PORTADOWN, Co Armagh.

Few towns in any part of the British Empire have a nobler record of war service than Portadown, whose sons flocked to the colours in large numbers on the outbreak of the war. Many of the men served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the county regiment, but they were to be found in every branch of naval and military activity, and over 300 gave their lives for King and country.

To perpetuate their memory a handsome memorial has been erected in front of the parish church, and yesterday it was unveiled by Lieut.-General Sir Travers Clarke, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.B., in the presence of the Prime Minister (Sir James Craig, Bart., D.L.) the Lord Primate (Most Rev. Dr. d’Arcy), and a distinguished gathering. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, (Most Rev. Dr. O’Donnell) was to have taken part in the proceedings, but was unable to attend. A huge crowd assembled in the vicinity of the spacious market square, and hundreds of onlookers occupied points of vantage overlooking the scene of the ceremony, very window being crowded, and even the roofs of houses and shops were utilised as view points. On three sides of the memorial a stand had been erected for invited guests and a wide space in front was railed off for contingents of ex-Service men, representatives of young peoples organisations, and relatives of the fallen. Guards of honour of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and the Royal Ulster Rifles were in attendance, and the band of the 1^st Batt. Seaforth Highlanders was present and led the praise, in addition to playing a number of voluntaries.

On arrival, Sir Travers Clarke, was met by the Town Clark (Mr. H. Sewell) and inspected the guards of honour and ex-Service men before taking his seat on the platform. Mr. W. M. Clow, J.P., moved, and Mr. J. Shiel, J.P., seconded, that the chair be taken by Senator H. B. Armstrong, H.M.L., of County Armagh.

The Chairman said that he esteemed very highly the privilege of presiding on that solemn occasion, when Portadown and its district was dedicating a memorial to the undying memory of those who gave their lives for their country in the Great War. That district had ever been famed for their loyalty and patriotism and naturally when war was declared in obedience to the dictates of honour and self-preservation the flower of its youth forsook home and kindred and joined their gallant companions in the great adventure. In every arm of the Services and in every field of action they were to be found; but he regarded them as very specially associated with the 9^th Battalion R.I.R.,- their own county regiment. It was commanded by Col., Blacke, of Carrickblacker, -a distinguished officer- and in the commissioned and non-commissioned ranks were many Portadown men, among whom was Major D.G. Shillington, whom the county was fortunate in having as representative in the Northern Ireland House of Commons. The deeds of the heroic 36^th Ulster Division, of which the 9^th Battalion formed a part, would have in history and remained an inspiring example for future generation; but the casualties at the Battle of the Somme on 1^st July 1916, and in subsequent engagements were terrible, and they had to honour the lose of many fine promising lives. A blank had been left which would never be filled. Directly the war came to an end and memorials were erected in every parish, and it was not without significance that, seven years afterwards, memorial were still being erected, showing that with the lapse of time the memory of their glorious dead showed no sign of growing dim. They were honoured that day with the presence of a distinguished general-a hero of the war. Sir Travers Clarke was colonel of their senior Ulster regiment the Inniskilling Fusiliers-the old 27^th –and to that extent they claimed him as a fellow Ulsterman, and extended to him a hearty welcome.

Before the unveiling ceremony the massed choir led the singing of “For all the Saints,” accompanied by the band of the Seaforths.

Lieutenant-General Sir Travers Clarke, K.C.B.,K.C.M., C.B., said that day they had met together in a spirit of proud grief. They mourned their dead but they remembered that those whom that memorial commemorated died that others might live; died to save their hearths and homes from the invader; died to keep alive the spirit of freedom which they cherished. There were some who were inclined in those days to forget that the Great War, which called from them such stern sacrifices, was not of their making. The British people, during that grave crisis in the history of mankind, followed a policy which he knew those present fully understood and approved. They sought to the last moment to preserve the peace. It was only when it was certain that peace with honour was impossible that they took up arms. He thought that fact should be always kept in their minds, not with the idea of continuing old animosities, but as a solace and comfort to the relatives of the dead. The sacrifices of those precious lives was not a vain one. It was sternly necessary. They had still a greater solace. It was their British custom to sound the “Last Post” over a warrior’s grave. In doping that they repeated the call which the soldier heard each evening when, the day’s work done, he should put aside care, take a rest from labour and prepare for the tasks of the morrow. It was the sign and symbol of their faith, that death was not the end; that men who had fought the good fight had found rest from the labours of that world and entered another life.

The people of that town and district were faithful in every phase of the Great War to the glorious traditions of Ulster. They took their full part in the splendid record of service of this outpost of the Empire. The citizens of Ulster gave freely and without stint of their manhood. They helped nobly in the guardianship of the seas which are the home paths of the Empire. They were engaged in every one of those stubborn battles from Mons onwards in Flanders and France, which kept back the forces of the invaders. They were with the young manhood of the Empire in the desperate tasks of Gallipoli. On the Salonika front they assisted to keep the enemy from the Mediterranean. Their trod the soils of Palestine, and followed in the path of the great soldiers of history in that wonderful campaign which brought the Union Jack to the gates of the ancient cities of the east. Nor should it be forgotten that those of the people of Ulster who cold not undertake active service overseas helped nobly on the home front in the common task of the defence of civilisation. Over two continents were scattered the graves of 14,000 Ulster

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that the Empire might continue its work for mankind. In the lists of those whom the King delighted to honour appeared constantly the names of Ulster heroes. No people of the Empire had a prouder record. It was for them who survived to hold always dear their memory; to resolve that the great sacrifice which they had made should not be in vain, and to emulate their courage in maintaining honour and freedom.

