remni september 20

September 20

remembrance ni

Five Irish VCs at the Whitehall cenotaph

On 20/09/1934 Five Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross in the Great War laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Whitehall.

They were Mr Robert Downie VC, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Mr Martin Moffat VC, Sligo, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, Mr John Ormsby VC, Kings own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Mr John Caffery VC, Birr County Offaly, The

September 20

Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment, and Mr John O'Neill VC, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment.

The photo was taken before the five men travelled to a peace pilgrimage to Lourdes with ex servicemen

of 23 other nations. 20th september 1934. Their VC winning actions are summarised below.

Robert Downie VC"On 23 October 1916 east of Lesboeufs, France, when most of the officers had become casualties, Sergeant Downie, utterly regardless of personal danger and under very heavy fire, organised the attack which had been temporarily checked. At the critical moment he rushed forward shouting "Come on the Dubs!" which had an immediate response and the line rushed forward at this call. Sergeant Downie accounted for several of the enemy and in addition captured a machine-gun, killing the team. Although wounded early in the fight, he remained with his company, giving valuable assistance while the position was being consolidated".

September 20

Marin Moffat VC"On 14 October 1918 near Ledeghem,Belgium, Private Moffat was advancing with five others across the open when they suddenly came under heavy rifle fire at close range from a strongly held house. Rushing towards the house through a hail of bullets, Private Moffat threw bombs and then, working to the back of the house, rushed the door, killing two and capturing 30 of the enemy".

John Ormsby VC"On 14 April 1917 at Fayet, France, during operations which culminated in the capture of an important position, Sergeant Ormsby, acting as company sergeant-major showed complete indifference to the heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and set a fine example. After clearing a village he pushed on and drove out many snipers from localities further forward. When the only surviving officer was wounded he took command of the company and led them forward under heavy fire for 400 yards to a new position, holding it until relieved".

John Caffery VC"On 16 November 1915 near La Brique,France, a man was badly wounded and lying in the open unable to move, in full view of and about 350 yards from the enemy's trenches. A corporal of the RAMC and Private Caffrey at once started to rescue him, but at the first attempt were driven back by shrapnel fire. They tried again and succeeded in reaching and bandaging the wounded man, but just as they were lifting him up, the RAMC corporal was shot in the head. Private Caffrey bandaged the corporal and helped him back to safety, and then returned and brought in the other wounded man".

September 20

John O'Neill VC"On 14 October 1918 near Moorsele, Belgium, when the advance of his company was checked by two machine-guns and an enemy field battery firing over open sights, Sergeant O'Neill, with 11 men only, charged the battery, capturing four field guns, two machine-guns and 16 prisoners. Again on the morning of 20 October with one man he rushed an enemy machine-gun position, routing about 100 and causing many casualties”.

On this Day - September 20

1912 The text of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant was agreed and read from the steps of Craigavon House by Edward Carson.

September 20

1914.

The Germans continue their bombardment of Reims Cathedral.

1916.On the Somme the German counter-offensive against the French fails with six divisions suffering heavy losses.

1917

The Battle of Menin Road began, one of the offensives that comprised the Battle of Passchendaele. Below - A scene on the Menin Road near Hooge, looking towards Birr Cross Roads, during the battle on 20 September 1917.

September 20

scene on the Menin Road near Hooge, looking towards Birr Cross Roads, during the battle on 20 September 1917. The wounded on the stretchers are waiting to be taken to the clearing stations; others able to walk are making their way along the road as far as possible. Identified are: Major (Maj) G A M Heydon MC, Regimental Medical Officer of the 8th Battalion (fifth from the left with his arm in a sling). To his left is Private W Bain and next to him is Private (Pte) 'Spud' Murphy. To Pte Murphy's left (wearing a pack) is 58 Lance Corporal (LCpl) Roy Arthur Findlay MM, all are members of the 1st Field Ambulance. Shortly after the photograph was taken a shell landed in approximately the area where Maj Heydon and Pte Murphy had been standing. The shell killed most of the wounded on stretchers and LCpl Findlay was blown under the truck, shown lying on its side to the right.

