North Irish Horse deserters in the Police Gazette
Each week the Police Gazette published a War Office list of 'Deserters and Absentees from His Majesty's Service'. This is available online for all of 1916 to 1918, and for some weeks in 1914, 1915 and 1919. All North Irish Horse deserters recorded in these lists are included below.
1914
Only 11 August and 17 November checked to date. No North Irish Horse deserters identified.
1915
Only 12, 19 and 26 January checked to date.
NAME |
NO |
CORPS |
AGE |
HEIGHT |
COMPLEXION, HAIR, EYES |
TRADE |
ENLISTMENT |
BORN |
DESERTED |
COMMENTS |
12 January |
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| M. Dickson | 977 | NIH | 30¼ | 5' 8" | Sallow, brown, blue | .. | 10 August 1914, Belfast | Belfast | 7 December 1914, Antrim | .. |
1916
NAME |
NO |
CORPS |
AGE |
HEIGHT |
COMPLEXION, HAIR, EYES |
TRADE |
ENLISTMENT |
BORN |
DESERTED |
COMMENTS |
4 April |
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| J. Moneypenny | 1741 | NIH | 21 | 5' 7½" | Sallow, brown, brown | Electrician | 8 October 1915, Antrim | Charlemont, Armagh | 3 March 1916, Antrim | Scar over right tibia |
1 August |
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| Joseph Duncan | 1033 | NIH | 22¾ | 5' 10½" | Fresh, brown, hazel | Butcher | 25 August 1914, Belfast | Durron, Queens Co. | 1 July 1916, Antrim | Appendicitis scar |
5 September |
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| Robert Arthur Miller | 2087 | NIH | 25½ | 5' 7" | Pale, fair, blue | Actor | 24 January 1916, Antrim | Woolwich | 18 August 1916, Antrim | .. |
| David H. Ransom | 2121 | NIH | 25¾ | 5' 8½" | Fresh, fair, blue | Butcher | 3 March 1916, Antrim | New Malden, Surrey | 18 August 1916, Antrim | .. |
10 October |
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| John Blackburn | 2242 | NIH | 25 | 5' 8¼" | Sallow, dark, __ | Motor driver | 21 August 1916, Dublin | Liverpool, Lancashire | 8 September 1916, Antrim | Scar right forehead, break left forefinger |
| Patrick McKeever | 2235 | NIH | 30 | 5' 11" | Fresh, fair, __ | Farmer | 18 August 1916, Belfast | Finroy, Antrim | 8 September 1916, Antrim | Marks face |
31 October |
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| Thomas Prince | 2258 | NIH | 23 | 5' 7¼" | Sallow, dark, __ | Butler | 31 August 1916 Belfast | Dublin | 1 October 1916, Antrim | Scar right abdomen |
14 November |
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| Robert C. Jones | 1404 | NIH | 23 | 5' 9" | Sallow, brown __ | Clerk | 20 November 1914, Belfast | London | 14 October 1916, Antrim | .. |
26 December |
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| James Bingham | 2265 | NIH | 20½ | 5' 9¼" | .. | Pig dealer | 2 September 1916, Antrim | Shankill, Antrim | 25 November 1916, Antrim | Large scald scar over back and side left knee |
| Martin Evans | 2313 | NIH | 29 | 5' 9½" | Ruddy, black, __ | Clerk | 16 November 1916, Antrim | Claremorris, Mayo | 23 November 1916, Antrim | Two toes right foot, left little finger, missing |
1917
NAME |
NO |
CORPS |
AGE |
HEIGHT |
COMPLEXION, HAIR, EYES |
TRADE |
ENLISTMENT |
BORN |
DESERTED |
COMMENTS |
9 January |
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| John Carson | 2276 | NIH | 36 | 5' 7¼" | .. | Cooper | 11 September 1916, Antrim | Ballymena, Co. Antrim | 11 December 1916, Antrim | Scars neck |
27 February |
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| Robert T. Bassett | 2342 | NIH | 25¼ | 5' 9¼" | .. | Carter | 3 January 1917, Antrim | Shankill, Belfast | 30 January 1917, Antrim | .. |
