The portrait on the right is probably William McFadzean, familiar from murals such as in the Caw, Londonderry, and in Cregagh, Belfast (though the photo is unknown). The face on the left is John Travers “Jack” Cornwell, “the boy hero of Jutland”, who was awarded the VC for staying at his post as a sight-setter on the HMS Chester (the picture is from an earlier posting, on the HMS Lancaster) when it was hit by German light cruisers on May 31st, 1916. Cornwell died from shrapnel wounds on June 2nd (Mary Evans).
It’s not clear why Cornwell is included here, as he was from, and is buried in, east London, rather than Belfast or Ireland, and does not seem to be associated with the 36th Division. Please get in touch if you can explain his inclusion here. See also: Battle Of Jutland and HMS Caroline.
If you’re riding Shank’s mare, the combined length of the Cregagh and Woodstock roads is two miles; where they meet (opposite Ravenhill Avenue) you’ll find this new street-art by Zippy (ig) with support from Decowell Restoration (web), Bethany Fruit (web) and Astrl Fibres (ig), and funding from Belfast City Council).
The paint-bombed version of the sign for Cregagh Street Gospel Hall remained in that state for over a decade, so long a time that this is how it is recognised by many and how it is reproduced in a postcard available in Born & Bred (web) in Ann St.
The image above (and of the shop display) are from October 2023; the image of the old sign is from January 2022. It was repainted in the summer of 2022.
The hall itself was constructed in 1938, on the site of a school, and Sunday service is still held (Precious Seed).
Carson, Crawford, and Craig are lionised as resisters of devolvement of Ireland to Dublin in the early twentieth century. Despite calling Home Rule “the most nefarious conspiracy that has ever been hatched against a free people” and vowing to fight it by “all means necessary”, including the Ulster Volunteers armed by Crawford’s “guns for Ulster”, Edward Carson “warned Ulster Unionist leaders not to alienate norther Catholics, as he foresaw this would make Northern Ireland unstable.”
“With voice, pen or hand we will defend our land.” David (Davy) Patterson (12-10-1955 – 03-01-2019) was a member of the 1st East Belfast Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) and Albertbridge Glentoran Supporters Club (Funeral Times). This memorial board is the side-wall to the Somme Society mural (see Their Name Liveth Forevermore) and the Red Hand Commando memorial garden in Hunt Street, east Belfast.
Above is a mural in Carlingford St, east Belfast showing gravestones of two deceased locals: “6322 Private J. Condon, Royal Irish Regiment, 24th May, 1915, age 14” and “10/16015 Rifleman S. Thompson Royal Irish Rifles, 5th October, 1918”. Their gravestones are the end-point of a journey that began with the Covenant and the Ulster Volunteers (illustrated by images of Carson, the Covenant, gun-running, and Volunteers drilling).
To the left is a plaque describing the journey from the Covenant to the Ulster Volunteers to the Somme: “In 1912 Ulster was under the threat of Home Rule, Sir Edward Carson called upon the people of Ulster to resist and almost half a million men and women signed a covenant to pledge their support. The U.V.F. was formed, militarily trained and armed with thousands of guns that were smuggled into ports on board ships such as the SS. Clyde Valley. Disciplined units of armed volunteers would soon be seen on the streets of Ulster, sending out a stark warning to those who would seek to force the Home Rule bill through. 1914 saw the outbreak of WW1 and when Britain called, Sir Edward Carson put aside his differences and offered the services of the U.V.F. His offer was accepted and 13 battalions of the U.V. F. were amalgamated with 3 existing Ulster based Irish regiments to form the on the 36th (Ulster) Division. On the 1st july the Ulster Division played their part at the Battle of the Somme and although they achieved their objectives they had suffered over 5,000 casualties. As the war raged on the Ulster Division fought nobly and bravely and on many occasions side by side with Irishmen who would once have been their bitter enemies, but faced with battle they were brothers in arms. The Ulster Tower now stands beside Theipval [sic] Wood in France as a fitting monument in recognition of the sacrifice made by these brave Ulstermen … “Pass not this spot in sorrow but in pride that you may live as nobly as they died” For God and Ulster”
There is also a side-wall (out of frame to the right) with the words of Captain Wilfrid Spender, describing the first day of the Battle Of The Somme, 1916, but it is in poor condition.
An imaginary newspaper called the “Ledley Hall Telegraph” includes stories on the 303 (Polish) RAF Squadron (which was stationed in Northern Ireland from 1943 to 1944), “Votes for women” (“the Representation Of The People Act saw the first women receiving the vote in 1918”), and the 16th and 36th Divisions (the mural says they “fought side by side at the Somme” – but the 36th was withdrawn on July 2nd after the Battle Of Albert and the 16th arrived in September and fought in the battles of Guillemont and Ginchy; both were withdrawn to Messines and both would take part in the Battle Of Messines in June 1917).
The “newspaper” is bookended by two painted crosses (for Row On Row), one for Guardsman Connor Lilley, a member of the Gertrude Star flute band, who was serving with the 1st battalion Royal Irish Guards when he was killed in an accident in Canada (Fb), and the other for WWI female munitions workers who, because of their work with TNT, risked yellowing skin both from direct exposure and from liver damage (“toxic jaundice”) (WP).
Also included is “The Kindness Hut”: “Be the reason someone smiles today”, “Kindness is free – please share”, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”, “Take only what you need! If everyone shares there’s enough to go around”.
Here are three images from the blind end of Montrose Street, east Belfast, updating a post from November last year (Loyal Servants) with the addition of the boards above, on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the final image below, which puts the new King Charles III between Queen Elizabeth and King William III.
Here are two portraits of the recently crowned King Charles III in east Belfast. The image at the centre of the lower board is the standard one we have seen many times; the one above, however, appears to reproduce a slightly stylised painting or graphic.
Paddy Duffy Collection 