British advance east of Ypres and successfully take Inverness Copse, Glencorse Wood, Veldhoek and part of Polygon Wood, along with 2,000 German prisoners.

1939 First RAF aerial victory of WWII. A Messerschmitt Bf 109 was shot down by Fairey Battle gunner Sergeant F. Letchard of 88 Squadron during a patrol near Aachen.

September 20

1942 Minesweeper HMS Leda was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-435 while with a USSR-Scotland

convoy west of Spitsbergen. 47 of 134 on board died, including a number of merchant seamen rescued from earlier sinkings who were being repatriated

1944 Above - men of the US 504th PIR, 82nd Airborne, cross the Waal river. 48 paratroopers were killed during the crossing, others successfully captured the north end of the

September 20

Nijmegen road bridge.It is considered one of the bravest acts of Operation Market Garden.

British paratroopers holding Arnhem Bridge are overrun. Their last radio transmission simply says: "Out of ammunition. God save the King.

Roll of Honour - September 20 Representing their comrades who died on this day

1914

+ANDERSON, Edward Douglas

Royal Irish Rifles. 2nd Btn. Rifleman. 5936. Died 20/09/1914. Age 44. Born 11/05/1870 at Carniny, Ballymena. He was a regular soldier and had enlisted in

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Belfast in 1900. Son of the late Adam and Jane Anderson, nee Higgins, and the brother of 4932 Rifleman David Anderson. Husband to Janet, 7, Duncan Street, Pollockshaws, Glasgow. La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France.

+BROWN, William James

RN. 227825. HMS Pegasus. Died 20/09/1914. Enrolled 02/05/1905 for 12 years. War service in Pegasus, Goliath, Hyacinth, Challenger and Vivid I. Born Londonderry 22/05/1887. ADM 188/402/227825

+GOUGH, Samuel

South Lancashire Regiment. 2nd Btn. Private. 7406. Died 20/09/1914. La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France. Larne WM

+HANNA, Joseph

Royal Irish Rifles, 2nd Btn. C Coy. Rifleman. 8521. Died 20/09/1914. Age 28. Son of James and Eliza Hanna. Born at Lisburn. Vally British Cemetery, France

+SCOTT, James

Royal Irish Rifles. 2nd Btn. Rifleman. 4353. Died 20/09/1914. Son of Margaret Scott, of 25, Wilton St., Belfast, and the late William John Scott. 20 years’ service. La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France

1915

September 20

+FIELD John W

Royal Irish Rifles.1st Btn. Captain. Died 20/09/1915. Member of Loyal Orange Lodge No. 431. Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France

+MANNING, Edward S

RNR. Assistant Engineer. HMS Clementine. Died of illness 20/09/1915. Age 33. Son of Humphrey and Fanny Manning. Layde Church of Ireland Churchyard, Cushendall

+WADDELL, Frederick William

Royal Irish Rifles, 8th Btn. "A" Coy. Rifleman,13768. Died 20/09/1915. Age 36. Born at Belfast. Son of Robert Henry

September 20

and Mary J. Waddell; husband to Margaret Waddell, of 14, Brandon Avenue, Toronto, Canada. Belfast City Cemetery

1916

+HAMILTON, George

Australian Infantry, 13 Btn. Private. 5094. Died 20/09/1916. Age 35. Son of James and Jane Hamilton. George was born in Killyman, Dungannon. He served a 5 year apprenticeship with R Richardson, Dungannon and then moved to Belfast where he worked as a grocer’s assistant. George arrived in Sydney about 1912. He enlisted on 08/08/1915 in New South Wales with Australian Infantry. He was wounded in the field on 01/09/1916. He had a fractured right arm and an injured left ankle and was removed to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. He died at Sussex County Hospital in Brighton of a fractured humerus, amputation of arm and septicaemia. Leicester (Welford Rd) Cemetery, Leicester. Dungannon WM

+KERR, Henry

58th Can. Inf. (Central Ontario). Pte. 452004. KIA 20/09/1916. Son of Henry Kerr, Craigs, Cullybackey. Courcelette British Cemetery, France. Cuningham Memorial, Pres. Church Cullybackey WM.

