Private Thomas Watson
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, but it is believed he was from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
Thomas Watson enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1 and 26 February 1913 (No.800 – later Corps of Hussars No.71108). He embarked for France on 17 August 1914 with A Squadron, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
Watson served with the regiment throughout the war. On 20 February 1919 he was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
It is believed that Watson's brother served in the Highland Light Infantry during the war.
Both brothers later joined the B Specials of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. There are newspaper reports of a Special Constable Thomas Watson of Collin Cottage, Legmore, County Down, receiving compensation for wounds received in an ambush near Loughguile Barracks in 1921, but it is not known at present whether this is the same man.
Image of Watson, from an identity card dated 1933, kindly provided by Jonathan Maguire of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum.