Private James Carroll

 

Little is known of this man's early life, other than that he was born in County Tyrone around 1880, son of potter James Carroll. The 1911 Census records his name as James C. Carroll. By 1902 he was living at 13 Glenwherry Street, Belfast, and working as a labourer. On 26 August that year he married Mary Jane Williamson in St John's Church of Ireland, Belfast. The couple had twelve children over the next twenty-one years. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 22 Kenbaan Street, Belfast, with his wife and children, and working as a carter.

Carroll enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 15 and 19 February 1915 (No. UD/213). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and most of its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment.

Carroll, however, was not among them. In October 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.424549), having been classified as 'PB' – fit for base duties only. On 12 July 1918 he and a number of other men of the Labour Corps were transferred to the newly-formed 15th (Service) Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (No.64259).

On 25 February 1919, having returned to the UK, he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

After the war Carroll lived with his family at 33 Renfrew Street, Belfast, until the 1930s, working as a labourer.

 

This page last updated 25 July 2023.