Issue 40 Page 1

Brave Report

HMS Richmond under command

BANBRIDGE AND GILFORD’S NAVAL RECORD In May 2014 when HMS Richmond docked at Harbour, the Banbridge tradition of service in the was once more Northern - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 2 expressed. Commander Mark Anderson, a Banbridge native, was in command of was the Type 23 frigate. based she had recently returned to the UK from deployment to the Atlantic Patrol Tasking where her passage included stops in Cape Verde, Ascension and South Georgia.

Lt Cdr Mark Anderson - also commanded HMS Mersey, one of three River class offshore patrol vessels whose primary role is to protect fish stocks

Banbridge town’s tradition of naval service is unavoidable in its public architecture. The Crozier monument highlights the cost of polar exploration which was predominantly led by the Royal Navy in the quest for alternative sea routes. The cost

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 3 born by individuals and families is well illustrated by the inscription on the monument. It reads -

To perpetuate the remembrance of talent, enterprise, and worth as combined in the character and evidenced in the life of Captain Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier R.N. F.R.S. this monument has been erected by friends, who, as they valued him in life,regret him in death. He was second in command with Captain Sir John Franklin R.N. F.R.S., and captain of H.M. ship Terror, in the polar expedition which left England on the 22 May 1845. Although there remained no survivors of the expedition, enough has been ascertained to show that, to it, is justly due the honour of the discovery of the long sought for North West Passage, and that Captain Crozier, having survived his chief, perished with the remainder of the party after he had bravely led them to the coast of America. He was born at Banbridge, the - September 1796, but of the place or time of his death no man knoweth unto this day."

Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier was born at Banbridge in September, 1796, being the fifth son of George Crozier, a solicitor and a man of

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 4

The War Memorial, Street, Banbridge The monument, the work of the sculptor F. W. Pomeroy, bears the inscription, “In Memory of the Men of Banbridge and district who laid their lives serving their King and Country in the Great War 1914 – 1918.” A total of 249 men are named on the memorial. property. The family were friends of the Marquis of Downshire and the Earl of Moira. It was from this Earl of Moira - "the best known public character in the three kingdoms" - that Crozier derived one of his christian names. Craigavon Historical Society have published an excellent account of this naval explorer’s endeavours. See

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 5 http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/ kerrcrozier.html

First World War

21 men from the area served in the First World War. 11 of them died. Their service covered most of the events of the war.

John Sides Davies MacCormac

A Surgeon, he was lost serving in HMS Black Prince at Jutland

John Sides Davies MacCormac, a Surgeon, was lost serving in HMS Black Prince at Jutland on 31/05/1916. HMS Black Price, an armoured cruiser, was sunk with 857 men lost. The ship had become separated from the rest of the British fleet and it was reported that: "As Black Prince Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 6 now suddenly found herself close abreast of the German centre. In a moment she was in a glare of searchlights, a tornado of shell at point blank- range rent her from stem to stern, and in two minutes she was a mass of flames. For a while she was seen as a floating furnace, and then, with an appalling explosion, sank with all hands". John is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 11

Three were the victims of internal explosions inter ships. Hugh Gilmour, a stoker, and Henry Aversely, a Royal Marine musician, died in HMS

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 7 Bulwark when she sank off Sheerness on 26/11/1914. Nathaniel Taylor was lost in HMS Natal in Cromarty Firth on 30/12/1915. The captain was hosting a film party aboard and had invited the wives and children of his officers, one civilian friend and his family, and nurses from the nearby hospital ship Drina to attend. A total of seven women, one civilian male, and three children were in attendance that afternoon.Shortly after 1525, and without warning, a series of violent explosions tore through the rear part of the ship. She capsized five minutes later. Some thought that she'd been torpedoed by a German U-boat or detonated a submarine-laid mine, but examination of the wreckage revealed that the explosions were internal.The Admiralty court-martial into the causes of her loss concluded that it was caused by an internal ammunition explosion, possibly due to faulty cordite.The Admiralty issued a revised list of the dead and missing that totalled 390 in January 1916.

