Ulster War Memorials

[Nigel Marshall]

Donaghadee War Memorial, Co. Down. Circa 1950.

[Nigel Marshall]

Commemorated (among others) on this memorial is Lt William David Kenny VC, 4th Bn, 39th Gharwal Rifles, Indian Army.

An extract from the Third Supplement to the "London Gazette," dated 7th Sept., 1920, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Kot Kai (Waziristan) on the 2nd January, 1920, when in command of a company holding an advanced covering position, which was repeatedly attacked by the Mahsuds in greatly superior numbers. For over four hours this officer maintained his position, repulsing three determined attacks, being foremost in the hand-to-hand fighting which took place, and repeatedly engaging the enemy with bomb and bayonet. His gallant leadership undoubtedly saved the situation and kept intact the right flank, on which depended the success of the operations and the safety of the troops in rear. In the subsequent withdrawal, recognising that a diversion was necessary to enable the withdrawal of the company, which was empeded by their wounded, with a handful of his men he turned back and counter-attacked the pursuing enemy, and with the rest of his party, was killed fighting to the last. This very gallant act of self-sacrifice not only enabled the wounded to be withdrawn but also averted a situation which must have resulted in considerable loss of life."

[Nigel Marshall]

Donaghadee War Memorial, Co. Down. 2008.

[Nigel Marshall]

Ballywalter War Memorial, Co. Down. Circa 1925.

[Nigel Marshall]

Ballywalter War Memorial, Co. Down. 2008.

Please feel free to add to this thread.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Desmond7]

If you google images for Portstewart War Memorial there is an epic sunset pic

[Nigel Marshall]

So there is, Thanks, Des.

Sunset in Portstewart

Cheers,

Nigel

[irishmen1916]

Thanks Nigel for posting them.

Peter

[Guest Paddy Mulvenna]

Thanks Nigel for posting them.

Peter

Here is my Portstewart photo - glad you liked it !

[Nigel Marshall]

Welcome to the forum, Horslips. As first posts go, this is a cracker!

Cheers,

Nigel

This is my 2000th post

[ulsterlad2]

Nigel, great images. Are those B/W stills from postcards?

Horslips.

Welcome to the forum. That is a stunning photo. Thanks for sharing it.

[Nigel Marshall]

Nigel, great images. Are those B/W stills from postcards?

They are postcards, yes. I have a third one some where. It is a view of Groomsport's memorial I think. I've not seen it in ages.

Cheers,

Nigel

[ralphjd]

Just like to add my compliments, wonderful images. Ralph.

[Guest Paddy Mulvenna]

Nigel, great images. Are those B/W stills from postcards?

Horslips.

Welcome to the forum. That is a stunning photo. Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks for the welcome - I better share a few favourites.

The inscription on the Celtic Cross reads;

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Presented by the people of Ballycastle

To the memory of

William Faulkner -stoker

William McKay.

F. Walter Mechanician

J Harvey A.B.

HMS RACOON

James Griffin Private R.M.

4 Seamen and 1 Stoker Unidentified

HMS VICKNOR

Who gave their lives in defence of the Empire in the Great War 1914 -1918

Whose bodies were cast ashore on this coast and interred here

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For information

HMS Racoon

Three funnelled destroyer HMS Racoon sank on 9 th January 1918.

"It was calculated by the set of the tide and the position of the bodies that the Racoon had struck the Garrive or Girvan Isles, a little over a mile off Malin Head pier. Nothing was found of her. It was only recently that the wreck has been located, debris lying at 20 metres. Items have been recovered (though it is a war grave) most notably the engine room telegraph, which appears to have been set at half revolutions. A more alarming discovery in 1996 was live ammunition among the lobster pots hauled up by the Malin men, which brought an Irish Army team, and the press, to the scene, the first attention the Racoon had received since brief reports appeared among the war headlines in 1918. At Bonamargy Friary, near Ballycastle, is a marble monument erected to men of Racoon and Viknor. As the fast Racoon was a coal burner more than half her crew were stokers. Nine lucky men (eight stokers and a seaman) had been left behind when she sailed. She had distinguished herself in the Dardanelles campaign and in Mediterranean convoy escort"

Extract from Ian Wilson's excellent book "Donegal Shipwrecks" published 1998

(ISBN No. 0 948154 56X)