North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private Thomas Bell Sittlington

Thomas Bell Sittlington was born on 25 November 1892 at Ballytober, Cairncastle, County Antrim, one of eight children of agricultural labourer Samuel Sittlington and his wife Agnes (nee Brennan). Like his father, Sittlington worked as a labourer.

He enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 2 December 1915 (No.2007) and arrived in France on 19 January 1917 as a reinforcement for the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.

In September the regiment was dismounted and most of its officers and men transferred to the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, which was then re-named the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Sittlington was transferred to the battalion on 11 October 1917 and issued a new number – 41627. He was posted to C Company.

Private Sittlington was posted as missing during the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 27 March 1918. His body was recovered and buried by the advancing enemy and his identity disc later forwarded by a German intelligence officer, with the message “The owner is fallen.”

The location of Private Sittlington’s burial was forgotten and he is now commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, panel 77. It is possible that his body is one of two unidentified North Irish Horsemen who lie in the Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.