Private Robert James Kilgore
This North Irish Horseman appears to be the Robert James Kilgore born on 22 December 1883 at Magherabeg, Letterkenny, County Donegal, the first of three children of farmer Joseph Kilgore and his wife Margaret (née McCain [or McKane]). At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Magherabeg with his parents and siblings.
Kilgore enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 16 January and 23 February 1909 (No.268). Nothing more has been discovered about his pre-war service with the regiment, but he may have been discharged in 1913 on completion of his four years' service.
At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Magherabeg with his widowed mother and working on the family farm. She died in September 1915 at the age of 71.
Kilgore rejoined the North Irish Horse on 21 June 1916. At the end of December 1916 he was one of forty North Irish Horsemen who volunteered to transfer to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The formal transfer took place on 9 January 1917, and on the same day they embarked for France, where they were posted to the 10th Battalion, joining it at Ploegsteert Wood on the Ypres front on 16 January. Kilgore was issued regimental number 40649.
He remained with the battalion until it was disbanded in January 1918. He was then posted to the 1st Battalion. On 26 May that year he was transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles (No.45835) and posted to the 16th Battalion.
On 6 November 1919 Kilgore was discharged, being no longer fit for war service (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations), due to "delusional insanity".
Soon after his discharge he was living at 91 Spencer Road, Londonderry.
Kilgore died in the Letterkenny Mental Hospital on 28 May 1941.
This page last updated 8 November 2023.