The heroics and the horror of the men from Killyleagh and Shrigley who marched off to war is told for the first time in a book to be launched next week.
Produced to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War, it has been published as part of the Killyleagh Remembers the Great War project.
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Members of the Irish Great War Society pictured in July 2014 during a Tatoo in Killyleagh Castle.[/caption]
The slaughter of the Somme, the heroics of the winners of the gallantry medals, the horror of the trenches, the prisoners of war, the sacrifice of the men at sea… all is reflected in a book which marks the culmination of years of painstaking research.
Chris Hagan, spokesman for the organising committee of the Great War Project in Killyleagh, said: “The book is to be launched at the Bridge Community Centre in Killyleagh next Monday night at 7pm. The guest speakers at the event, which is open to everyone, include leading Irish Great War historian Philip Orr who wrote the introduction to the book.
“It contains a series of articles on many of the 242 men and two women who fought in the Great War. Included is an individual profile tribute to the 51 who paid the ultimate sacrifice, based on information collated over the years by the Sloane History Group in Killyleagh.
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Lt Denys Rowan-Hamilton with his grand-daughter Tara Rowan-Hamilton from Killyleagh Castle had the honour of lighting the special candle to commemorate the start of World War One at an event held in August 2014 in Killyleagh.[/caption]
“The book also reflects on and features the Killyleagh Remembers the Great War project events, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to mark the 100th anniversary. The programme was designed by the local community following three public meetings, starting in September 2013.
“The events opened on August 2nd 2014 with a Medals and Memories Day in which relatives of First World War soldiers and sailors brought along medals, artefacts and important photographs. It was followed two days later by a cross-community act of remembrance attended bty around 700 people in which a replica battlefield cross was laid on behalf of the community by World War 2 veteran Martin Charters, and a candle lantern lit by another of the war survivors, Lt Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton and his grand-daughter, Tara.”
The programme included war walking heritage trails, five lectures and a Voices of the Great War evening featuring poetry and drama readings. To ensure the story is handed forward to the next generation there was a special workshop for young people in which they experienced life in the trenches, an outing to the Somme Museum and a specially designed scrapbook for children.
Chris Hagan added: “The aim of the organising committee was to stimulate a wide engagement from schoolchildren, young people, history groups, service organisations and all sections of the community to explore the story of the 242 men and two women who served, and to look at the legacy of the Great War. The book is an important addition to our understanding of what happened to these men who lived through an extraordinary period in history, whose bravery and sacrifice resonates down the years.”
The book has been produced by the Sloane History Group and Best of Killyleagh group, with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It has been designed by Thomas Johnston and printed by Clive Scoular. It will be available at a cost of £5 from next Monday night.
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