Thomas Spratt was killed on 15/07/1915 in the Dardanelles at Lancashire Landing, whilst serving with the Royal Naval Division.

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 8 The youngest to die was Christopher Berry, a sixteen year old Boy Artificer.

MacCormac and Taylor were Instonians. Six of those who served were members of the Masonic Order.

Second World War

1 woman and 20 men served in the Second World War. 8 died.

Gordon Jardine survived the sinking of HMS Repulse. Edward Close died after the sinking of HMS Lapwing on an Arctic convoy on 20/03/1945. He was 26 years of age, having joined the RN when he was 13 years old.

Edmund Smyth was awarded a DSC and mentioned in despatches. In April 1943, aged 25 years, he was serving in the Mediterranean when he was Mentioned in Dispatches for an action off the coast of Tunisia and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (London Gazette 11/01/1944), “For gallant and distinguished services in a daylight sweep against enemy shipping in the Mediterranean while serving in light Coastal Craft”. Edmund became a Director Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 9 of the Dungannon based company 'Moygashel’. He died at the 18th hole of the Royal Golf Course, Newcastle on 12/11/1988.

BANBRIDGE & GILFORD WORLD WAR I ROLL OF HONOUR

+AVERLEY, Henry RM Band. RMB/108 (Po). Musician. HMS Bulwark. Died 26/11/1914. Explosion Sheerness. B London. Husband of Georgina Aversely from Bangor, later of Lakeview Lodge, Gilford Rd., Lurgan.

+BERRY, Christopher Barnett RN. Boy Artificer. M/11326. HMS Indus. Died:17/03/1915. Aged 16. Born Banbridge. Son of Robert and Arabella Berry, Springfield Rd., Belfast. Ford Park Cemetery (formerly Old Cemetery).

CAMERON, Joseph M RNAS. Russian Armoured Car Division. Petty Officer. Russian Award January 1918 Main Street, Gilford

COBURN, J. G. RND. Sub-Lieutenant. Public Schools Battalion. Wounded. Fountainville, Banbridge. Street - PCI RH

+GILMOUR, Hugh RN. Stoker. 1586U. HMS Bulwark. Died 26/11/1914. Age 36. Explosion Sheerness. B Banbridge 29/12/1868. Son of John Gilmour and Mary Tinsley. Husband to Isabella Gilmour,

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 10 Murano Street, Maryhill, Glasgow. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 6

+HILLIS, James Herbert RN. Leading Stoker. K4837. HMS Pathfinder. Died 05/09/1914. Killed in action with submarine off Firth of Forth. Born Banbridge. Husband to Catherine Hillis, Newcastle St., Belfast. Chatham Naval Memorial. Megain Memorial - PCI RH

HUGHES, William T Banbridge Masonic Lodge RH

+HUGHES, William Thomas RN. AB. SS3214. HMS Norseman. Died of illness 22/01/1919. Aged 27. On Friday 01/01/1915, he was in the battleship HMS Formidable when it was torpedoed by a submarine. Born Dungannon 08/09/1892. Eldest son of Mrs. Matilda. Hughes, Railway St., Banbridge, and the late Mr.William Hughes. Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent

JOHNSTON, RNR. Son of William John and Bridget Johnston, , Banbridge

KENNEDY, John RNR. Surgeon. Banbridge Masonic Lodge

KENNEDY, John SD AB. Banbridge Masonic Lodge

+MacCORMAC, John Sides Davies RN. Surgeon. HMS Black Prince. Jutland. Died 31/05/1916. Age 44. Son of William and Mary Edmunds MacCormac, The Old House, Banbridge, and husband to Genevieve Muriel

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 11 MacCormac, (daughter of - General Sir Charles Metcalfe Macgregor). Daughter, Joan MacCormac was born in 1910. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 11. Banbridge WM. RBAI WM

+McEVOY, Patrick Leading Stoker. 285115. HMS Hawke. Died 15/10/1914. Age 34. Born Dechomet. Son of Edward and Mary Ann McEvoy, Dechomet; husband of Rose Ann McEvoy, Dechomet, Ballyward, Banbridge. Chatham Naval Memorial

