A unique memorial in Belfast Cathedral to the 36th (Ulster) Division contains records of all Irish servicemen who fell in WW1. The third day of the Battle of the Somme dominates 1916 in today’s Roll of Honour. I8 names represent their comrades. They include a young officer Alex Witherow from Claudy, a former Coleraine Inst and Magee College student serving in the Inniskilling Dragoons and the NI Horse. John Murphy grew up in the Mountcollier area of Belfast. He attended McCrory Memorial Presbyterian Church and was in 41st BB Company. John was an apprentice fitter at James Mackie Engineers. He joined the RAFVR in WW2 and was sent to Canada for training. He married a Canadian woman. Six months later he died in a flying accident with the RAF in Canada. His parents had moved to Magheragall near Lisburn and he is named on Magheragall Parish Church War Memorial. Photo – Lonsdale Cemetery, Authille, Somme with lavender in bloom.
