Warrant Officer Robert James Carmichael, MM

 

Robert James Carmichael was born in the Bampton-Kirk district of Cumberland, east of Carlisle, between April and June 1888, one of a eleven children of flour miller Benjamin Carmichael and his wife Margaret (nee Ward). Although he grew up in Cumberland, by 1911 Carmichael had moved to Belfast and was working as a 'foreman miller'.

He enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 10 May 1915 (No.1523 – later Corps of Hussars No.71419).

Carmichael rose to the rank of squadron sergeant major (Warrant Officer Class 2) and between 1916 and 1918 embarked for France, where he joined the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment in the field.

In early 1919 he was one of a number of North Irish Horsemen awarded a Military Medal for gallantry during the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918.

He was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 3 March 1919.

 

An image of Carmichael can be seen here.