Minesweeping in WW2 was the main role of the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS) which at its peak had 1,637 craft of various kinds including converted trawlers in which at least 12 men from NI lost their lives including William Allen from LImavady, Archie Cairns from Ballycastle and William McCalla a well known competitor in the UGP motorcycle races. 28 men of the Royal Irish Rifles died on this day in 1914. Only three rest in named graves. The remaining are named on the Le Touret Memorial, France. Amongst them is Henry Davis from Holywood. Educated at Portora Royal School, and Campbell College, Belfast; from which he passed direct to R.M.C. Sandhurst. He is also remembered on a plaque in St Philip and St James Parish Church, Holywood; Campbell College RH; North of Ireland Football Club RH. In 1943 Beauchamp Butler from Fermanagh, commanding officer of the Faughs was killed in Italy along with four NI members of his regiment. His entry in the Roll contains an account of the action during the Irish Brigade attack on the town of San Salvo and a quote from Brigadier Russell’s tribute to him: “The Faughs lost one of the best Commanders they have ever had – in peace or war.”
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 