Courcelette Cemetery. Today’s Roll includes a former surgeon at the Mater Hospital, Belfast who died of wounds received in the Dardanelles, a Petty Officer Stoker from the Shankill Road who served in the Iron Duke at Jutland and a naval surgeon from Islandmagee who was invested into the DSO at sea by the King in June 1917. Continue reading
On this day in 1940, nearly 1,500 aircraft were in the skies over Britain, as the Luftwaffe attacked London. It is regarded as the climax of the Battle of Britain when the tide begins to turn as the Royal Air Force repulses a major Luftwaffe attack, losing 29 aircraft to the Germans’ 57-61. Today’s Roll includes the second and third North Irish Horse fatalities in WW1, three who returned with Canadian and New Zealand forces, and a female private in the ATS in WW2. Continue reading
A Dungannon RS former pupil who enlisted in Canada, a naval armoured car driver from the Crumlin Road who dies in Mesopotamia with the newly formed Machine Gun Corps, three WW2 aircrew and a Gunner comprise today’s Roll. The service of a veteran, a former CSM from Portstewart is recalled. HMS Zulu was sunk on this date (photo). The Medical Officer in Zulu was from Belfast. Later awarded DSC. He was lost in another sinking. Continue reading
Amongst those remembered today is Gerald Ralph Auchinleck Darling, RNVR. Fleet Air Arm, Lieutenant-Commander. At the age of 18, he began an outstanding career in the RNVR, from 1940 to 1946, as a Fleet Air Arm pilot, later becoming Chief Test Pilot with the Mediterranean Fleet. A dangerous job and few of his colleagues survived the war. He himself crash-landed, suffering severe injuries including a smashed pelvis. He had a most successful law career in London post-war but he maintained Crevenagh, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (above) as his home. Continue reading
Today’s Roll reflects the conflict in the air in 1942. Three RAF remembered at the Alamein Memorial. A decorated Naval officer from a well known Derry family firm, Gunners at Singapore and others are remembered. Continue reading
Those remembered today came from Caledon, Randalstown, Lurgan, Portadown, Belfast, Holywood and Coleraine to do their costly duty to King and country Continue reading
Today is the anniversary of the sinking in WW2 of HMS Abdiel with the loss of three men from NI. Also recorded amongst our veterans remembered today is the WRNS officer from Ballycastle (photo above) who had to resign her commission as she outranked her new husband. Today was their wedding anniversary. Continue reading
