The heroism of Inniskilling Fusilier Joseph Quinn in 1916 is inspirational. The Dungannon man under heavy fire rescued two officers and single-handedly carried in four wounded soldiers to safety, requiring four separate journeys over a 200-yard stretch of No Man’s Land. On the same day 18-year-old James Williams, a former pupil of Foyle College and a medical student in Edinburgh, fell with the Royal Irish Rifles. A brother also died in the war. This day in 1918 was a tough one for Irish infanteers. This week in 1939 a formation of 10 Bristol Blenheim bombers attacked the German fleet anchored at Wilhelmshaven. Five of the planes were lost. RAF aircrew William Bell from Doagh was an all-round sportsman playing football with Ballyclare Comrades and hockey for Parkview and Ulster. His plane came down near Munster, Germany in 1940. An unknown German Officer returned Sergeant Bell’s watch, ring, and ID tags. In a letter to William’s parents, he mentioned there were no marks on the airman’s body. By the age of 22 Granville Wilson, a young Belfast RAF officer educated at Methody and Queen’s had been decorated three times for his service with Bomber Command before his loss in 1944. This is the anniversary of their deaths over Germany.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 