GILFORD, Co. Armagh.

The unveiling of Gilford War Memorial erected to the memory of the brave men from the district who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, took place on Saturday evening, the ceremony being performed by Mrs Upritchard, Elmfield Castle.  About 400 men from the locality served with the colours, and of this number 62 lost their lives.  The tablet, which has been erected at Allan’s Corner, is in a most suitable position, been placed at the junction of the Gilford, Banbridge, and Tandragee roads.  The tablet is composed of granite, inlaid with white marble panels, and the names, 62 in number, engraved in the marble and filled with lead.  At the top there is an inscription, “ To the memory of our Fallen Heroes,” surmounted by a scroll, in the centre of which is a crossed gun and sword and the figures 1914-1918.  These have likewise been engraved and filled with lead.  The background is of solid masonry, with a stone finish.  The site for the erection of the tablet was generously placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr James F. Wright, Gilford Castle.

At the proceedings on Saturday the chair was taken by Mr Anthony Cowdy, who had been chairman and convener of the committee, and who had also acted in the capacity of chairman to the War Memorial Fund.  The Assembly having been sounded by the buglers, the ex-service men were formed up in front of the memorial, and there was a very large attendance of the general public.

Mr Cowdy having addressed the gathering, apologies for inability to be present were announced from Messrs. W. H. Boyle, J.P., and T. Lockhart, J.P.

Mrs Upritchard, on coming forward to unveil the memorial, said she wished to thank the chairman and committee for the great honour they had conferred on her by asking her to perform that task.  It was with sorrow, and yet with pride, that she did so.  That tablet had been erected by the grateful people of Gilford to the memory of our fallen heroes.  Generations yet to come would read and know the names of those brave men who, answering the call of King and country, were called upon to give up their lives.  Greater love had no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Mrs Upritchard then pulled the cord and the tablet was unveiled, after which the bugles sounded the “Last Post.”

Appreciative and sympathetic addresses were given by Mr James Blane, J.P.; Rev Dr Orr, Rev J. Cochrane, Rev J. Irwin, Rev J. H. Daunt, and Rev. E.A. Myles.

Subsequently the Chairman presented to Mrs Upritchard one of large Union Jacks which veiled the tablet.

Votes of thanks were passed to Mrs. Upritchard for carrying out the unveiling ceremony, and to Mr Wright for placing the site at the disposal of the committee on the motion of Mr Thomas Hadden, seconded by Mr Robert McBride, M.P.

The following names are inscribed on the tablet:-

Officers- McMaster, Hugh, M.C., DSO., Gilford, Major RFA.; Uprichard, Albert H. Bannvale, Major R.I.R.; Andrews, W.J., Moyallon Captain R.I.R..; Steele, Thos, Dumbarton, Lieutenant H.M.S. Laurentic.

Non-Commissioned Officers- Scott, James, Tullylish, C.M.S., R.I.R., Fus.: McConnell, Wesley, Tullylish, R.I.R.; McCullough, James, Gilford, Australian Imperial Forces; McDonald, John, Dumbarton, R.I.R.; McElmurray, George, Gilford, Household Battalion; McKinley, Robert, Tullylish, R.I.R.; Owens, Wm., Dumbarton I.G.; Quinn, Hill, Drumarrin, R.I.R.; Sands, Joseph, Dumbarton, R.I.R.; Sergeant, Thomas H. Loughans, R.I.R.; Steele, Alex. Gilford, R.I.R.; Sturgeon, Robt., Dumbarton, R.I.R.; Teggart, John Mercier, Dumbarton, R.I.R.; Thompson, Wm., Dumbarton, R.I.R.; Toman, John, Clare, R.I. Fus.; Topping, Wm.  James, Ballynagarrick, R.I.R.; Treanor, John Joseph, Tullylish, K.O.S.B.; Vogan, Robert, Gilford, R. Innis. Fus.; Watters, David, Dumbarton, R.I.R.; Whiteside, Samuel, Clare, Canadian Infantry; Woods, Wm.  John, Tullylish, R.I.R.

Shortly after the outbreak of war the Gilford and District Comforts Fund for Soldiers and Sailors was formed, and later the Gilford and District Prisoners of War Fund.  Subsequent to the signing of the armistice the activities of these funds came to an end, and it was decided to apply the balance of the money on hand to the erection of a tablet to perpetuate the memories of those who were called upon to lay down their lives.

The funds thus placed at the disposal of the Committee for the object mentioned had to be largely augmented, but the people of the locality who were appealed to responded with generosity.

Banbridge Chronicle 25^th June 1921