29 May |
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| David Moore | 488 | NIH | 19 | 5' 5¼" | Fresh, fair, grey | Labourer | 5 May 1917, Mullingar | Crumlin, Belfast | 7 May 1917, en route to Antrim | .. |
| Joseph Williams | 489 | NIH | 24 | 5' 10½" | Fresh, dark brown, hazel | Labourer | 5 May 1917, __ | Lis?u?nan, Cavan | 7 May 1917, en route to Antrim | .. |
31 July |
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| Patrick O'Brien | 2560 | NIH | 24 | 5' 7" | Dark, brown, brown | Blacksmith | 11 December 1916, Dublin | Forest, Dublin | 30 June 1917, Antrim | .. |
7 August |
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| John Kelly | 2588 | NIH | 23 | 5' 7¼" | Dark, brown, __ | Labourer | 5 May 1917, Maryboro | Belfast | __, Antrim | Defective teeth |
| James Little | 2566 | NIH | 20 | 5' 8" | .. | Labourer | 4 June 1917, Belfast | Carlisle | 28 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
| William McBride | 2549 | NIH | 19¼ | 5' 9" | .. | Labourer | 24 May 1917, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Co. Down | 28 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
| John Morgan | 2557 | NIH | 21½ | 5' 4½" | .. | Barman | 16 January 1917, Belfast | Shankill, Co. Antrim | 28 July 1917, Antrim | Slightly deaf right ear |
14 August |
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| Henry Conn | 2567 | NIH | 19 | 5' 6" | .. | Labourer | 29 May 1917, Belfast | Paisley | 11 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
| Frederick Livingston | 2490 | NIH | 19 | 5' 5" | .. | Labourer | 13 April 1917, Armagh | Shankill, Armagh | 9 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
| Albert Spence | 2568 | NIH | 19 | 5' 5" | .. | Labourer | 29 May 1917, Belfast | Dromore, Down | 11 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
21 August |
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| Frank McAdams | 2514 | NIH | 25 | 5' 4" | .. | Miner | 25 April 1917, Hamilton | Bothwell | 13 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
28 August |
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| W. Templeton | 2196 | NIH | .. | .. | __, fair, __ | Tailor's apprentice | 16 June 1916, Antrim | Belfast | 20 July 1917, Antrim | .. |
4 September |
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| Edward McIlwain | 2623 | NIH | 23 | 5' 6" | Pale, dark, __ | Farm labourer | 9 March 1917, Belfast | Ballynure, Antrim | 1 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
11 September |
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| Samuel Dornan | 2529 | NIH | 23 | 5' 6" | Pale, dark brown, __ | Miner | 3 May 1917, Hamilton | Antrim | 6 August 1917, Antrim | Scar beneath right groin navel |
| Robert McBride | 2524 | NIH | 28¼ | 5' 7¼" | Pale, dark brown, grey | Miner | 25 April 1917, Glasgow | Kilsyth, Stirling | 7 August 1917, Antrim | Scar left elbow tombstone right forearm back left hand |
| Timothy Noone | 2586 | NIH | 20¾ | 5' 7¾" | Pale, fair, __ | Labourer | 31 May 1917, Cork | St Finbars, Cork | 3 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
2 October |
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| John Barr | 2649 | NIH | 19 | 5' 9¾" | Fresh, sandy, __ | Farm labourer | 6 August 1917, Ballymena | Broughshane, Antrim | 10 September 1917, Antrim | Brown stains right thigh |
