Lance Corporal George Frederick Sexton Finch
George Frederick Sexton Finch was born on 11 January 1872 at 14 Crescent, Limerick, the second of six children of 'private gentleman' (later described as 'retired lieutenant-colonel of the Munster Fusiliers' and farmer) George William Finch and his wife Margretta Maria Frances Finch (née Fitzgerald). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Maryville, south of Limerick, with his widowed mother and a brother.
Finch enlisted in the Dragoons of the Line in February or March 1915 (No.21193). Posted to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, he embarked for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, possibly at the end of June 1916, having been posted to the headquarters establishment of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment following the formation of that regiment in France from C and F Squadrons and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron. The headquarters, formed in England and comprising 40 officers and men, joined the new regiment in France at the beginning of July.
The 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment served as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Finch, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Finch was issued regimental number 41176.
Nothing more has been discovered about his military service during the remainder of the war.
Following his discharge at the end of the war Finch returned to Limerick. He died at Milltown House, Bruff, County Limerick, on 11 April 1948.
Image from my personal collection.