In today’s Roll, there is a most moving excellent read – a letter written by James McKinstry to his mother before he moved into the trenches in 1916. The 21-year-old from Belfast was on the front line near Beaumont Hamel when he was fatally wounded. He is named on the RBAI War Memorial. Today at four in the morning in Italy in 1943 Royal Irish Fusiliers were 5 miles behind enemy lines. Today’s report begins with the commendation by the commanding officer and Brigadier for the instant award of a Military Medal to Corporal Stanley Hughes for his courage and leadership behind enemy lines. James Carlisle from HMS Caroline was notified as missing within days of his daughter’s third birthday in 1942. On the same day, John West from Portstewart died serving with a Royal Artillery Anti-Tank Regiment in Tunisia. Walter Sergant from Rostrevor was shot down in 1943. His remains rest alongside his Lancaster crew in Charlottenburg Cemetery, Berlin. On the same day Derek Best a member of Christ Church CLB, Lisburn, died serving with the London Irish Rifles near the Sangro River in Italy. Today’s Veterans includes an account of a romance linking Carrickfergus, Newry, and North Vancouver.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 