Portaferry remembers men who died in WW1

Portaferry remembers men who died in WW1

26 November 2014

PORTAFERRY men who lost their lives in World War One have been officially remembered — some for the first time.

The contribution of 53 local men to the war effort was recognised through a project spearheaded by Portaferry Regeneration to mark the centenary of World War One.

Among them were 13 men whose deaths have never before been officially commemorated. Their names are among those included on a temporary commemoration plaque that researchers hope to turn into a permanent memorial once they are sure their list is complete.

The plaques were unveiled last week as part of the Last Post Project, which explores the experience of those whose lives were changed by the First World War.

The Prime Minister’s special representative for Centenary Commemorations, Dr. Andrew Murrison, took part in the commemorative event in Portaferry.

Stories behind the names included on the memorials include that of Portaferry surgeon Hugh Francis McNally, who was the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth McNally, of Shore Street.

Research has uncovered the fact that Hugh was a leader with the Irish Volunteers in Belfast before joining the Royal Navy.

He died when the warship HMS Hampshire was struck by a mine on June 5, 1916. His death, alongside hundreds of other men, made world news because among them was the British War Minister Lord Kitchener.

Allison Murphy, from Portaferry Regeneration, who researched World War One veterans for months before Tuesday’s project launch, said she believed more names would be added to the list in the coming months.

She said the group’s research began with a World War One book by Barry Niblock before they moved to online records. Once word spread about the project, researchers were also contacted by relatives keen to remember loved ones who had died.

“We have had an excellent response,” she said.

“People have brought photographs to us and certificates that have helped us put together the information about those who died.

“We have not presented this in a political way. This is the names of those who died, they came from all walks of life, all regiments, all classes and creeds.”