Sir Travers Clarke, in conclusion, said- I unveil this memorial; to the glorious dead. May their spirit endure with us and our descendents that we may prove worthy of their high example.”

The Dead March was then played by the band, the large crowd standing reverently with heads uncovered.

The “Last Post” having been sounded by the buglers, the Lord Primate pronounced the dedication prayer, after which cane the rousing notes of “Reveille.” The ex-Moderator of the General Assembly (Very rev. R. W. Hamilton, M.A.) read the lesson (Rev. chapter 7) and Rev. E. B. Cullen, M.A., President of the Methodist Church in Ireland), led the prayers.  The hymn, “O God our Help in Ages Past,” was then sung.

The memorial consists of a bronze group about 12 feet overall, surmounting a pedestal of Irish granite, upon each side of which are four bronze panels, containing the names of the fallen. On the front is the following inscription:- “The Great War 1914-1918-To the glorious memory of the men of Portadown and its neighbourhood who died that we might live. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

The bronze group represents an angel, alighting in the battlefield and about to place a wreath upon the head of a wounded soldier, whose helmet had fallen back, showing the head of the soldier and denoting fortitude, courage, and sacrifice to his country in still trying to carry on. The base on which the angel is mounted is composed of sandbags and a fallen gas-mask descriptive of the battlefield.

Dr. George Dougan, on behalf of the War memorial Committee, handed over the memorial to the Urban district to be a perpetual memorial to remind that generation and generations to come of the great sacrifice made by the men of that town and district in the Great War. 

Mr. W. J. Johnston, H.P., chairman of the Portadown Urban Council, on behalf of the Council and citizens said he gratefully accepted that magnificent memorial to the men of Portadown and district who gave their lives in the cause of humanity and freedom. He also gladly undertook that they and their children would ever regard it with the deepest reverence, honour and pride, and that they would at all times maintain and keep it in proper order and repair.

The Prime Minister [N.I.], proposing a cordial vote of thanks to Sir Travers Clarke for unveiling that splendid memorial, said Ulster had been indebted to the gallant general on many occasions and he had added to their debt that day by crossing over at considerable inconvenience to himself in order to carry out the wishes of the local inhabitants of Portadown. They in Ulster appreciated his distinguished career in the army and wished him every prosperity. That memorial they had unveiled was a credit to the town and district and would stand beside that of their dear old friend Colonel Saunderson for years to come in order that young Ulster growing up might learn the lesson on the one hand of sacrifice on the battlefield for their country, and on the other an example of a great man who led the Ulster people so steadfastly in more peaceful ways.

Lord Justice Best seconding, said Sir Travers Clarke had honoured them very highly by coming there and unveiling that monument, which would be a lasting memorial to the town and neighbourhood of those who willingly gave their live in the Great War. He could well remember when the call came the recruits came going into Portadown from the little village where he was born-Richhill- and seeing the young men undergoing medical examination before going to play their gallant part in the great struggle. Many of those young men were friends of his own but many he had never seen since. As they had been told those men were scattered throughout the world and occupied hero’s graves. Proceeding, his Lordship said he was sure that if the call came again-which God forbid- there would be as noble a response from that neighbour as there was in the Great War.

Sit Travers Clarke briefly replied.

Major D. G. Shillington, M.P., proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. B. M. Cullen, who said the fact of it being moved by an officer of the Faugh-a-Bellaghs and seconded by an N.C.O. of the Connaught Rangers was symbolic of the brotherhood which was born in Gallipoli and Flanders, and the spirit of which was self-sacrifice and service without hope of reward.

The vote was cordially passed, and the Benediction having been pronounced by Very Rev. Canon T. McDonald, P.P., the ceremony concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

Subsequently, a large number of handsome wreaths were placed on the memorial. The first, from the ex-Servicemen of Portadown and district, was placed by a blind ex-Rifleman, William J. Whiteside, who was conducted by the two senior officers of the parade.

Then followed the wreaths from the Urban District Council, laid by Mr. W. J. Johnston, J.P., chairman; St Mark’s Parish Church, St Patrick’s R.C. Church, Portadown Methodist Church, Loyal Orange Order Lodge No. 56, the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The Royal Ulster Constabulary tribute was deposited by Captain J. Andrews, D.L., and a wreath was also placed on behalf of the “B” Specials. The Boy Scouts, Boy’s brigade, Girl Guides, pupils of Edgarstown No.1 and Thomas Street P.E. Schools, and the Girls’ and Boys’ Life Brigade, also placed floral tributes on the memorial, while most of the linen firms and various organisations sent wreaths. Large numbers of the relatives of the fallen laid their tokens of remembrance at the base of the memorial, which at the conclusion was banked round with flowers.