+McNALLY, Thomas

Royal Irish Rifles, 9th Battalion. Serjeant. 18/122. Died 20/09/1916. Aged 19. Son of James and Maggie McNally, of Kilwaughter, Larne. St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

September 20

1917

+ARMSTRONG, David

Australian Infantry,3rd Btn. AIF. Private. 6414. Died 20/09/1917. Age c 26. Son of Annie Black, Burnside. Born Ballyclare c 1891. Enlisted 09/05/1916 whilst residing at Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia. He was a Station hand. Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Ypres, Belgium. Kilbride Parish Church WM

+LITTLE, Henry James The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 5th. Btn. 2nd Lieutenant. Died 20/09/1917. Aged 25. Son of John W and H H Little. Henry was a born in Scotland in 1892. Henry’s parents moved to live in Cavanaleck, Fivemiletown. Henry lived in Paisley, Scotland and later in Charing, Kent. He enlisted with the East Kent Regiment. He was given a commission in June 1916, and was attached to the 5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment. Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke. West-Vlaanderenland, Belgium

+McKINLEY, James

London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 2/4th Btn, D Coy. Lance Corporal. 295090. Died 20/09/1917. Aged 31. Battle of Menin Road. One of three brothers who died serving in the war.Previously served in the Black Watch. Son of William and Christina McKinley, of Raholp, Downpatrick, Co. Down; husband to Sarah McKinley, of Roughfort, Mallusk. Father of three children. Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. St John’s Parish Church, Templepatrick.

September 20

+RONALDSON, James Gray The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 10th Btn. Second Lieutenant, Died 20/09/1917. London Gazette dated 15/08/1916. “Local Reserve. Royal West Surrey Regiment. 5 Aug. 1916 The undermentioned cadets to be temp 2nd Lts. (on prob.) James Gray Ronaldson” and five others. Son of James and Elizabeth Ronaldson. Husband to Winifred Thelma nee Crisp.Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.Duncairn Presbyterian Church, Belfast WM

+SIMMS, John Edward

Australian Infantry, A.I.F.18th Btn. Private. 4537. Died 20/09/1917. Age 41. Native of Banbridge. Son of David and Antonia Simms, of Moorlands, Banbridge. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium

+SWINFEN, Percy Courtney

Royal Flying Corps and General List. Second Lieutenant. Died 20/09/1917. Aged 18. Son of Charles Percy and Milly Lucy Swinfen, of 49, Lyndhurst Drive, Leyton, London. Born at Belfast. Hull Western Cemetery,Yorkshire

+WRIGHT, Thomas

Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Btn. Lance Corporal. 3709. Died 20/09/1917. Age 19. Son of James and Margret Wright, of Cross Lane, Coleraine. Coxyde Military Cemetery

1941

September 20

+GRANT, Desmond Mary

RAF. Corporal. 539570. Died 20/09/1941 in a German POW camp. Aged 23. Corporal Grant was on the RN aircraft carrier Courageous when she was torpedoed by a German submarine. He survived. During fighting in Crete, he was taken prisoner on Crete on 24/05/1941. Son of James and Ellen Josephine Grant, of Toomebridge. Berlin 1939 - 1945 War Cemetery, Spandau, Berlin, Germany

1942

+MEWHORT, Thomas Arthur RAFVR. Aircraftman 1st Class. 965965. Died 20/09/1942. Aged 44. Son of Josiah and Lucinda Mewhort of Belfast; Husband to Annie M. Mewhort of Belfast. Belfast City Cemetery