| Patrick Cleary | 2546 | NIH | 28¾ | .. | Sallow, dark, __ | Farm hand | 3 January 1917, Sligo | Tibsham, Roscommon | 25 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
| Charles McKeever | 2626 | NIH | 27 | 5' 9" | Pale, dark, __ | Farm labourer | 24 July 1917, Omagh | Enniskillen | 2 September 1917, Antrim | .. |
| James Miller | 2545 | NIH | 18½ | .. | Pale, fair, blue | Labourer | 22 November 1916, Belfast | Ballymacarrett | 27 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
| James Nixon | 2465 | NIH | .. | 5' 5¾" | Fresh, fair, __ | Com. agent | 29 May 1917, Antrim | Londonderry | 15 September 1917, Antrim | .. |
| Bernard Rocks | 2570 | NIH | 21 | .. | Sallow, dark, brown | Labourer | 29 March 1917, Belfast | Lurgan, Armagh | 26 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
| James White | 2453 | NIH | 18¾ | .. | Pale, dark, brown | Van driver | 5 December 1916, Belfast | Ballymacarrett | 25 August 1917, Antrim | .. |
9 October |
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| William Boyle | 2483 | NIH | 23 | 5' 5" | Sallow, sandy, __ | Farm labourer | 11 June 1917, Belfast | Enniskillen | 17 September 1917, Antrim | .. |
| John Dunn | 2528 | NIH | 19¼ | 5' 3½" | Fresh, fair, __ | Apprentice chemist | 25 April 1917, Ayr | Glasgow | 21 September 1917, Antrim | .. |
| John Little | 2598 | NIH | 26 | 5' 5" | Fresh, dark, brown | Bottle maker | 13 May 1916, Dublin | Irishtown, Dublin | 18 September 1917, Antrim | Mole or wart left nose |
27 November |
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| Thomas Luck | 2530 | NIH | 19 | 5' 2½" | Pale, dark, grey | Carman | 29 March 1917, Stratford | Ratcliffe, Middlesex | 6 November 1917, Antrim | .. |
4 December |
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| John Little | 2598 | NIH | 26 | 5' 5" | Fresh, dark, brown | Bottle maker | 13 May 1916, Dublin | Dublin | 17 November 1917, Antrim | Wart left side nose |
| William Robinson | 2695 | NIH | 19 | 5' 6¾" | Pale, fair, __ | Farmer | 5 October 1917, __ | Moneymore, Londonderry | 19 November 1917, Antrim | .. |
18 December |
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| Joseph Furphy | 2749 | NIH | 23 | 5' 5¼" | .. | Plumber's mate | 23 November 1917, Middlesboro | Belfast | 4 December 1917, Antrim | Scar left cheek |
| William Robinson | 2965 | NIH | 19 | .. | Pale, fair, blue | Farmer | 5 October 1917, __ | Moneymore, Londonderry | 6 December 1917, Antrim | .. |
| Thomas Steenson | 2618 | NIH | 20 | 5' 7" | Fresh, fair, blue | Fitter's helper | 7 November 1916, Belfast | Shankill, Antrim | 1 December 1917, Antrim | Slight deformity of right elbow |
1918
NAME |
NO |
CORPS |
AGE |
HEIGHT |
COMPLEXION, HAIR, EYES |
TRADE |
ENLISTMENT |
BORN |
DESERTED |
COMMENTS |
1 January |
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| Robert Dunwoody | 2757 | NIH | 22½ | 5' 8" | Fresh, brown, blue | Foundry labourer | 13 December 1917, Armagh | St Lukes, Belfast | 16 December 1917, Antrim | .. |
8 January |
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| Robert Dunwoody | 2757 | NIH | 22½ | 5' 8" | Fresh, brown, blue | Foundry labourer | 13 December 1917, Armagh | St Lukes, Belfast | 16 December 1917, Antrim | Cicatrea |
5 February |
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| George Frederick Bell | 71848 | NIH | 26¼ | 5' 9½" | Fresh, fair, blue | Draper | 30 May 1917, Belfast | Belfast | 23 January 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Ernest Holroyd | 71832 | NIH | 28 | 5' 5¼" | Pale, dark, __ | Farmer | 5 May 1917, Belfast | Selkirk, Stirling | 19 January 1918, Antrim | .. |
