November 2. Sailors in the trenches Part 2. Roll of Honour

The second part of Sailors in the Trenches covers the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign and the major actions in Europe. One of the most distinctive actions of the RN Division was on November 13, 1916, at Beaucourt when 12,000 sailors went over the top and in two days in winter went further and took more prisoners than the army had done in a day. Alex Morrison was awarded the Military Medal. Former MCB student, William Maxwell, a Colonel in the RM Marine was mentioned in despatches. He died later in action in the Dardanelles. Henry McGowan of Portstewart forged his age to enlist. He died in action aged 17. He is named on Agherton Parish Church WM. Londonderry was represented. James Heaney re-enlisted to serve. He and Thomas Mills are named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. In 1941 RNVR Lieutenant Charles Whalmsley from Kilkeel was lost in the submarine Tetrarch whilst hitching a lift from Malta to the UK. In 1944 Royal Marine Robert Greer from Belfast died off the coast of Belgium during the Battle of Walcheren. Two of the veterans today are from Portstewart. Daniel Douglas served with the Derrys. Daniel was living at Atlantic Circle when he died on 02/11/1963, aged 82 years. Samuel Henry served with the RFC and RAF in France. He was officially reported missing on 15/11/1917 and it was later learned that he had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans; he was repatriated on 27/11/1918. Stuart was still living at the family home ‘Dun Suivnish’ when he died on 02/11/1965