These flags – one to the Ulster YCV (14th RIR) and two to the Blues And Royals flute band, Sydenham (Fb) – are on the fence below the Northern Ireland Centenary board in Mersey Street, at the junction of Parkgate Drive in east Belfast.
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Printed panels illustrating the engagements of the British Army in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries have been added to the three stones (seen in Continuing Conflicts) that marked the World Wars and “continuing conflicts”. The conflicts depicted are the Great War 1914-1918, Second World War 1939-1945 (with individual photos of James Magennis and Blair Mayne, Korean War 1950-1953, Northern Ireland 1969-2007, Falklands War 1982 (the photo on the right is of troops “yomping”), Iraq 2003-2011, Afghanistan 2001-2023.
City Way, Sandy Row, south Belfast
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“Late 19th century gas lamp donated by Pretani Associates, Dr Ian Adamson OBE and Helen Brooker, to the Dalaradia Historical Group to recognise their work on Common Identity. This work promotes one cultural narrative for the British Isles to which all can belong. A narrative which begins by understand the first known name of the islands – The Isles of Pretani. Knowledge brings a light which reveals the way forward towards stability within these islands. Dedicated by Professor Wesley Hutchinson on the 27th November 2019.”
The lamp was unveiled in September 2020 (Pretani Associates). For (a little) more on the claim that the Pretani inhabited both Britain and Ireland, see Kingdom Of The Pretani and the Visual History page on the Influence Of Jim Fitzpatrick.
Shore Road, north Belfast, next to Lest We Forget.
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This entry updates the images seen in November’s Lest We Forget, with the addition of six military insignia to either side of the ‘Old Comrades’ board that was added just after Remembrance Sunday.
On the left (top to bottom): Royal Irish Rifles (later the Royal Ulster Rifles), 36th (Ulster) Division, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; on the right: Royal Irish Regiment, Order Of St Patrick, British Light Infantry.
Shore Road, north Belfast
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This entry updates 2023’s John McMichael, with close-ups of the smaller boards, in the apex and to either side on the main board, as well as of the stone to Ray Smallwoods, which reads, “In proud memory of Ray Smallwoods (murdered by the enemies of Ulster 11th July 1994) and all our fallen comrades. [For The Fallen] Erected by officers and volunteers of Old Warren A Coy.” Smallwoods was killed by the IRA in the garden of his home in Donard Drive, Lisburn (WP).
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This pair of trees is in Ballymacash next to the bonfire site, hence the “No dumping and fly tipping” sign above the Union Flag on the tree to the right. The flag wrapped around the tree on the left is similar to one seen in 100 Years, an Ulster Banner with quadrants filled with (clockwise) King Billy, an Orange march, the Crown, and (instead of a Union Flag) what looks like UVF purple.
On both tree-trunks are small boards celebrating the “platinum jubilee 1952-2022” of “Her Majesty Elizabeth II”, with flowers of the nations and colonies (rose, thistle, shamrock, daffodil, silver fern, maple leaf) and an Orange star.
Rathvarna Drive, Ballymacash, Lisburn
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“Think before you drink” – broken bottles, broken loves, and broken lives in Seymour Hill. Help can be sought from the organisations on the adjacent board: FRANK, ASCERT, Community Addiction Team, FASA, and Daisy.
Elm Corner, Seymour Hill, Derriaghy
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For Remembrance Sunday, rows of hand-painted wooden medallions were attached to the railings at West Kirk Presbyterian to pay homage to the dead of the British armed forces, including Bernard McQuirt, whose plaque is shown below. McQuirt was a VC winner for actions taken during the Indian Rebellion in 1858. Originally from Donaghcloney, he survived his injuries and died in 1888 at 72 Urney Street (HistoryHub | News Letter | WP) – Urney Street used to be where the plaque and the memorial garden now are, along the side of the West Kirk.
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This is a freshly-repainted sign for “South Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force, 2nd battalion, A company Donegall Pass” on the back wall of the Hideout bar. The previous version was painted c. 2005.
Also included is a small board added next to the Defenders flute band board across the street, which presents the words of McCrea’s poem In Flanders Fields.
Pine Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast
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Stencil in Northwood Gardens, north Belfast
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