| James C. Wilson | 71991 | NIH | 19½ | 5' 7½" | Fresh, red, blue | Farm labourer | 15 November 1917, Antrim | Ballyclare, Antrim | 19 January 1918, Antrim | .. |
12 February |
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| Daniel Maddox | 71904 | NIH | 19 | 5' 4¾" | Fresh, fair, blue | Labourer | 12 March 1917, Waterford | Ballybrocken | 12 January 1918, Antrim | .. |
19 February |
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| John Gilchrist | 71850 | Depot, NIH | 19 | 5'9" | Fresh, brown, __ | Miner | 2 June 1917, Ballymena | Broughshane, Antrim | 30 January 1918, Antrim | .. |
| W. Thomas | 71917 | NIH | 26½ | 5' 3¼" | Pale, fair, grey | Farm labourer | 24 July 1917, Omagh | Roscommon | 2 February 1918, Antrim | .. |
12 March |
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| Hugh Dixon | 71944 | NIH | 24½ | 5' 8¼" | Pale, black, blue | Baker | 9 August 1917, Belfast | Shankill, Antrim | 16 February 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Thomas Millar | 72016 | NIH | 19 | 5' 8" | Fresh, fair, grey | Dealer | 17 September 1917, Belfast | Born Shankill, Antrim | 22 February 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Michael O'Brien | 72034 | NIH | 24½ | 5' 9" | Fresh, brown, blue | Tailor | 7 February 1918, Preston | Toonbeg, Clare | 17 February 1918, Antrim | Std forearms |
19 March |
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| James Croy | 72001 | NIH | 24¼ | 5' 8" | Sallow, dark, blue | Shipyard labourer | 23 November 1917, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Down | 2 March 1918, Antrim | .. |
2 April |
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| Thomas Cassidy | 71823 | NIH | 20 | 5' 6¼" | Fresh, dark, brown | Labourer | 23 April 1917, Belfast | Lurgan, Armagh | 8 March 1918, Antrim | .. |
| James Croy | 72001 | NIH | 24¼ | 5' 8" | Sallow, dark, blue | Shipyard labourer | 23 November 1917, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Down | 14 March 1918, Antrim | .. |
16 April |
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| W. Huggard | 41623 | 10 Res. R. Ir. Fus. | 24 | __ | __ | Farmer | 3 March 1913, __ | __ | 28 March 1918, Armagh | .. |
| R. Lord | 71907 | NIH | 19 | 5' 6½" | Sallow, dark, brown | Plasterer's labourer | 14 March 1917, Nelson | Colne, Lancaster | 29 March 1918, Antrim | .. |
| John Topley | 71977 | NIH | 20½ | 5' 6½" | Fresh, light brown, brown | Labourer | 9 October 1917, Portadown | Seagoe, Armagh | 22 March 1918, Antrim | .. |
23 April |
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| J. McVicker | 41637 | Depot, R. Ir. Fus. | 23 | 5' 7½" | __, brown, blue | Blacksmith's helper | 27 January 1915, Antrim | __ | 1 April 1918, Armagh. Rejoined (Police Gazette 7 May 1918.) | Scar on forehead |
30 April |
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| Frederick Butler | 71940 | NIH | 19 | 5' 7" | Fresh, fair, grey | Butcher | 8 August 1917, Antrim | Richmond, Surrey | 3 April 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Harry Butler | 71941 | NIH | 23¼ | 5' 7" | Sallow, fair, grey | Butcher | 8 August 1917, Antrim | Richmond, Surrey | 3 April 1918, Antrim | .. |
21 May |
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| J. Clarke | 72059 | NIH | 23 | 5' 8¼" | Fresh, brown, blue | Labourer | 9 April 1918, Newtownards | Ballymacarrett | 19 April 1918, Antrim | .. |
