UVF/RHC/YCV – Paddy Duffy Collection

Along With The Brave And The Bold

2026-10-212026-10-24Extramural Activity1 Comment

“In loving memory of Vol. Gary Holdsworth, Officer Commanding, East Tyrone Mid-Ulster Brigade, Ulster Volunteer Force.” Holdsworth died in 2021 and the sources for this information – RBL Football Fb | Mid-Ulster ACT Fb – suggest that the title of “UVF OC” is an honorary or aspirational one. Holdsworth has appeared in the papers in connection with rioting and distrurbing the peace, but nothing involving weapons or drugs. A parade is held in his honour each year (Monrush Social Fb).

Similarly, the lines “Lay him away on the hillside, along with the brave and the bold. Inscribe his name on the roll of fame, in letters of purest gold.” come from a song (‘Lay Him Away On The Hillside’) about James Daly of the Connaught Rangers. He was executed by a British Army firing squad in November, 1920, for leading a mutiny to protest the actions of the Tans and RIC (WP).

The memorial is in the street where Holdsworth lived: Milburn Close, Cookstown

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Hugh Smyth OBE

2026-10-042026-10-07Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a new version of the Hugh Smyth board in Canmore Street, in the upper Shankill. It is very similar to the previous version (see Third-Class Citizens), with the main difference being the addition of the OBE medal that Smyth was awarded in 1996 for ‘services to the community’. There is also explicit mention of Smyth’s titles, as “The right honourable, alderman, and Lord Mayor of Belfast [city council] 1994-1995”. The small, inset, picture has also changed slightly – it is closer-up and in colour – though from the same photo-shoot by Bobbie Hanvey.

“Historically, Unionist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were first class citizens… and without question people believed them. Historically, Republican/Nationalist politicians fed their electorate the myth that they were second class citizens… and without question the people believed them. In reality, the truth of the matter was that we all, Protestant and Catholic, were third class citizens, and none of us realised it!”

In-progress images of the board being mounted are included below. The mural that briefly re-appeared is 90 Years Of Resistance. The UVF A company mural to the left has also appears to have been refreshed, though it is not known exactly when. Originally, there was no platoon 3. Platoon 4 has its own board, in the nearby Glenwood Street. “This mural is a memorial to the volunteers of A Coy 1st Batt who served the Shankill community so bravely during the years of conflict. Gone but not forgotten. Here lies a solder.”

September 29th:

September 28th:

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Ballyduff Bonfire

2026-07-082026-07-13Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Various flags are flying or hanging on the Ballyduff bonfire prior to their removal and its incineration, including the flag of the Paratroop regiment. On the fencing in front are two UVF hooded gunmen boards and an Ulster Volunteers (1913) flag.

Forthill Drive, Ballyduff, Newtownabbey

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Defending The Community

2026-06-272026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A UVF roll of honour has been added in the apex above the small memorial garden (now reduced to a single stone) in the Caw, Londonderry: “In proud remembrance of our volunteers who defended this community with courage, dignity & pride: Billy Kirkwood, Noel Burke, Davy Moore, Raymond Miller, Jock Henderson, Gary Simpson, Willie Gurney, Davy Mills, Tommy Henderson, Sam Dickson”. None of these appear to have died during the Troubles itself. There was previously a plaque to four volunteers who died in 1975.

The large 36th (Ulster) Division board shows (on the left) various battalion insignia in three rows:
8th Royal Irish Rifles – East Belfast; 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers – Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan; 9th RIR – West Belfast; 8/9th RIR – Amalgamated 1917; 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Tyrone;
10th RIR – South Belfast; 10th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Londonderry; 11th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Donegal, Fermanagh; 11th RIR – South Antrim; 11/13th RIR – Amalgamated 1917;
12th RIR – Central Antrim; 13th RIR – 1st Co Down; 14th RIR – Young Citizen Volunteers; 15th RIR – North Belfast; 16th RIR (Pioneers) – 2nd Co Down.

