Pair: Private W. H. Elliott, South Irish Horse

1914 Star (643 Pte., S. Ir. H.); British War Medal 1914-20 (643 Cpl., S.Ir. H.) second with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of 1914 Stars to the Cavalry.

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As with the North Irish Horse, the South Irish Horse formed part of the Special Reserve.

The South Irish Horse was mobilised immediately on the outbreak of war and ‘B’ Squadron was embarked at Dublin on 17 August and landed in France on the 19th. They were initially employed as G.H.Q. Troops attached to H.Q. B.E.F. The remaining squadrons did not embark until 1915 and later.

William Henry Elliott was born in Tipperary on 25 March 1895 and attested (apparently lying about his age) for the South Irish Horse at Dublin on 29 November 1911. He was mobilised for the war, and serving with ‘B’ Squadron, entered France on 17 August 1914. He received a slight wound to the face on 4 May 1917. Following hospital treatment in England, he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Railway Operating Division) on 19 November 1917 ‘for the benefit of the service’. His pre-war occupation as Engineer will probably have contributed to this decision. He returned to France, 27 February 1918-8 January 1919, when he returned home being transferred to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 18 March 1919 and finally discharged on 31 March 1920. His address at this time being, ‘10 Tyrconnell Street, Inchicore, Dublin. He died in Liverpool Spring 1938.

With copied service papers, m.i.c. and other research.