28 May |
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| J. Burns | 71866 | NIH | 22 | 5' 7½" | Fresh, brown, brown | Warehouseman | 2 June 1917, Belfast | Shankill | 24 April 1918, Antrim | .. |
| M. Callaghan | 71902 | NIH | 18¾ | 5' 2" | Fresh, brown, brown | Groom | 12 March 1917, Waterford | Fenybank, Kilkenny | 6 May 1918, Antrim | .. |
| R. Mooney | 72087 | NIH | 35 | 5' 3¾" | Sallow, turning grey, grey | Seaman | 29 April 1918, Belfast | Shankill | 4 May 1918, Belfast. | .. |
4 June |
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| Frank Ellis | 71914 | NIH | 25¾ | 5' 8½" | Fresh, dark, brown | Merchandise dealer | 11 July 1917, Cavan | Arva, Cavan | __, Antrim | Round shoulders |
| James Lightbody | 71951 | NIH | 20¾ | 5' 7¾" | Sallow, fair, blue | Farmer | 20 August 1917, Belfast | Bangor, Down | 18 May 1918, Antrim | .. |
16 July |
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| J. Donaldson | 72118 | NIH | 21 | 5' 6½" | Fresh, brown, __ | Farm labourer | 11 June 1918, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Co. Down | 14 June 1918, Antrim | .. |
6 August |
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| H. Dixon | 71944 | NIH | 25 | 5' 8½" | __ | Baker | 9 August 1917, Belfast | Shankill, Antrim | 11 July 1918, Antrim | .. |
| W. Kennedy | 72080 | NIH | 18 | 5' 7" | __ | Farm labourer | 23 April 1918, Omagh | Shankill, Belfast | 12 July 1918, Antrim | .. |
| R. Magee | 541 | NIH | 31¼ | 5' 8" | __ | Labourer | 9 May 1907, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Co. Down | ?5 July 1918, Antrim | .. |
| S. Simpson | 71999 | NIH | 19¾ | 5' 7¾" | __ | Engine driver | 22 November 1917, Omagh | Glendermott, Derry | 8 July 1918, Antrim | Tattooed arms, scar left thigh |
13 August |
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| W. Allen | 72106 | NIH | 16 | 5' 4¼" | Fresh, dark brown, grey | Carter | 3 June 1918, Belfast | Ballymacarrett, Down | 27 July 1918, Antrim | .. |
10 September |
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| H. Fisher | 72128 | NIH | 24 | 5' 6" | Sallow, black, brown | Tailor's presser | 14 August 1918, Belfast | Glasgow | 19 August 1918, Antrim | .. |
17 September |
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| S. Matchett | 71074 | NIH | 28 | 5' 5" | Fresh, auburn, grey | Farmer | 28 March 1912, __ | Muralin, Down | 2 September 1918, Antrim | Gunshot wound scalp |
| P. Murphy | 77052 | NIH | 25½ | 5' 9½" | Fresh, black, black | Pianist | 25 March 1918, Dundalk | Rathmines, Dublin | 30 August 1918, Antrim | .. |
24 September |
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| __ Breslin | 72143 | NIH | 21 | 5' 7" | Fresh, brown, blue | Stoker | 31 August 1918, Waterford | Drimoleague, Cork | 11 September 1918, Antrim | Tattooed wrists |
| Reginald Brewer | 71126 | NIH | 19 | 5' 9" | Sallow, dark brown, brown | Musician | 24 April 1913, __ | Shankill, Antrim | 12 September 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Ernest Cochrane | 72005 | NIH | 19½ | 5' 9½" | __ | Farm labourer | 3 December 1917, Coleraine | Billy, Antrim | 12 September 1918, Antrim | .. |
| John Henderson | 72142 | NIH | 20½ | 5' 8½" | Sallow, dark, brown | Ship's fireman | 31 August 1918, Waterford | Longton, Londonderry | 11 September 1918, Antrim | Tattooed right forearm |
| James Keating | 72136 | NIH | 23 | 5' 3" | Fresh, brown, brown | Labourer | 22 August 1918, Belfast | Lixnaw, Kerry | 8 September 1918, Antrim | Scar right wrist |
