The Vimy Ridge Memorial is Canada’s largest monument outside the country. NI men served in Canadian forces in both World Wars. A Roll covering October to December included today has 18 entries for WW1 and 4 for WW2. These are a token of the relationship between new Ni settlers in Canada and their empire links with home. Today’s veteran is Hugh Hunter. Born in Portstewart he served with Canadian artillery in WW2 and is remembered on the local Presbyterian Church’s Roll of Honour. James Heatherington from Ballygawley served with Canadian Infantry. At the end of a visit home he died on this day in 1916 in an accident at a Belfast railway station. Three men from Cookstown, Dundrod and Portadown serving with the RAF are remembered. William Armstrong from Bangor died near Jerusalem in 1917. He was a Second Lieutenant in the Black Watch 7th (Territorial) Battalion. Some of his correspondence home is still insightful including one written six days before his death. One not to be missed. Today’s veteran also makes impact. William Mitchell was the son of a Newtownards medical practitioner. His early education was at Campbell College, Belfast, and after leaving school he joined the Royal Irish Rifles, serving in France from 1916 to 1918 and being awarded the Military Cross in 1917. He qualified as a doctor in 1931 and emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia, where he was appointed surgeon to the Royal Jubilee Hospital. On the outbreak of war he returned to England, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1939 to 1946. At the end of the war he returned to his post in Canada, practising general surgery and urology until he retired.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 