The Chairman’s Remarks.

The Right Hon. Lord Arthur Hill said that before the actual proceedings were commenced, he should like as treasurer of the fund just to tell them what had been done, what the memorial had cost, and how the subscriptions had come in to meet that cost.  After giving the figures in detail his Lordship said that the contract for the memorial was £720, and that morning they still required the sum of £65, 14s 10d to pay off everything.  He might tell them that Lord Downshire and Mr O. B. Graham had very kindly contributed £20 each, (hear, hear); he himself had given £5, Dr. Boyd contributed £5, and Dr Willie Boyd £1, and since that the Committee had been kind enough to come forward themselves and subscribe something like £15 to pay off absolutely the whole thing.  (Applause.) The result was that the war memorial would be unveiled without one shilling owing on it, and he hoped they would agree with him that that was a satisfactory state of affairs. The Committee had taken a great deal of trouble in connection with the matter, and it was gratifying to know that their efforts had been crowned with such complete success.  (Applause.)

The Marquis of Downshire, amid intense silence, unveiled the memorial, after which Mrs Thompson, on behalf of the Committee, placed the first wreath at the base of the Cross. There were few dry eyes during this touching ceremony as everyone in the vast audience knew that of her six stalwart sons who volunteered for service in the war only three returned to her, and but one of the three not maimed or scarred by the wounds of battle.  Mrs Thompson was helped down from and up to the platform by the Bishop, and under his Lordship’s encouragingly whispered words bore up bravely under the trying circumstances.

Gallant Soldier’s Tribute.

Colonel W. H. Savage, C.M.G., addressing the gathering, said the beautiful memorial which had just been unveiled by the Marquis of Downshire was a symbol of sacrifice, and the men whose names were recorded on it sacrificed themselves at the call of duty. Duty called them to fight for their King and Country on the land, on the sea, and in the air, in many climes, in heat and in cold, and no men responded to the call in a more glorious fashion than the men of Down.

He had the honour and great good fortune to command the 13^th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles-the 1^st County of Down Battalion-from the day they were raised at Clandeboye from the Ulster Volunteer Force in September, 1914, to the end of 1916, and he was proud to have the opportunity of adding his word of praise to the men of Down.  The Battalion formed part of the 108^th Brigade of the 36^th Ulster Division, under General Sir Oliver Nugent.

That Division had made history, and no praise, however fulsome, could be too much to record the bravery, the gallantry, and steadfastness of the 13^th Royal Irish Rifles, under all circumstances, in the wet and snow of the winter of 1915-16; the cheerfulness and good spirits displayed by all ranks, in spite of the cruel hardships and discomforts, in spite of the monotony of the dayly dreary vigil which seemed so endless, were remarkable.  The forms of sacrifice were many.  Some fell on the lonely patrol, some singly in the trench, some in numbers in the enthusiasm of an assault, some by the accidental bursting of a bomb, some unexpectedly in the crash of a shell.

Proceeding, Colonel Savage referred to a few of the exploits of the battalion, and paid a tribute to the bravery and devotion to duty of many of the officers and other ranks.  Colonel Maxwell, he said, who succeeded him, had written to say how sorry he was that he was unable to be present on that occasion to testify to the splendid services of the men of Hillsborough and district.  They all owed much to Colonel Maxwell for his encouragement and advice.  He never spared himself, and he was wounded twice. 

That monument would remind generations yet to come of the bravery and gallantry of their forebears in the great war, and how they upheld the honour of Down. The memorial was erected to the honour of the glorious dead, but he would like to remind them that they should not forget the disabled soldiers.  Theirs was an ever-present sacrifice which must be very hard to bear.

Again, in honouring their fallen heroes they should remember the bravery and patience of the devoted wives, mothers, and close relatives of those whose names were recorded on the memorial, throughout all the weary months of anxiety and trouble.  In offering them his great sympathy he hoped, as time softened the blow, they would have the pride of knowing that their boys bravely made a great sacrifice in a great cause.

The Dedication.

The Lord Bishop of Down, then advanced to the base of the Cross, and amid solemn silence, dedicated the memorial-his Lordship said;-We dedicate this Memorial Cross to the glory of God and in loving memory of the men of Hillsborough and surrounding district, who gave their lives in the Great War for God and King and Country.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

The Lord Bishop having offered up a short prayer, the “Last Post” was sounded by a couple of the buglers of the 1^st Battalion Norfolk Regiment.

A local resident, Mrs Thompson, on behalf of the Committee, placed the first wreath at the base of the Cross. Of her six sons who had volunteered for service in the war only three returned to her, two of whom were injured.

The relatives of the fallen having arranged their wreaths at the base of the monument the entire company sang the National Anthem.  The pronouncing of the Benediction by the Moderator concluded the touching and inspired Ceremony.

Luncheon at the Castle.

Prior to the unveiling ceremony, the committee and friends, also a number of visitors were entertained in Hillsborough Castle by the Marquis of Downshire who presided. To the right of his Lordship sat the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, Lord Arthur Hill, Lady Dixon, Mr O.B. Graham, Colonel Savage.  To his left were the Moderator of the General Assembly (the Right Rev Dr Lowe), Mrs O.B. Graham, Sir Thomas Dixon, Bart., D.L..; Mrs Young, and General Young, C.M.G., D.S.O.

The toast of “The King” given by the Marquis of Downshire having been fittingly honoured, Mr O.B. Graham, on behalf of the company, expressed the high appreciation of the hospitality which had been extended to them by the Marquis of Downshire.  He said that he had not only given the finest site about Hillsborough for the erection of the memorial, but had also contributed generously towards the funds.

He had entertained the committee and their friends at the castle that afternoon, and in fact did everything possible that anyone could do to help with the erection of the memorial which they all hoped in some small way would be a recognition of the services by the brave men from Hillsborough and district in the Great War.

At Mr Graham’s request the guests charged their glasses and drank in the heartiest manner the health of the “Marquis of Downshire.”

The wreaths placed on the memorial by Lord Downshire and Lord Arthur Hill, as well as a big percentage of the other beautiful floral tributes, were supplied to order by Mr Thomas Bradshaw, The Gardens, Hillsborough.

The CASTLE GUARD.

A unusual feature of the unveiling ceremony was the attendance of the famous Hillsborough Castle Guard.  The Guard was formed during the reign of Charles II, who gave permission to the then head of the Hill family, his heirs and successors to appoint twenty-six castle wardens. The Guard, which is entirely composed of old residents of the locality, was in command of Sgt. Crane, himself an octogenarian. 

Lisburn Standard 19^th May 1922