The Long, Long Trail

On 2 January 1895, Michael Furey attested to join the 13th Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the regular army, in Preston, Lancashire. From Labasheeda, County Clare, he joined for a term of seven years with the colours, to be followed by a further five years on reserve. He was just 18 years and 3 months of age, and was already serving as a part-time volunteer with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, the Royal Limerick County Militia, with which he had been since 27 April 1893. Michael recorded the names of his family as next of kin: his parents Michael and Margaret Furey, his brothers James, Patrick, Thomas, Daniel and John, and his sisters Bridget, Mary and Hannah.

A brief medical examination revealed that he stood 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighed 146 pounds. He was found fit for service, and he joined the regiment at Dundalk three days later where he was given number 3502 and the rank of Private.

On 17 February 1899, Michael suffered a fall from his horse that caused an injury to his foot. A court of enquiry held soon afterwards found that the horse had fallen in slippery conditions and through no fault of Michael’s.

Michael sailed for South Africa, arriving on 10 November 1899. He saw action in the South African (Boer) war, and it is possible that he was wounded or became ill, for he returned to England between 9 June 1900 and February 1901. Arriving in South Africa once again on 28 February 1901, he served there until 21 October 1902. For his efforts in the war, Michael was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the Transvaal and Relief of Ladysmith clasps, and the King’s South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps.

On 1 December 1902, Michael’s time with the colours expired and he was transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve. A report at this time notes that his conduct had been exemplary. He had two Good Conduct badges, and had been an officer’s servant or batman for five years. It was said he desired to be a valet or groom, on entering civilian life. Michael underwent a medical examination prior to discharge, which was undertaken on board the ship His Majesty’s Transport “City of ---“, as the 13th Hussars came home.

On 21 December 1904, Michael married Barbara Ellen Nimmo, at the Register Office in South Shields. They were blessed with five children: Margaret (born 16 June 1905 in South Shields); John Michael (15 January 1908); Daniel James (12 September 1909, the last two being born in Droitwich, Worcestershire); Norah Christina (26 June 1911, at Lakyle), and George Thomas (29 July 1914.

Michael’s term of service expired on 1 January 1907, when he had spent twelve years with the colours. His ‘intended place of residence was in the care of A. Spencer, Esq., Impney, near Droitwich’. This is almost certainly the great house built in 1875 by the great salt industrialist John Corbett. It still exists to this day, and has for some years now been the Chateau Impney Hotel. Corbett died in 1901.

He attested on 26 July 1907 for the new Section D Reserve, 13th Hussars, and renewed his engagement on 24 July 1911.

Michael was recalled from reserve and mobilised in Dublin on 6 August 1914, two days after the war was declared against Germany. He was posted to 12th Reserve Regiment on 15 August. Very soon after his recall, Michael’s wife Barbara wrote in response to an army request, enclosing the birth certificate of a child, Michael, saying that he had died in the January. At this time, she was living at The Lodge, Turvey Cottage, Turvey, Bedfordshire.

He was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders on 29 January 1916, formally with 11th Hussars as private 46162, but attached to the staff of the headquarters of 35th Division, serving as an officer’s batman once again. On 26 July 1916, he continued service under the Military Service Act. This was the Act that introduced conscription, and the niceties of reserve obligations, terms of service and so on were left behind as men had been deemed to have enlisted for the duration.

Michael was posted to the Tank Corps on 24 February 1918, being allotted to 16th Battalion the next day where he was given number 309019, the first change of number since he first enlisted. He was moved on, joining 6th Battalion on 9 September and then 5th Battalion on 28 October 1918. His role with the Tank Corps is uncertain.

He moved to the United Kingdom on 28 March 1919, and was finally demobilised and discharged to Class Z Army Reserve, on 27 April 1919. This meant that he was subject to recall if required at any time up to 12 months after discharge, but no crisis arose and his recall was not required.

This article is published with the kind permission of Bobby Nugent. If you have any information concerning Michael Furey, or would like to commemorate one of your relatives on a page like this, please contact the webmaster.

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