The story in war and peace of Joe Cunningham, a doctor born in Portrush this day in 1916. Joseph Paul from Bessbrook died with the Marines in Gallipolli in 1915. 20 year-old Isaac McAllister’s remains were brought home by Royal Irish Rifles to Bushmills in 1916. In 1941 Hamilton Loughlin of Carrickfergus died in onboard explosion on Suez Canal in Harland & Wolff-built SS Georgic which was serving as a troop ship. Antony Butler from Lisnaskea died with No 3 Commando in such a hard fought action in Sicily in 1943 that General Montgomery ordered a bridge would be named after the unit. In 1944 William Morris from Newtownards Rd., Belfast, died from shrapnel wounds received in both legs three days earlier in the fight by Royal Ulster Rifles for Hill 60 in the battle for Normandy. Photo – Joe Cunningham’s Icebird Vertue 45.
