February 13. Channel Dash and Dresden. Roll of Honour

In 1917 William McKeague from Bushmills died at St Quentin in Belgium. James Hackett from Fivemiletown is remembered in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand where he died in 1943. Three RAF men from NI who died in 1944 – 45, are remembered at Runnymeade and in Heverlee, Belgium. They are James Nicholls from Newtownards, Thomas Adair from Donaghadee, and George Maginley from Irvinestown. Veterans accounts include Matthew Dornan and William Stevenson. In 1907 Matthew enlisted for full-time service in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The Belfast man served in Malta, China and India and re-enlisted. He went to Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion in March 1915 and despite bouts of ill-health he went to France in 1916 but was discharged with ill-health in 1917. Matthew died at his sister’s house in Bangor of septic pneumonia and cardiac failure on the 13/02/1919 aged 28. William from Ballymena served with the North Irish Horse and his account includes the actions leading to the award of the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. This day in 1945, American and British air forces begin the bombing of Dresden, spread over three days between 13–15 February. Get today’s report here –