July 31 – Submariner Magennis wins NI’s only Victoria Cross in WW2. Roll of Honour

On this day in 1945, James Magennis service merits a VC. In 1916 Hugh Henderson of the Royal Irish Fusiliers is the first to die in the 36th(Ulster) Division’s first action after the Battle of the Somme. In 1917 The Third Battle of Ypres begins and Irish Rugby international Alfred Squire, a medical officer, was dressing a brother officer’s wound in France when both were killed instantly. In 1940, Joseph Thompson firm Lisburn and in 1943 John Herbert O’Farrell from Dundrum are lost over Germany. Both are RAFVR.

CLICK HERE – REMNI July 31