+MILLS, Stewart RN. Gilford WM

MORTON, John RNAS. Private. , Banbridge. - PCI RH

SIMMS, Thomas RNVR. Lt. Commander. Banbridge Masonic Lodge

+SPRATT, Thomas RND. Stoker 1st Class. 298606. Nelson Battalion, RND. Died 15/07/1915. B Banbridge. Brother of Mrs. Patterson, Witham St., Belfast. Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Turkey

+STEELE, Thomas RNR. Lieutenant. HMS Laurentic. Died 25/01/1917. Age 26. Born Gilford. Son of Alexander Steele; husband to Annie Steele, Hamilton Rd, Bangor. Buried in All Saints Churchyard, Tullylish, Co Down. Bangor Grammar School archives. Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor WM. Gilford WM. Gilford - PCI RH. There are 61 men who died in HMS Laurentic buried in Upper Fahan (St Mura’s) C of I graveyard, and 2 buried in Cockhill Catholic graveyard, in County Donegall.

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 12

STEELE, James R RNR. Lt. Commander. Banbridge Masonic Lodge

+TAYLOR, Nathaniel RN. Engine Room Artificer (4th Class). M768. HMS Natal. Died 30/12/1915. Age 22. Natal was lying in the Cromarty Firth with her squadron, under the command of Captain Eric Back. The captain was hosting a film party aboard and had invited the wives and children of his officers, one civilian friend and his family, and nurses from the nearby hospital ship Drina to attend. A total of seven women, one civilian male, and three children were in attendance that afternoon.Shortly after 1525, and without warning, a series of violent explosions tore through the rear part of the ship. She capsized five minutes later. Some thought that she'd been torpedoed by a German U-boat or detonated a submarine-laid mine, but examination of the wreckage revealed that the explosions were internal.The Admiralty court-martial into the causes of her loss concluded that it was caused by an internal ammunition explosion, possibly due to faulty cordite.The Admiralty issued a revised list of the dead and missing that totalled 390 in January 1916, but did not list the women and children on board that day. Losses are listed from 390 to 421. Born Banbridge. Son of Robert and Susan Taylor of Rookvale, Katesbridge. Shanrod Masonic Lodge. Banbridge. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 11. RBAI WM. - PCI RH.

WARREN, Thomas F RN. Chief Petty Officer. Banbridge Masonic Lodge

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 13 BANBRIDGE & GILFORD WORLD WAR II ROLL OF HONOUR

ADAMSON, Adeline WRNS. Training to be a nurse when she enlisted. Served Blundellsands, Edinburgh, Londonderry, Liverpool and London. From Richill, Armagh. Married George Adamson, ex- RAF. Parents of Dorothy, Ian and George. Whitney Hill, Gilford. RBL.

+BERRY, Joseph RM. Marine. PO/X 4370. HMS Barham. Died 25/11/1941. Age 22. Barham was taking part in an operation against an Italian convoy to Lybia. U-331 eluded the destroyer screen and fired three torpedoes at Barham. All were hits. One of the ship’s magazines exploded. Barham sunk almost immediately. Of the crew of 1,312 there were only 452 survivors. Joseph Berry was among the survivors who later died. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Berry, Tullylish. . Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 58. Gilford WM. Lurgan WM

+CLOSE, Edward RN. AB. D/JX140143. HMS Lapwing. Died 20/03/1945. Age 26. Arctic convoy. Joined RN in 1933, aged 13. Son of Hugh Henry and Anne Close, Golf Terrace, Huntly Rd., Bainbridge. Husband to Lillian Close, Liverpool. Report Banbridge Chronicle 21/04/1945. , Panel 93. Seapatrick Parish Church, Banbridge, WM

COOKE, Wiliam RN. Wireless operator. William ‘Billy’ Cooke was a wireless operator in the Royal Navy. He enlisted aged just 17 in June 1943. He served in the D - Day landings, South East Asia, and

