Killyleagh is gearing up for town’s VE Day celebrations

Killyleagh is gearing up for town’s VE Day celebrations

23 April 2025

AN appeal has gone out for family members of Scottish, Welsh and English soldiers who were based in Killyleagh during the Second World War.

The town is preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day at a series of special events next month.

The organisers want to show Killyleagh's gratitude to the men, women and children who dedicated their lives to the war effort between 1939 and 1945.

Events in Killyleagh will form part of the UK-wide national tribute and will follow the pattern set down by the King's Pagentmaster Bruno Peek.

An act of remembrance is to be held on VE Day on Thursday, May 8, recalling the local men, from Shrigley and Killyleagh, who made the supreme sacrifice. 

But they also want to publicly acknowledge the memory of the soldiers who were not born in Killyleagh but returned to Killyleagh after the war, stayed and made their mark.

Many of these soldiers made a big impact on Killyleagh and Shrigley, and of course their families are still living in the area today — they include George Passey, Frank Healy, Maurice `Chico' Owens, Johnny Singleton, Alex Wilson, Peter Brown, Joe Jackson and Wilmar Roberts.

“We have two appeals, firstly for any other names of English, Scottish and Welsh soldiers who were not born in Killyleagh but came to live in Killyleagh straight after the war. And secondly, for members of the families named above to make contact ahead of VE Day,'' explained one of the organisers.

“We would like them to play a part in the community celebrations by placing an individual poppy cross or flower in memory of their loved one at the War Memorial that night.''

Family members are asked to contact Billy Croskery of the Royal British Legion in Killyleagh, Ann Fee of the Sloane's history group or Chris Hagan.

The commemoration on the night will also involve an act of remembrance for the 21 men who died, and for all those from Killyleagh and Shrigley who served in the army, navy or RAF.

Those who were killed were John Anderson, Robert Berner, Patrick Doyle, William Alexander Dempster, James Alexander Fee, John Gilmore, John Eyre Gordon, Francis Hannity, Albert Jess, Charles Kelly, Thomas Killops, Samuel Morrison, Samuel Morrow, William Murphy, George McCormick, David McDowell, Frederick Perry, Harry Rooney, Martin Thompson, Alexander Withers and James McConnell.

On the opening night it is also hoped to carry a lamp of peace from Shrigley to Killyleagh, and light the town beacon in the Castle Square as darkness descends at 9.30pm that night. Bells will ring out from St John's Church of Ireland, as they did 80 years ago when war finally ended. 

One of the highlights on VE night will be a musical night of open air entertainment by the Swingtime Starlets, recalling the wartime music of Vera Lynn and dance hall music that the American GI's would have jived to when they arrived in Killyleagh and Shrigley in 1942. 

“There's an opportunity to relive the Second World War dance hall era with this all-professional close harmony, vintage trio as they perform songs from wartime and Holywood's Golden Age of swing. It will be held in the open air at the Castle Square. The advice is to bring your own seat,” said one of the VE Day events organisers.

There will also be a special marching display in the Castle Square by young people from Ballygowan and Killyleagh, recreating the display they performed in front of Catherine, the Princess of Wales in London.

The four days of events include two history walking trails around the main streets of the town, on Thursday and Sunday, explaining the link between buildings and events in the Second World War including what happened in Killyleagh during and after the Belfast Blitz.

The history trail will also look at the role of some of the other war heroes who made Killyleagh their home including Military Cross winner, Sir John Gorman and Churchill's wartime map room supremo Sir Richard Pim.