Private Samuel Mortland
The only reference to this man's service in the North Irish Horse is in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Roll of Honour: 1914-1919, which lists him with the rank of Private, from Castlefin, County Donegal, belonging to the Donoughmore Congregation, Raphoe Presbytery.
Samuel Mortland was born on 10 November 1897 at Mullanbouy, Castlefin, the second of six children of farmer and shopkeeper Robert Mortland and his wife Mary (née Roulston). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Mullanbouy with his parents and siblings. (Note: Two other Samuel Mortlands lived in the same area at this time. It has not been a straightforward task to match the military records to the right person.)
Mortland was the subject of an article in the Derry Journal of 31 January 1916 (below).
Later that year he enlisted, possibly in the 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry. From there he would have been posted to the North Irish Horse. Records suggest that in August 1917 a number of North Irish Horsemen were transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles, initially posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. Mortland was issued regimental number 3/20197.
Later that year or in early 1918 he was sent to France, where he was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. (The battalion war diary notes "180 O.R. from Ireland taken on strength of Battn." on 12 April 1918.) Mortland was wounded, probably in April.
In early October 1918 near Dadizeele in Belgium Mortland was severely wounded in the left forearm. He was admitted to the 18th General Hospital at Camiers. Nothing more has been discovered about his military service.
In April 1928 he emigrated to Canada, later settling in the United States.
His brother Joseph Roulston Mortland also served in the war, in the 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers (No.10858). He died of wounds at a casualty clearing station in France on 30 September 1918 and was buried in the Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St. Marc.
This page last updated 23 September 2025.