Private Frederick Ernest Elkin
Frederick Ernest Elkin was born (as William Frederick) on 2 October 1896 at Esker, Dromore, County Tyrone, the third of four children of farmer William Thomas Elkin and his wife Rebecca Jane (née Nixon). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Esker with his parents and two surviving siblings.
Elkin enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 24 May 1915 (No.1583). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and the first half of 1917, possibly with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.
In May and June 1916 E, D and A Squadrons of the North Irish Horse combined to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, and C and F Squadrons joined the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, each serving as corps cavalry units until August-September 1917, when the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Elkin, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Elkin was issued regimental number 41230.
No information has been located about Elkin's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918. On 11 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. In February 1921 he was granted a pension for 'dyspepsia' which was attributed to his military service, his level of disability assessed at 15-19 per cent.