WWI book relaunch at Ballylone

WWI book relaunch at Ballylone

4 February 2015

BALLYLONE Orange Hall was the setting last week for the launch of Captain David John Bell’s reprinted First World War book Reminiscences.

Proceeds from the sale of the book — written by the former Ballynahinch soldier — will help raise funds to help restore the town’s War Memorial.

A number of Captain Bell’s descendants attended the book launch, bringing with them his personal photographs from the time, his medal miniatures and Service Certificate. 

The author’s niece, Dame Jeannie Newell, presented a cheque for £200 for the War Memorial Fund which was handed over to Margaret Armstrong. And the Royal Irish/Ulster Rifles Museum, based at Belfast’s Waring Street, loaned the Captain’s original medals specially for the launch. 

The Reminiscences reprint was made possible by kind permission of Mr. David Hawthorne, owner of the booklet’s copyright and until recently proprietor of the Mourne Observer. It was his father, the late Jim Hawthorne, who interviewed David John Bell and published a collection of his First World War memories in 1962.

Following the proceedings Margaret Armstrong manned a stall and did a roaring trade selling badges, posters, and copies of the reprint. These items are providing a steady stream of income, considerably augmenting larger cheques received from donors.