1915
	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
March 1915
	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
April 1915
	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
May 1915
1-26	St Omer. General Headquarters Troops duties.
27	Marched to Blendecques.
28-31	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
June 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
July 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
August 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
September 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
October 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
November 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
December 1915
	Blendecques. Guards and escorts to Commander-in-Chief.
January 1916
1-2	Blendecques.
3	Entrained for Limeux to join 55th Division.
4-31	Limeux. Divisional Cavalry duties.
February 1916
1-7	Limeux. Squadron, Brigade and Divisional training.
8-15	[8 February] Marched to St Ledger les Domart. [8-15 February] St Ledger les Domart. Squadron training and Divisional Cavalry duties.
16	Marched to Sarton.
17-24	[17 February] Marched to Humbercourt. [17-24 February] Humbercourt. Squadron training and Divisional Cavalry duties.
25-29	[25 February] Marched to Couturelle. [25-29 February] Couturelle. Divisional Cavalry duties.
March 1916
1-7	[1-7 March] Couturelle. Divisional Cavalry duties. [7 March] Marched to Humbercourt.
8-31	Humbercourt. Divisional Cavalry duties.
April 1916
1-30	Humbercourt. Divisional Cavalry duties with 55 Division.
May 1916
1-4	Humbercourt. Divisional Cavalry duties.
5	Marched to Loeseux [Lucheux].
6-9	Divisional Cavalry duties.
10-31	[10 May] Marched to Grouches to form VII Corps Cavalry Regiment comprised of A, D & E Squadrons. Major Viscount Cole to Command 1/ North Irish Horse. O.B 1517. [10-31 May] Grouches. Corps Cavalry duties.