The upper Woodvale plaque “in memory of all those Protestants and members of the security forces who lost their lives in the greater Shankill area as a result of conflict” has sat unadorned since at least 2008 but now has a pair of boards to accompany it.
On the left, a reproduction of the “Faithful Unto Death” stained-glass window in the Museum of Orange Heritage in Schomberg House on the Cregagh Road (also reproduced in Newbuildings in 2022), along with the emblem of the Country Grand Orange Lodge Of Belfast (Fb).
On the right, a memorial to “all local residents whose lives were cruelly taken by Republican terrorists. Also those who selflessly gave their lives in the service of our country, and those who continue to do so.” (LOL “423” appears to be Banbridge Bible And Crown Defenders.)
This entry provides close-ups of the WWI memorial display in Clarawood, east Belfast, and complements the images and text presented in 2023’s Spared To Testify To Their Glorious Deeds.
The three vertical panels with text read as follows:
“Ulster Division – a great military parade will take place on Saturday, May 8, 1915. The troops of the Ulster Division numbering 17,000 men will be on Parade. Cavalry, Infantry, Pioneers, Engineers, Signallers, Cyclists Cors, Army Service Corps and Army medical Corps. Men and Women of Ulster come and see the Greatest Military Display ever held in Ulster, and do honour to your own Division. God save the King.” (There is video of the May parade on Facebook and NI Screen. The photograph of George V inspecting the troops in Aldershot on September 30th, 1915, can be seen here.)
“The Battle Of Albert (1st – 13th July) 1916. The leading battalions of the 36th (Ulster) Division) [sic] had been ordered out from Thiepval Wood just before 7.30am and laid down near the German trenches … At zero hour the British barrage lifted. Bugles blew the “Advance”. Up sprang the Ulstermen and without forming up in the waves adopted by other divisions, they rushed the German front line … By a combination of sensible tactics and Ulster dash, the prize that eluded so many, the capture of a long section of the German front line, had been accomplished. During the Battle Of The Somme the (Ulster) [sic] Division was the only division of X Corps (British Army) to have achieved its objectives on the opening day of the battle. This came at a heavy price, with the division suffering in two days of fighting 5,500 officers and enlisted men killed, wounded or missing. Of nine Victoria Crosses given to British forces in the battle, 4 were awarded to 36th (Ulster) Division soldiers. ‘I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world.’ – Captain Wilfred [sic Wilfrid] Spender, 2 July 1916.”
“36th (Ulster) Division 32,186 killed, wounded, missing. The tower is dedicated to the glory of God in grateful memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and 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.”
Here are a kingfisher, heron, badger, owl, squirrel, fox, and hedgehog by Glen Molloy (ig) in Knockwood Park, Clarawood, east Belfast. The closest place one might be able to see any of these creatures – particularly herons – is in the Marsh-Wiggle pond, along the Connswater (East Side Greenways).
Here are the results of a paint-jam at Seacourt Prints (web) in Bangor at the end of September. The “peace” above is by Rob Hilken (web); the artists for the other pieces are noted beneath the individual photos.
The background to the Avenue Road “Memorial to the 36th (Ulster) Division and to other men of Ulster who served in the Great War 1914 – 1918” has been repainted in the purple and orange of the UVF and the wall simplified by the removal of two smaller boards to each side of the main board (above) which shows soldiers looking out over the edge of a WWI trench. (For the the previous boards, see the Peter Moloney Collection.)
The seat is dedicated to “Jack”, an 11-year-old member of the Avenue Road Memorial flute band who died in 2019 (News Letter), with boxing gloves and emblem of the NI soccer association. 2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Avenue Road, Lurgan
The final image is of a board in nearby King’s Park Mews to a soldier who died on “the homefront” – Dublin during the 1916 Rising – Second Lieutenant James Howard Calvert of the 6th Royal Irish Rifles.Calvert lived at 41 Avenue Road, Lurgan.
Here are two shutter paintings of bygone Ballymena: above is Ballymena Town Hall, which has been rebuilt on multiple occasions; pictured above are the hall in its present form, since 1918, and its previous incarnation.
Below is the view looking up Bridge Street, with the old town hall in the middle.
Both of these are on shutters in the modern Bridge Street. tThere are also shutters painted with Mill St, Ballymena.
The owl is in Church Street while the butterfly and nature pair are in Broughshane Street (at Blossom & Birch and The Venue).
The two commercial pieces (final two images, below) are by Sam McAleese for Ballymena BID (LoveBelfast). (For others, see Midtown Makers.)
This entry updates 2023’s Harryville Says No with images of two additional boards/plaques erected by the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles Memorial Association (Fb), “in honour of the men from Harryville [Ballymena] who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle Of The Somme from 1st July to 18th November 1916”.
“Remembering 57386 Sergeant John McNabney, formerly of No 9 Larne Street, 36th Divisional signal company, awarded the distinguished conduct medal, military medal with bar, and mentioned in despatches.” McNabney’s career and many decorations are described in Ballymena Guardian | Your Lurgan.
“William Anderson Garden Of Remembrance – In memory of Billy Anderson”. Billy “The Brick” Anderson was a member of the Pride Of Ballybeen flute band (Fb) – there is a small version of the band’s emblem above the black plaque in the image above.
“Loyalist Village, south Belfast – Village team on tour.” This is a new printed board at the eastern edge of the Village in south Belfast. The association with the Northern Ireland soccer team (governed by the Irish Football Association) is perhaps an attempt to rehabilitate the name from the graffiti that appeared in 2015 (Welcome To Hell) and 2016 (Taigs Will Be Dealt With).
There is a “Linfield” version of this board, in red, white, and blue, in Tavanagh Street.
Paddy Duffy Collection 