8 October |
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| William John Moore | .. | NIH | 26 | 5' 5½" | Fresh, dark, grey | Carter | 21 September 1918, Belfast | Shankill | 22 September 1918, Belfast | Mole left buttock |
| William J. Thompson | .. | NIH | 21½ | 5' 6½" | Fresh, brown, grey | Labourer | 23 September 1918, Belfast | Shankill, Belfast | 24 September 1918, Belfast | Tattooed forearms |
15 October |
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| James Kane | 35391 | NIH | 18½ | 5' 7¾" | Fresh, dark brown, blue | Clerk | 23 April 1917, Belfast | Dunholme, Donegal | 30 September 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Frederick Lynn | .. | NIH | 19¼ | 5' 6¼" | Fresh, fair, blue | Labourer | 1 October 1918, Belfast | Randalstown, Antrim | 2 October 1918, Belfast | Scar left knee mole abdomen three neck |
| Bernard Maguire | 72125 | NIH | 23 | 5' 6¼" | Dark, black, grey | General labourer | 30 July 1918, Belfast | Cavan | 28 September 1918, Antrim | .. |
22 October |
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| Francis Kennedy | 71221 | NIH | 23½ | 5' 8" | Fresh, dark brown, grey | Cine operator | 1 September 1914, Belfast | Dublin | 4 October 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Rennie Lord | 71907 | NIH | 20 | 5' 6½" | Sallow, dark brown, grey | Coal hawker | 14 March 1917, Nelson | Colne, Lancaster | 9 October 1918, Antrim | .. |
| Robert Shields | 72185 | NIH | 24 | 5' 7" | Fresh, black, brown | Horse dealer | 1 October 1918, Belfast | Ballymacarrett | 6 October 1918, Antrim | Scar right thigh |
| Samuel Skelton | 71266 | NIH | 24 | 5' 9" | Fresh, dark brown, blue | Dairyman | 9 September 1914, __ | Whitehouse, Antrim | 8 October 1918, Antrim | .. |
26 November |
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| Robert Fletcher | 72161 | NIH | 21¼ | 5' 4½" | Fresh, fair, blue | Sawmill labourer | 21 September 1918, Belfast | Shankill, Antrim | 1 November 1918, Antrim | Dancing girl right forearm Willie left |
| Michael Gaffney | 72144 | NIH | 19 | 5' 2" | Fresh, brown, grey | Stable boy | 9 September 1918, Dublin | St Johns, Dublin | 25 October 1918, Antrim | Cross flags ship chest scar left knee |
| Frank Mohran | 72205 | NIH | 21 | 5' 8" | Fresh, brown, brown | Motor driver | 14 October 1918, Dublin | Manchester | 2 November 1918, Antrim | Scar right eyebrow left wrist |
| Samuel Redmond | 72086 | NIH | 19½ | 5' 5" | Fresh, fair, blue | Farm labourer | 29 April 1918, Ballymena | Ballymena | 28 October 1918, Antrim | .. |
| William Robinson | 72191 | NIH | 19 | 5' 6¼" | Fresh, brown, grey | General labourer | 12 October 1918, Belfast | Muckamore | 5 November 1918, Antrim | Girls head W.Robinson left forearm |
| __ Smyth | 72213 | NIH | 19 | 5' 3¾" | Fresh, dark, grey | Labourer | 19 October 1918, Belfast | Liverpool, Lancashire | 26 October 1918 | Scroll right forearm girls head left scar left knee elbow |
31 December |
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| J. Donegan | 72188 | NIH | 19½ | 5' 3½" | Fresh, brown, grey | Labourer | 10 October 1918, Belfast | Shankill, Antrim | 16 December 1918, Antrim | Tattooed Patrick McShane left arm |
| William Nolan | 72129 | NIH | 20¾ | 5' 7½" | Fresh, auburn, blue | Labourer | 16 August 1918, Dublin | Dublin | 13 December 1918, Antrim | Tattooed forearms |
1919
Only 14, 21, 28 October, 18, 25 November, and 23 December checked to date. No North Irish Horse deserters identified.