+PENTLAND, George Royal Artillery attd. H.Q. II Corps. Gunner. 956614, Died 20/09/1942 as a result of an accident while based in England. Age 27. He was a member of Seagoe Church Lads’ Brigade and 1st Portadown Boys’ Brigade Old Boys. Son of Robert and Jane Pentland of 29 Carrickblacker Road, Portadown, Co. Armagh. Husband to Rhonda Pentland. Seagoe Cemetery, Portadown. Portadown WM. Seagoe Parish Church WM

1943

September 20

+JONES, William Henderson

Royal Navy. Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 519884. Died 20/09/1943. Age 18. HMS Lagan. One of 29 men killed or fatally injured when U-270 attacked HMS Lagan with an acoustic torpedo, severing the frigate’s stern. Although towed to Liverpool, the ship was so badly damaged that it was written off as a total loss and was sold for scrap after the war. Lagan had been involved in convoy escorts and had taken part in a number of attacks on two U-boats, U-89 on 12 May 1943 and U-753 the following day. Both submarines were sunk. He had joined the Royal Navy in June and had recently been home on leave. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Forrest Jones, Tavanagh St., Donegall Rd., Belfast. (Belfast Weekly Telegraph 08/10/1943). Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 76

1944

+DOLAGHAN, Francis George

Army Air Corps. H.Q. 4th Parachute Bde. Private. 64880. Died 20/09/1944. Aged 21. He was Batman to Shan Hackett and was killed in action near Arnhem Bridge. Son of James and Maria Dolaghan, of Belfast. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands

+McMULLAN, Samuel

Royal Ulster Rifles, 1st Btn. The London Irish Rifles. Rifleman. 6983295. Died 20/09/1944. Age 27. Son of Hugh and Georgina McMullan, of Belfast. Gradara War Cemetery, Italy

1945

September 20

+SANDS, SamuelRoyal Army Medical Corps. Private. 7265718. Died 20/09/1945. Died 20/09/1945. Age 37. Son of John and Mary A. Sands, of Lurgan. Shankill Cemetery, Lurgan. Lurgan WM

VETERANS

FOSTER, Robert CowanRN. Surgeon Commander. Lieutenant WW1. Brother served with RIR. MB BCh BAO, QUB 1925 Born 20/09/1897. Son of W Rigby Foster, Cricklewood, Cherry Valley, Belfast. Died 04/1981. Campbell College 1109

NEWELL, Frederick Arthur Newell

Royal Irish Fusiliers, 5th Btn and Machine Gun Corps. Lieutenant. Frederick was born on 10 /11/1894 at the Rectory, Templepatrick, where his father Charles, was the Rector of the Parish. At the outbreak of war, Frederick enlisted in the Public Schools battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, before being commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, 10th (Irish) Division. At the landings at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on 07/08/1915, Frederick was wounded in the right thigh. Following convalescence, he was posted to the Machine Gun Corps and was hospitalised at Rouen, France, with Gas Poisoning in May 1916. On 20/09/1917, he was shot in the face and blinded in his right eye during the Battle of Menin Road. He was discharged with the Silver War Badge in January 1919. His father Charles, was a Chaplain to the Forces from February 1916 and was attached to 56 Casualty Clearing Station at Amiens. He returned to his Parish in March 1919.

September 20

MANNING, Denis William BordonRNVR. Chaplain 1944-46. Hon. Sec., Mersey Flotilla, RNVSR. 1949-53. Chaplain, Mersey Division, RNVR (HMS Eaglet), 1952. Born 20/09/1915. Son of the Ven. Archdeacon CC Manning, MC, Magheralave Road, Lisburn. Died 07/1981. TCD. Campbell College

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The remembrance ni programme is overseen by Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey OBE, QVRM, TD who served as Chaplain to 102 and 105

September 20

Regiments Royal Artillery (TA), as Hon. Chaplain to RNR and as Chaplain to the RBL NI area and the Burma Star Association NI. Dr McKelvey is a Past President of Queen’s University Services Club. He may be contacted at [email protected]

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