Cookstown War Memorial

Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Ray Spence 06 Dec 2013

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Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Ray Spence 06 Dec 2013

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Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Chris Reynolds 24 Jun 2018

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Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Chris Reynolds 24 Jun 2018

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Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Chris Reynolds 24 Jun 2018

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Cookstown War Memorial - Taken by Chris Reynolds 24 Jun 2018

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Reference WMO/159697

Address:

William Street

Cookstown

BT80 8ND

Northern Ireland

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Roadside

Description: Cenotaph

Materials:

Metal Copper
Stone Limestone

Lettering: Raised

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: Cookstown War Memorial is located in the centre of William Street.Over 1000 men from Cookstown and district had answered the call of duty. The names of 120 of the fallen are inscribed on the Cenotaph. It is a replica of the cenotaph in London. It is built of silver grey granite from the Moore quarry, Newry, and stands, 17 feet (5.3m) high, on a granite base 9 feet 9 inches (3.1m) by 7 feet 3 inches, (2.3m) which is surrounded by a concrete step, 14 feet (4.25m) by 12 feet (3.9m). Panels bearing the names of the fallen in relief, one on the east and one on the west side, are of Castleduff limestone. The tablets are illuminated at night by two flambeaux electrically lighted, and on the narrow sides of the cenotaph are wreaths, with the dates of the commencement and conclusion of the great war.

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From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 13 November 1948: Cookstown Roll of Honour Unveiled- Remembrance Sunday dawned dull with a dark and sorrowful-like day and although very cold in Ulster, contrary to many parts of England, it was fair and quite good for the occasion.
At Cookstown the day was of special significance for the Roll of Honour of the fallen of the the 1938-45 War was unveiled by Brigadier J A Sinton, V.C., O.B.E., of Slaughtfreedan, Cookstown. A short service was conducted at the Cenotaph and the Plaque dedicated by Rev G Long B.A., C.F., Rector of Kildress. Special arrangements had been made for the service this year – each organisation attending having been supplied with an assembling guide, while awaiting their arrival at the Cenotaph were Captain Smyth and Mr R Vance. The British Legion (Men’s Branch) assembled at their hall, and under the command of Comrade J Simpson, with Colour Party consisting of Comrade S Long (carrying colours), G Allen, and R Dixon, they marched to the Cenotaph, headed by the Pipe Band of C Cookstown Company 2nd Cadet Battalion R.I.F., which was commanded by Pipe Major L Nelson and Drum Major Norman Carmichael, the latter receiving some fine commendations for his smart clear commands. Other organisations present at the Cenotaph, with commanders’ names in brackets were:
bullet British Legion Woman’s Branch, (Miss Hopper and colour party comprising Mrs G Allen, Mrs J Weir and Mrs R Faulkner)
bullet Cookstown Division St John’s Ambulance Nursing Division (Mrs Leeper)
bullet Girl Guides (Captain Mrs Kane and Acting Lieutenant Gladys Ferguson)
bullet Boys Brigade (Captain J S Alexander, Lieutenant W Anderson and W.O. A Thompson)
bullet Boy Scouts (S.M. T Black and A.S.M. M Semple)
bullet Wolf Cubs (Cubmistress J Faulkner)
bullet First Presbyterian Church Sunday School (Mr G Browne)
bullet Molesworth Presbyterian Church Sunday School (Rev J C Crozier, B.A. and Mr William Alexander)
The praise was led by Cookstown Male Voice Choir under the conductorship of Mr James McCammon, Mr B McCammon being indisposed, and ladies from various church choirs. At the south end of the Cenotaph a Guard of Honour from the Army Cadet Force was drawn up, commanded by Captain J R Graham. It comprised Sergeant Major Lindsey, Fusiliers Martin, Davison, Morton, McKinney, Reynolds and Faulkner, Brigadier Sinton was accompanied at the Cenotaph by Major F G walker and Lieutenant T A Armstrong.
The Service, which was conducted by Rev Mr Long, commenced with the singing of Psalm 100 followed by prayer, which included ‘The Memorial of the Dead’. Then followed the Two Minutes Silence and the repeating of various sentences by the Chaplain and the singing of the hymn ‘The Supreme Sacrifice – O Valliant Hearts’. After prayer and the singing of the 23rd Psalm, Brigadier Sinton proceeded to unveil the Roll of Honour. Before doing so, he said:-
Another year has passed and we again gather together to do homage to the memory of our ‘Glorious Dead’, those who gave their lives for us in two world wars. I cannot tell you how proud I am, nor how greatly honoured I feel, at having being asked to unveil this memorial tablet to those Cookstown and district soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the last war. This is a sad occasion. I am sure you will all join with me in conveying our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to all those who lost relatives and friends in either war. While it is a sad occasion, it is also a glorious one. The bereaved ones can proudly remember their sons, their grandsons, their husbands, their sweethearts and friends who went forth as volunteers to fight the battle of freedom. They acquitted themselves like men and most worthily upheld the proud warrior tradition of Tyrone, which goes back into the dim ages.
We all hope that we will never again have to add more names to our memorial. Let us pray with our hearts and not merely with our lips- Lord give us peace in our time. Our glorious dead died fighting for freedom, justice and independence, those conditions so dear to every Ulsterman. They gave their lives in the hope that the torch of freedom should continue to burn and that our children and our chidren’s children should be born and live free. As the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ says:- ‘..the torch be your to hold it high, If you break faith with us you die. We shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields.’
‘This trust is held upon us’, concluded Brigadier Sinton. We must ensure that what they gained by their sacrifice will not again be lost because of thoughtlessness, carelessness or wilful neglect. We must fear God, honour the King and put our whole hears into our work, if we are not to betray our trust.’
The Plaque, which is on the north end of the Cenotaph, was covered by as Union Jack which was withdrawn by the Brigadier and revealed the names of 42 men of Cookstown and district who had made the supreme sacrifice in the last war. The names were then read out by Lieutenant T A Armstrong who, as Vice-Chairman of the Cookstown Branch of the British Legion, expressed sympathy with the relatives of the following, whose names appear on the Cenotaph – 1939-1945.
The Roll of Honour was then dedicated by Rev Mr Long. Wreaths were placed on the Cenotaph. During the laying of the wreaths the band played the lament ‘Lochaber No More’. The Last Post was sounded by Bugler Hornsby, of the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles from Ballykinlar, after which the chaplain said:-
‘The legion of the Living saluted the Legion of the Dead’ followed by a response by all present ‘We will not break faith with ye.’
After the singing of ‘O God our help in ages past’, the National Anthem was sung and the pronouncing of the Benediction concluded the service.
Brigadier Sinton then inspected the Guard of Honour and complimented them on their smart turnout while he complimented the band on their fine playing.
The parade then formed up and marched via James Street, Loy Street to the Courthouse and back via Molesworth Street, Union Street, Coagh Street and William Street and then to the Legion Hall where they were dismissed. As the parade passed the Belfast Bank buildings, Brigadier Sinton took a salute from a raised platform, where he was accompanied by Mr Joseph Allen, O.B.E., J.P., Chairman of Cookstown Urban Council, and Major F G Walker.
The entire arrangements were made by Cookstown Branch of the British Legion. Captain M J Smyth, who had been organising secretary, deserves every congratulation for the organising and smooth running of all the arrangements. Also helping with the arrangements and with the raising of the funds for the placing of the Roll of Honour and cleaning of the cenotaph were Messrs S Hayes (chairman), T A Armstrong (vice-chairman), G Allen (secretary) and J Carnaghan (treasurer).

