On this day in 1945, British Commandos were engaged in a 24 hour hand-to-hand battle for Hill 170, Kangaw, Burma. The attack was described as a ‘do-or-die’ effort by the Japanese trying to escape the Arakan Peninsula. Three WW1 entries today are of NI men serving with Canadian and South African regiments. Joseph Cardwell from Coalisland and Robert Hall from Fivemiletown were with Canadian forces. John Carlisle from Newtownards served with South African infantry in Egypt, Gallipoli and on the Western Front including Delville Wood and Vimy Ridge. He was wounded at Verdun and returned to South Africa in March 1917 where his health declined. He died this day in 1918. John McKessick and two others from NI died in the minesweeper HMS Sphinx in 1940 when the Sphinx was hit by a bomb from a German aircraft whilst on a sweep in the Moray Firth. In 1943 RAF men Hugh McCabe from Kesh died in Algeria and Andrew Scott of Belfast in Italy. James McCready from Bushmills died in 1944 serving with 221 Squadron. The Squadron was twice stationed at Limavady during WW2. On the same day David Hutcheon from Castlerock serving with the Gordon Highlanders fell near Anzio in Italy.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 