WWI

Our Brave Defenders

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is the completed version of the mural earlier shown in-progress. The four main panels show the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (“This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. ‘Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die’ – 16th November 1918 King George V”), and Thiepval Memorial (“Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.”)

St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street).

M06858 [M06859] [M06860] [M06861] [M06862] [M06863] [M06864] [M06865] [M06866] [M06867] [M06868] [M06870]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Banbridge Battalions

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The connections between the 36th (Ulster) Division and the Ulster Volunteers are commemorated in Seapatrick: on the left is the YCV shamrock – the 14th battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles was the YCV battalion; on the right, with the digits “1912” is the West Down regiment, 1st battalion (Banbridge) of the Ulster Volunteers, but we also have the years “1914 – 1918” – in September 1914 men from Banbridge (presumably including Seapatrick) joined D Company of 13th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles (1st County Down Volunteers) and part of the 108th Brigade of the 36th Ulster Division) (Bygone Days).

Seapatrick Road, Seapatrick (near Banbridge), Co Down

M06619 [M06622] [M06621] [M06620]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Our Brave Defenders

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Work-in-progress images from the new mural in memory of the dead from the 36th (Ulster) Division in St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street) in east Belfast.

The four main panels show the men of the 36th going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (“This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. ‘Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die’ – 16th November 1918 King George V”), and Thiepval Memorial (“Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.”)

M06835 [M06836] M06837

M06617 [M06611] [M06612] [M06613] [M06614] [M06615] [M06616]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

To Those Who Gave Their All For The Great War

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The portraits are of Edward Henry Carson and Private William McFadzean VC; the stone is a “Sydenham Roll Of Honour”. The insignia of various British Army units are shown over the hills around Thiepval and a sea of poppies. Seen previously from a distance in 2010.

M06588 [M06583] [M06584] [M06585] [M06586] [M06587]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

15th Battalion (North Belfast) Royal Irish Rifles

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
Soldiers from the 15th Battalion (North Belfast) Royal Irish Rifles board ship for France in 1915. The five men featured in the apex are Sergeant Major Magookin, 2nd Lt De La Harpur, Rifleman Forrester, Rifleman Baird, and Rifleman Templeton.

Replaces Comradeship, Unity, Discipline in Inniscarn Drive, Rathcoole.

M06773 [M06774] [M06775] [M06776] [M06780] [M06781] [M06782]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Charge From Thiepval Wood

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The mural replaces one to the UVF’s Platoon 5 , A Co., and the memorial stone is dedicated to it (and not to the WWI soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in the charge from Thiepval Wood, July 1st, 1916): “This stone is dedicated to the memory of the fallen volunteers of No. 5 platoon A company 1st Belfast battalion Ulster Volunteer Force. ‘As poppy petals gently fall/Remember us who gave our all/Not in the mud of foreign lands/Nor buried in the desert sands//In Ulster field and farm and town/Fermanagh’s lanes and Drumlin’d Down/We died that violent death should cease/And Ulstermen might live in peace’ Lest we forget.” For the side walls, see Thiepval St.

M06483 [M06484] M06485 [M06486] [M06487] [M06488] [M06489]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney