Zero hour marked at Killyleagh ceremony

Zero hour marked at Killyleagh ceremony

6 July 2016

A CROWD of around 200 people gathered in Killyleagh on Friday morning for a Zero Hours National Vigil to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

People from across Down District, including Downpatrick and Crossgar, gathered in the Castle Square at 7.10am, the time the 36th Ulster Division went into the trenches, and waited on whistles being blown at 7.28am to mark zero hours, before walking forward to the town’s War Memorial.

Proceedings opened with Chris Hagan, from the Killyleagh Remembers the Great War project, reading excerpts from Philip Orr’s book ‘The Road to the Somme’ to explain what the 13th Royal Irish Rifles, the 1st Co Down Volunteers, were doing at exactly the same time 100 years earlier. 

He pointed out that of all Irish battalions, they had suffered hardest on the first day with 595 killed, wounded or missing out of around 800 who went over the top.

The Rev. Hiram Higgins, the Presbyterian minister in Killyleagh, led the prayers and then read from Psalm 91 a Psalm read in the trenches by the padres.

Before the two minute’s silence, the list of the 10 men from Killyleagh and Shrigley who were killed at the Somme was read by Mrs Ann Fee, of the Sloane’s History Group, with Binyon’s Lines recited by Mr Billy Croskery, chairman of Killyleagh RBL. Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Catherine Woods of Wellington Memorial Silver Band.

Later that night a cross-community act of remembrance was held in the Castle Square.

The night opened with the surviving veterans of the Second World War, Lt Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton, Mr Martin `Tina’ Charters, Mr Andy Andrews and Mr Sean Greene, lighting a candle of hope, It was carried forward to the War Memorial by Mr Greene’s great grandson, Finlay Quigley, to begin proceedings.

Col Rowan-Hamilton carried the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order awarded to his father, Guy, in the Great War. He was also mentioned in dispatches four times including at the Somme.

Montgomery’s last letter home was read by Mr Dougie Marr while Mr Matthew McMaster read McCrea’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.

The first crosses were laid on behalf of the 10 men who died in the first hours of the battle — Frank Cheevers, represented by Austin Cheevers; William Samuel Montgomery, represented by Gerald Montgomery and Peter Moore;  William James Moore, represented by Betty Lindsay; William Walker, represented by Susie Carberry; and John Kennedy (Ann Fee).

Young people represented the five others: David Boyd, (Rebekah Smith and Jodie Montgomery); William James Calvert (James Savage); Moore McCleery (Matt McMaster); John Bennett Morrow (Faye Bewick); and Samuel Martin (Cara Martin).

A town cross was laid by the vice chairman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Mr Garth Craig, accompanied by Cameron Maciejewski, and Izzie and Alfie Hagan.

Other crosses and wreaths were laid by:

Sloane’s History Group, Mrs Ann Fee, accompanied by Dylan Watters and Ella Blaney.

Killyleagh RBL: Mr Andy Andrews, escorted by Mr Terry Andrews and Mr Billy Croskery.

St John’s Parish Church: Mr Frank Finlay.

Killyleagh Orange Lodges: Mr William Long, Mr Leslie Clydesdale, Mr Reggie Hunsdale.

Toye LOL 1077: Mr Brian Osborne, Mr Cuan Sullivan and Mr Eric Wilson.

DUP council group: Mr Gareth Craig, Mr Harry Harvey and Mr Billy Walker.

In memory of William Moore: Natasha Manganaro and Mr Bertie Murphy.

The night concluded with councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews unveiling a commemorative plaque, which they sponsored, to mark that villagers had gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of the battle.

A total of £108.20 was raised for the Poppy Appeal on the night.