The WW1 Memorial at Ploegsteert (photo) and the WW2 RAF Memorial at Runnymeade provide the focus today – the Anniversary of the official end of WW2. In today’s Roll of Honour the names of five from conflict on this day in 1918 and who are named at Ploegsteert are recalled. Three are former members of the North Irish Horse serving in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. They are Samuel Pinkerton from Cumber, Londonderry, Hugh Smyth from Armagh, and William Timbey from Belfast. The 9th Battalion casualties for the day were four officers wounded, 17 other ranks killed, 67 wounded and 11 missing. Ian Borley a Dublin-born resident of Armagh and Charles Hamilton of Belfast are named at Runnymeade. Flight Sergeant Borley was one of the first RAF fatalities of World War Two. He died while flying on one of the first raids on Germany, against shipping at Brunsbuettel at the mouth of the Kiel Canal. 22-year-old Charles Hamilton from Belfast was on board Avro Lancaster JA969 in Bomber Command when he was lost in 1943. In 1937 Irish veterans took part in the International Veterans’ pilgrimage to Lourdes on this day. Today’s Veterans include John Nicholl from Ballymena who was on one of the last boats to leave Dunkirk. Later he served under Field Marshal Montgomery as a Tank Driver and at El Alamein in the Royal Tank Regiment. A Desert Rat indeed.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 