Royal British Legion Ballynahinch WWI commemoration

Royal British Legion Ballynahinch WWI commemoration

17 October 2018

ROYAL British Legion officials in Ballynahinch are organising a number of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

A series of events have been lined up, with branch officials recently launching their annual poppy appeal. Collection boxes will be available at businesses across the town from this week and a special paper poppy with gold leaf has been produced.

Other new products include school packs with street collections scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 3 and on the following Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 8, 9 and 10 respectively. 

Once again, Army and RAF cadets will be helping with the annual collection and anyone willing to help is asked to contact Margaret Armstrong, telephone 07496 368950 or via the branch’s Facebook page.

Earlier this year, the Ballynahinch branch was awarded 10 Perspex Tommies from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust and has received an additional 10 for use in churches and other venues across the town during Armistice Week which starts on November 5. Special Tommy badges can also be purchased at an event at the town’s Market House on Saturday, November 10 and are also available from the town’s UPS branch.

Branch standard bearer Graeme Wonders accompanied by his wife Paula, attended the GP90 commemorations in Belgium in August this year with the flag now adorning a Ypres 2018 logo which will be on parade in Ballynahinch on November 11.

Ballynahinch RBL officials have organised a comprehensive programme of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War, which get underway on November 5.

They include window displays in shops and businesses and a schools’ exhibition organised by Ballynahinch Library which runs from November 5 to 11.

On Friday, November 9, a World War One commemoration concert organised by the Heart of Down Rural Society takes place Magheradroll Church Hall starting at 7.30pm. For further information, contact Stephen Strain 07711 843783 or Bertie Douglas 07805 231259.

The following day, November 10, Ballynahinch is hosting a militaria collectors’ fair and exhibition at the Market House between 10am and 4pm. On display will be a number of military vehicles and a First World War donkey display organised by Mrs Amanda Wallace, while there will also be WWI re-enactors fromLiving History Ireland.

Other exhibitors include the 2 Royal Irish Regiment recruitment team, Army Cadets, RAF Cadets, Newcastle Coastguard and Ballynahinch Library.

Watson’s Flowers and Gifts are sponsoring a WWI Remembered floral display competition organised by Ballynahinch RBL which will be judged by Mrs Sally McCurry. Entry forms, which should be returned no later than Friday, November 2, are available from Ulster Property Sales, Watson’s Flower Stop, NFU Mutual or from Mrs McCurry. Anyone who requires altar poppies which have a long stem can purchase them for £1.

Also on November 10, the Ballynahinch Run to Remember 5k event, sponsored by Wonders Driving School and organised by Atlas Running, takes place.

It starts at 2pm at the War Memorial and registrations can be made on line at  www.sientries.co.uk or on the day at RBL Hall between 12.30pm and 1.45pm. The first 100 finishers will receive a special commemorative buff and there will be medals for all finishers, with refreshments served afterwards in the hall.

On Sunday, November 11, Ballynahinch RBL branch is playing a key role in the international Battle’s Over commemoration event to mark the end of the Great War.

Events begin at 6am with lone pipers playing Battle’s O’er, a traditional Scottish air played after a battle, outside cathedrals after which a specially written tribute will be read out.

At the same time, over 1,000 pipers will be playing the tune in individual locations within their local communities with Jack Perry from the Harry Ferguson Memorial Pipe Band will play at Ballynahinch War Memorial. At 10.55am, Stephen Wilson will sound The Last Post at the town’s cenotaph.

The town’s annual Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial starts at 2.15pm, followed by a parade to First Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church. Those taking part are asked to note the earlier start time this year and meet at the Windmill Street car park at 1.45pm.

Later in the evening, Andrew Carlisle and Stephen Wilson will sound the Last Post at The Market Square at 6.55pm while five minutes later a beacon will be lit along with thousands of others across the UK and beyond as part of the Beacons of Light tribute signifying the light of peace that emerged from the darkness after four years of war.

Ballynahinch RBL officials are grateful to Drumcaw Steel in Clough for supplying the beacon.

At 7.05pm, bells will ring out at Magheradroll and St Patrick’s parish churches and at nearby Montalto Estate, as part of the Ringing Out for Peace event along with over 1,000 others across the UK and overseas.

Then town cryer John Cartwright will then read out a ‘Cry for Peace Around the World,” which will be said in countries across the globe.

Ballynahinch RBL secretary Margaret Armstrong, who is organising the commemoration events in the town, added: “We are proud to be playing a part in this historic international event to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War and to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women from our own community.”