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Dedicated 18 April 1927- In the presence of a large assemblage the Cookstown War Memorial, erected in William Street, was unveiled yesterday forenoon by Mrs Ricardo, widow of Brigadier-General Ricardo, who commanded the 109th Brigade during the Great War. The memorial, which is a replica of the London Cenotaph, is built with silver grey granite, from the Moor Quarries, Newry, and the tablets are of Castleduff limestone. It stands seventeen feet high, and at the sides of the panels on which the names of the fallen are engraved, are two flamebeaux for illuminating the panels at night. At the ends of the Cenotaph are wreaths symbolical of fame, and the dates of the commencement and termination of the war. On the South side is the inscription, “Our Glorious Dead;” on the panels facing east and west is inscribed; “In Grateful Memory of the Men from Cookstown and District who in the Great War gave their lives are Freedom.” A guard of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, under Major Alexander, M.C., with buglers, was mounted at the Cenotaph.

The ex-Servicemen, in charge of Lieut.-Colonel Lewes, president of the local branch of the British Legion; Captain Leeper, chairman; Lieut. J. B. Knox and Lieut. J. D. Hopper, paraded opposite the Post Office, and headed by the “B” Specials’ pipe band, conducted by Pipe-Major James McCormack, marched in slow time to the Cenotaph, were a hollow square was formed. A contingent of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, in command of District-Inspector Hall, M.B.E., were also on parade. Amongst those present were Mr Rowley Elliott, M.P., and Surgeon-Commander Rowan.

THE PRICE OF LIBERTY.

