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Hi,
Quite possibly a transcription error, given that this is the only man with the forename Walter with a surname beginning with an 'S' and yes Slater and Slade are not too far removed.
I've put a nte in my notebook to check this when I'm next in London, however that may not be for several months, so don't get too excited just yet...
As to the original question the photo has all the hall marks of a member of the Imperial Yeomanry.

A good few years ago my Aunt told me something about my GF being in Ireland in a military capacity, does anyone know what might have been happening there around 1898-1909 that could have resulted in British troops being sent there? Maybe as a peace keeping force?

This brought a smile to my face, the British Army had quite a presence there it being a home posting much like England, so nothing out of the ordinary in seeing men posted to Ireland and not in a 'peace keeping' role. Remember Ireland was a part of the British Empire and Dublin was the Empire's 'second city'
All the best
Doug

Hi,
I think you can discount the NIH or SIH as at this period prior to 1908 they were not in existence. The bandoleer is the clue here, it's one that would have been in use for the Boer War so I'd bet on an Imperial Yeomanry unit, by 1903 a leather bandoleer was in use and the SIY (formed in 1902, changed to SIH in 1908) used this as part of their uniform.
Using Kevins Asplins page here:
I found four Walter William's with surnames beginning with 'S' a long shot I know but then spelling is not our greatest asset.
Scott, Walter William Edward    25920, Private    53rd Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y.
Sharpe, Walter William    4284, Private    62nd Coy., 14th Bn. I.Y.
Smith, Walter William    34187, Sergeant    112th Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y.
Spratt, Walter William    30439, Private    34th Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y

There are 79 men with the forename Walter ...... Best match was
Slater, Walter    43452, Trooper*    33rd Bn. I.Y. (I'd put money on this one!! )
The Imp Yeo records are available at Kew so  if you look you'll know if this is your man or not

The foregoing is just another take on the question and my two pennies worth, also just wanted to quash the SIH angle..

Hi Everyone,
Just to close this off, Joseph Clynch was one of the 28 men noted in the War Diary mentioned above and on my web site at the above link. They had just pulled back from the line for rest and were in billets when a stray shell hit them. The shell landed in a courtyard and caused a lot of casualties, of the 40 men wounded two, Joseph being but one, he died of his wounds the same day.
He actually enlisted between the 30th Sep 1915 and 2nd Oct 1915, I can't be more precise than that. I'd also say with some measure of accuracy that he enlisted in Dublin, however as there were several recruiting stations in use it's also possible that he went to the Curragh and enlisted there.
I have another note in my records for him, that I found several years ago, now long since removed from the web. This was posted on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 as part of the www.eirecon.net site. Who the author was was not recorded, I've saved the web page so can forward this if you want it.

I’VE written about a few war heroes in the past and here’s another pair I’ve come across and men I’d like to hear more about.

They were both Balbriggan men and died taking part in the Battle of CambraI, which ran from late 1917, right to the end of 1918.

Private Joseph Clinch, a member of the South Irish Horse, was injured in December 1917 during the course of the battle and died later from his wounds.

On September 27, 1918, the fight was going on and Lieut Ernest Dennis Ellis, son of Balbriggan Town Commissioner David Ellis and his wife Annie of ‘Holmsdale’ Balbriggan, was leading his company across the Canal Du Nord when he was struck and killed.

He was a member of the 4th Bn, formerly the 10th Bn of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was 25.

Note the change of name, in the 1901 census the family use CLYNCH and in 1911 CLINCH, though as far as the British Army was concerned it was CLYNCH, you choose.
Any other questions re the SIH or this man use the email access via my web site.
All the best
Doug
www.southirishhorse.com

Hello all

I am trying to trace one of my ancestors, Tom McDonald from County Kildare Ireland, who served in the South Irish horse Regiment during WW1.
I know he fought at the Battle of Mons, but that's about it!

Could anyone give me any pointers please?

Thank you

Nick

Hi Nick,
If he was the Thomas Mcdonald from Castle Dermot Kildare then I do think he is number 617 T McDonald late of the SIH, he joined at Carlow on the 1st May 1911. Not as stated above as a regular but as a Special Reservist. He would have signed on for a period of four years with the option to re-sign at the end of this initial four year period. He was discharged on the 4th May 1916 as time expired

Do get in touch via my website below and I can give you some additional details..

Regards
Doug
www.southirishhorse.com