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 14 Pacific. In the D - Day landings his vessel had been part of a flotilla of 12, ferrying heavy equipment and 20 men to the Normandy coast. They crossed amid bad weather and under cover of darkness, but he recalled that when they arrived it had been “chaos”. “Between big ships firing and aircraft, I didn’t know what was going on. I was just sitting there with my earphones on me,” he said. They then waited off the coast, although the boat became inoperable, took on water and began to drift, necessitating it being towed back into position. His most vivid memories were seeing dead bodies floating on the sea. “Utter chaos and mayhem,” he recalled. At one point during the deployment he looked over the edge, and recalled “lots of dead bodies lying about, and floating about too”. The craft, damaged on its first crossing, had to be towed back to ‘Blighty’, but he then took part in no fewer than seven crossing to Omaha and Sword Beaches after repairs had been carried out. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 2014 when the French government recognised the surviving veterans.

After D-Day, Billy was sent for duty to the Far East and the British Pacific Fleet, returning to the UK in November 1945. He was demobbed in March 1946. Prior to joining the Navy, he had worked for a short time “on the railways” as a clerk at Newry GNR station. After his wartime service, he took up a post as school attendance officer with the then Education Committee. By the time he retired, he had been promoted to Chief Attendance Officer with the Southern Education and Library Board. Billy Cooke was educated at his home village school, Newtownhamilton Public Elementary, after which he went to Newry ‘Tech’. He married a local woman - he and Mrs Bertha Cooke were wed at Clarkesbridge Presbyterian Church, three miles from Newtown, in 1954.

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 15 The greatest tragedy in their lives was in September 1975 when Mrs Cooke’s father James McKee and her brother Ronnie were among the four victims murdered by the IRA in the Tullyvallen Orange Hall massacre. “We never got over it,” said Mrs Cooke. “We just had to learn to live with it.” Billy Cooke followed many fulfilling pursuits, not least music. He had a fine, melodic Irish tenor voice and sang in the former Richhill Male Voice Choir, then Portadown Male Voice Choir. He also sang in church choirs, earlier in Newtownhamilton and laterally in Tandragee Presbyterian Church Choir. They moved to Tandragee in 1981 and to Mullavilly six years later. He was an all-round musician – he could play the violin, cornet, trombone, piano and harp, and had been a member of Tullyvallen Silver Band, and a member of the Orange Lodge at Tullyvallen. Billy also loved the football scene, being a keen supporter of Portadown and Arsenal. He made the occasional trip to see the Gunners in their Highbury days. Arsenal’s unbeaten season when they won the league (2003-04) was especially pleasing for Billy. He was a great conservationist, and thoroughly enjoyed gardening – from flowers to shrubs to vegetables.

Born in Newtownhamilton, the 89 year old was resident in Mullavilly, Co. Armagh at the time of his death in June 2015. Following a service at Tandragee Presbyterian Church, interment was at Newtownhamilton Presbyterian Churchyard. He remained a keen member of the Royal Navy Association and of Gilford Royal British Legion until his death. he had been to the 40th, 50th, and 60th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy. (Portadown Times 24/06/2015, News Letter 18/07/2015).

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 16 +CRAIG, William John RN. Able Seaman. P/JX 323451. HMS Falmouth. Died 05/09/1945. Son of William John and Isabella Craig, Lenaderg, Co. Down. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 46. Gilford WM

+CUNNINGHAM, Hugh John RN. Able Seaman. C/JX 208348. SS Tarimbar. Died 14/06/1942. Age 28. Son of John and Elizabeth Cunningham, Banbridge. Chatham Naval Memorial, Panel 96

FISHER, Robert RN. AB. D/JX 150152. Died 15/12/141. Age 21. HMS Galatea. Son of Robert and Sarah Fisher, Scarva. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 96

GILCHRIST, William RN. Beattie Pk, Dunmurry. Native of Banbridge

+GRAFTON, Norman Maurice RN. Ordinary Seaman. D/SSX 30787. Date of Death: 08/06/1940. Age: 21. HMS Glorious. Son of Thomas and Mary Jane Grafton, Banbridge. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 39

HAMILTON, George RN. Portadown College. Dentist in Banbridge,

JARDINE, Gordon RN. Gunner. HMS Repulse. Survived sinking. Served 1939 - 1964. Son of Albert and Mary-Jane, Ballydown, Banbridge. Born 06/01/1924. After service he became caretaker of Abercorn Primay School. Member of Banbridge RBL. Died aged 91. Resided at Riley St., Banbridge. He was survived by daughters Janet Toman and Linda Finnigan, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, plus brothers Isaac and Jim, and

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 17 sisters Nora and Vivian. His wife Margaret predeceased him. Buried Ballydown Presbyterian Churchyard.