And Wilfrid Spender’s report on the 36th Division on the first day of the battle at the Somme (July 1st, 1916) is on the right – for the text, see Their Amazing Attack.

Sperrin Park, Caw, Londonderry, replacing Undefeated.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Sydenham UVF

2026-06-222026-09-25Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These UVF boards can be found in Inverary Street, Gardens, and Drive, in the Sydenham area of east Belfast. They mix a memorial with symbols of an active organisation: an emblem (of the YCV) and a hooded gunman above the slogan “armed and ready”.

The memorial presents photographic portraits of four UVF members – Robert “Squeak” Seymour (east Belfast commander, shot dead by the PIRA in 1988), Robert Bennett (killed by the British Army during a riot in 1973), and Joe Long and James Cordner (killed in a premature explosion in 1977). “At Ulster’s call, they gave their all, a different war, on a different day, a bloody sacrifice, was the price to pay.”

The same quartet are commemorated in a mural (and a plaque) in Ballymacarrett.

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Steeple Remembers

2026-05-302026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In eternal memory, UVF Volunteer Jimmy Fee.” This entry updates 2023’s Pass Not This Spot In Sorrow, which showed a painted UVF flag in memory of Jimmy Fee. This has been replaced by a printed board which contains a photographic portrait of Fee. As reported in that earlier entry, there is no information readily available about Fee, who perhaps died around 2016, when the original mural was painted. The two upper boards (in the shape of gravestones) have been retained from the earlier work, while the “north Antrim/Londonderry battalion, south Antrim brigade – remember them with pride” board is new.

Parkhall Road, Steeple, Antrim. The WWII banner is in the nearby Steeple Park.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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An Architect Of Peace

2026-05-082026-08-28Extramural Activity1 Comment

The UVF boards at the junction of London and My Lady’s roads in east Belfast have been completely replaced (compared to 2022). The hooded gunmen on the short side have been replaced by “Joy, peace, love” while a tribute to David Ervine now replaces the lettering reading “East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force”. Ervine was a UVF member from 1972 to 1980 before turning to a career in politics. “He asked the question “why can’t I be an Irish citizen of the UK?” … “An architect of peace. An inspiration to us all.” Always remembered by his family, comrades, colleagues and friends.”

Next to Ervine is a UVF roll of honour in which Roy Walker joins Robert Bennett, James Cordner, Joseph Long, and Robert Seymour, who were previously portrayed (Ulster’s Brave). Walker was killed in a feud with the UDA in 1976. And around the corner the UVF emblem has been replaced by a board to the Ulster Volunteer Force Regimental Band, containing a controversial photograph of the band marching past the site of the 1992 Sean Graham bookies massacre (Crime World). Update: the photograph has been replaced – see the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.

The largest panel remains a tribute to the dead of WWI, for which see again the parallel entry in the Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection.

Shared Space

2026-04-292026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These UVF and UDA board are on adjacent walls at the entrance to the Glen estate, Newtownards; above and directly below, a North Down UVF and graffiti, while directly above it (final image) two UDA hooded gunmen take aim at the viewer on the pavement.

Also in Glen: a UVF hooded gunman at the bottom of the estate – Neighbourhood Watch – and UDA gunmen at the top of the estate – Hope That It Will Get Better.

Remembered With Pride

2026-04-262026-05-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Remembered with pride – Stevie McCrea, Village, south Belfast”. A plaque has been added below the large board describing Stevie McCrea’s life in Kilburn Street (seen in 2022’s Here Lies A Soldier, which includes the text on the board).

Also included below are close-ups of the plaques to McCrea and Sammy Mehaffy in Tavanagh Street, (seen together in Village UVF).

Village, south Belfast

The Erosion Of Our Identity

2026-01-252026-10-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The prevention of the erosion of our identity is now our priority.” This entry updates the 2023 entry Westwinds UVF to show the defacement of the UVF board on the fencing opposite the entrance to the Westwinds estate. It is not clear with the lettering “G4” refers to – please get in touch if you can shed any light.

For the unmolested board, see Westwinds UVF.