Remembering a fallen soldier

Remembering a fallen soldier

18 July 2018

A POIGNANT ceremony has been held in Killyleagh to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of a local soldier in the Great War.

The special ceremony was held at the town’s War Memorial on the morning of July 12 to mark 100 years since the death of Samuel Sullivan in a German prisoner of war camp.

Before heading to Newcastle for the Orange Order’s annual Twelfth demonstration, Orange lodges from Killyleagh and Toye stopped the morning parade at the memorial at the Castle Square to remember Lance Corporal Sullivan, of the 16th Royal Irish Rifles, who died on the Twelfth morning in 1918 after being wounded and captured by the Germans at Grugar.

Members of the Sullivan family looked on as four poppy wreaths were laid.

The first was laid by Molly Sullivan, a great, great great niece of the soldier, who was joined by her father, Marcus, and her grandfather, Cuan Sullivan.

Matt McMaster — a great great nephew — was joined by another great great nephew, Sam Leckey, as he laid a wreath accompanied by Killyleagh Royal British Legion chairman Billy Croskery and members David Hanna and Councillor Terry Andrews.

Wreaths were also laid in memory of Lance Corporal Sullivan and the other Killyleagh soldiers who died in the Great War by Malcolm Healy and Tucker Price on behalf of Toye Flute Band and by Lecale District Master, Councillor Billy Walker, and Tom Russell on behalf of Toye LOL 1077.

The next event organised by the Killyleagh Remembers the Great War group is a free bus trip to Dublin on Friday, July 27. This will include a visit to Grangegorman cemetery to visit graves associated with the Great War. 

The bus will leave Frederick Street in Killyleagh at 8.15am and return from Dublin at 5pm. Places are free and anyone interested should contact Mr Billy Croskery, Mrs Ann Fee or Mr Austin Cheevers.