LOUDEN, Samuel D RN. St Paul’s Parish Church, Gilford RH

+MAHOOD, Samuel RN. Able Seaman. D/SSX 25513. Died 29/01/1943. Age: 23. H.M.S. Avonvale. Son of James and Sarah Mahood, Banbridge. Seapatrick Parish WM. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 79

+McHERRIE, John RN. Stoker 1st Class. D/SKX 38. Date of Death: 15/12/1941. Age: 21. HMS Galatea. Adopted son of Margaret Harris, Banbridge. Seapatrick Parish WM. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 53

ORR, William R RN. St Paul’s Parish Church, Gilford RH

QUINN, John RN. St Paul’s Parish Church, Gilford RH

ROBINSON, Robert Ormsby RNVR. Lieutenant. B 31/031921. Son of RLR Robinson, Ulster Bank House, Banbridge. TCD 1938 - 41, 1946 - 49. Civil Engineer, Sudan Irrigation Dept, Wad Medani, Sudan. D. St John’s Parish Church, Newcastle, RH. Campbell College 2641

SMYTH, Edmund Fitzgerald RN. Lieutenant. DSC, Mentioned in Despatches. Served in ”torpedo boats." In April 1943, aged 25 years, he was serving in the Mediterranean when he was Mentioned in Dispatches for an action off the coast of Tunisia ( London Gazette 24/04/1914)

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 18 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (London Gazette 11/01/1944 “For gallant and distinguished services in a daylight sweep against enemy shipping in the Mediterranean while serving in light Coastal Craft”. He served in HMS Minos II and in MGB 57. MGB 57 was in the MGB Flotilla which was based at Weymouth 7/41 - 1/42. She was used in a raid on Dieppe in 1942. Edmund became a Director of the Dungannon based company 'Moygashel' when it bought over Brookfield factory. Husband to Annette. B Banbridge. He died at the 18th hole of the Royal County Down Golf Course, Newcastle on 12/11/1988.

SPRATT, Joseph RN. Lisnafillan. Gilford WM

+WEIR, John Dennison RN. Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 119218. Date of Death: 24/09/1942. Age: 21. H.M.S. Somali. Son of Joseph and Mary E. Weir, Banbridge. Seapatrick Parish WM. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 68.

WOODS, Andrew U RN. St Paul’s Parish Church, Gilford RH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tommy McClimonds “The Lads who Marched Away”, Wartime Gilford, Inst in the Great War, IMR - Irish Memorial Roll, CWGC - Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour, Masonic Order RH, Queen’s University Book of Remembrance, Campbell College Register, Portadown Times

HELP REQUESTED Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance Issue 40 Page 19 Please send names of Ex RN/RM/WRNS who served in either of the world wars. Further details also appreciated.

CIRCULATION - Please share ‘Brave Report’ with your former service colleagues - and we will post direct to them if they simply send an e-mail to: [email protected], placing Brave Report in the message bar, and give their name and former arm of service, and if they are members of the RNA or RBL, having knowledge of their branch would be appreciated. There are specific areas where we need information from!

PUBLICATION NOTES Please note all the material in Brave Report is copyright.

Brave Report is collated and published by The Very Rev. Dr Houston McKelvey, OBE QVRM TD.

Dr McKelvey served as chaplain for 29 years with 102/105 (Ulster & Scottish) Regiment, Royal Artillery TA; for 20 years as Chaplain to the RBL - Northern Ireland Area, and for a period as chaplain to the Belfast Branch of the Burma Star Association. He was involved in the life of HMS Caroline and HMS Hibernia.He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the RNR. He is a Past President of QUB Combined Services Club.

Northern Ireland - Service in the Royal Navy - In Remembrance