Featured today is one of the most famous naval surgeons of his time. Surgeon Rear-Admiral, David Hewitt from Dungannon entered the Royal Navy in November 1897. He became Assistant to the Medical Director-General, in which post he served for six years, including the war of 1914-18. Vivian Rea was killed at the battle of La Bassee in 1914. Educated at Campbell College, QUB and TCD where he was preparing for ordination, he was scoutmaster of the Bangor Troop and Honorary Secretary of the Ulster Scout Council. There is a stained glass memorial window in his memory at St Comgall’s Parish Church, Bangor. Of the ten men recorded here dying on this day in 1918, seven are remembered in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium. Amongst them is William McClure a gardener at Shane’s Castle and a member of Murrays Temperance LOL 201. He is named on the first list of Antrim Ulster Volunteers to join the 11th RIR and on Antrim District Orange Order WM. The Alamein Memorial in Egypt carries the names of John McStay from Lisburn and Graham Bradbury from Banbridge who died on this date in 1941 and 1942. Two infanteers, James Cairns from Belfast and James Smith from Derrylin, died in 1944 liberating Gent in Belgium. Photo – CWGC cemetery in Kinross Abbey, Moray.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 