Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Samuel Fawcett
Samuel Fawcett was born on 13 October 1882 at Lisnalee, Scotshouse, County Monaghan, the second of thirteen children of farmer Joseph Fawcett and his wife Lizzie (nee Horner). On 5 December 1906 he married Annie Kemp at the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Ashfield, County Cavan. The 1911 Irish Census shows the couple living with their first child at 74 Church Street, Portadown, Joseph working as a life assurance superintendent.
Fawcett enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 10 and 14 March 1914 (No.929 - later Corps of Hussars No.71166). He remained at the regiment's reserve at Antrim throughout the war, rising to the rank of regimental quartermaster-sergeant.
After the war Fawcett was one of a number of men recognised for his work on the home front. According to a report in the Londonderry Sentinel of 2 September 1919:
The following list of names brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services in the Northern District, Irish Command, was issued officially on Friday evening, but will not be gazetted. ... Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant S. Fawcett North Irish Horse.
Fawcett died at his home, The Steeple, County Antrim, on 9 March 1955. The Belfast News-Letter reported:
The death occurred yesterday at The Steeple, Antrim, of Mr. Samuel Fawcett. He was in his early seventies. Mr. Fawcett was a member of the Antrim County Council, the Antrim Rural Council and Antrim Town Commissioners. He was proprietor of Fawcett's Royal Portrush Hotel, a favourite centre for cross-Channel tourists. In the European war of 1914-18 he served with the North Irish Horse. He took a prominent part in the local branch of the Unionist Association and was a former member of the Ulster Unionist Council. Keenly interested in sport, he was a vice-president of Muckamore Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. He is survived by his wife and four sons.
At least two of Fawcett's brothers served in the war. The Belfast News-Letter reported on 27 September 1917 that:
Cadet J. J. Fawcett, who has been gazetted at second-lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was prior to the war a motor mechanic and electrical engineer in the employment of Mr. J. W. Buchanan, Derry. He has two brothers serving – one is regimental quartermaster-sergeant in the North Irish Horse, and the other a sergeant in the Irish Guards. The latter has been wounded.
Second Lieutenant Joseph John Fawcett of the 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action on 23 March 1918.
Ballymena Weekly Times, 5 March 1928
Another image of Fawcett can be seen here.