 Mr Thomas Gibson, chairman of the Urban Council, who presided, said they were gathered to pay a tribute of honour to those who in their country’s peril counted not their lives dear unto them; who risked all they had, including life itself, in the fortunes of war; who, facing the enemy, absorbed those terrible shocks, which otherwise would have shattered not only the social, religious and political fabric of these islands, but perhaps of Western civilisation itself. As they had marched out of their towns and villages with smiling faces, singing with all the abandonment of youth, they scarcely realised that they were going to play a leading part in a drama of destiny. They who remained could see now that the Great War was a conflict of principles and ideals which could no longer live together on this planet, and which were therefore contending for the mastery of the whole world.” Their soldiers rose at the call of duty to save their country, and to rescue all that was best in modern civilisation.  The after-war period had been one long process of disillusionment for both soldiers and civilians. Perhaps they had been led to expect too much as a result of the war.  The world was not yet a very fit place for heroes to live in, and they felt as if they must have been dreaming when they heard talk of a war to end war. Instead of the spirit of brotherhood and comradeship which were so evident during the war, they saw class warfare and suspicion on every hand.  They hoped that such a state of affairs would be only temporary. Their soldiers did not fight in vain, and the fruits of their long and painful struggle would become more apparent as the years rolled by. Let them remember that they had still the main thing for which they fought-liberty-and, being free, they could eventually extricate themselves from their present difficulties, and realise all the blessings that liberty implied. Because their soldiers made, or were prepared to make, the supreme sacrifice for freedom, they had gathered there that day.

They set up that memorial to their valour and self-sacrifice so that their names might not perish or their brave deeds be forgotten, and that future generations might feel it incumbent upon them to preserve and maintain at any cost the liberty that had been so dearly bought. They were honoured in having with them Mrs Ricardo, whose husband had had a brilliant military career, who had led their own Inniskillings with such distinction during the great war, and who had been most popular with all those who had served under him.  Mrs Ricardo deserved their best thanks for so graciously and promptly responding to their request that she would perform that ceremony.

“IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY.”

 Mrs Ricardo said she thanked the War Memorial Committee for the invitation to unveil that cenotaph, especially on account of the large number of men from Cookstown and the surrounding country who had served under her husband. She could have nothing but praise for the men of the district, as nowhere were there better soldiers to be found. That cenotaph would stand as a token of respect, affection, and gratitude to those who died for their country. She unveiled the memorial in proud and grateful memory of those whose names were engraved upon it.

The guard then presented arms, while the buglers sounded the Last Post, which was followed, after a short pause, by the stirring strains of the Reveille.

Mr J. W. Fleming then read the 120 names of the fallen which are inscribed on the Cenotaph.

Lieut.-Colonel Gregg, D.S.O., Officer commanding the Depot, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Omagh, in the course of a short address, said that beautiful memorial was eloquent testimony that the people of Cookstown had not forgotten those who went out at the call of duty, and unfortunately had not returned.  They knew better than he did how splendidly the people of the town and district responded in the hour of need. Over 1000 men, he had been informed, had answered the call of duty. He prayed that none of those assembled there or their children would ever have to go through what those men did. But he felt sure that if a similar danger again threatened the British Empire, the response would be as general as it was on the 4th August, 1914. Unemployment was very rife, and he asked those who were employers not to forget the men who fought and were spared to return, only to find that, through no fault of their own, they were unable to obtain work. Surely those men were deserving of the support of everyone.

On behalf of the War Memorial Committee Mr J. D. Anderson formally handed the care of the cenotaph over to the Urban Council.

Mr Gibson, in accepting the charge on behalf of the Council, said they would ever regard the care of the memorial as a sacred trust.

The band rendered “The Flowers of the Forest,” during which a large number of wreaths were laid at the base of the cenotaph by relatives of the fallen. The British Legion wreath was laid by Lieut.-Colonel Lewis.

Belfast Newsletter Tuesday 19 April 1927  page 11.

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Inscription:

“Our glorious dead.” On the panels facing east and west is inscribed:- “In grateful memory of the men from Cookstown and district who in the great war gave their lives for freedom.”

Names:

Ashfield, Hugh, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Baine, Joseph, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Barton, Patrick, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Bench, J. J. (regiment unknown) Bell, Thos. J., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Black, Isaac, Capt. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Blair, R., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Boyle, Joseph, Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Boyle, Louis, Pte. Canadians Bradley, John, Pte.Royal Irish Fusiliers Bradley, P. Royal Scots. Bridgett, W.R., Sergt. 6 Yorks. Brown, William. (unknown) Campbell, Henry. (unknown) Carson, Patrick, Pte. R.D.F. Cheevers, Frank. Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cheevers, R., Pte, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cheevers, Thomas, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Corbett, James. Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Corey, P., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Creighton, Ernest, Lieut. 13th Royal Highlanders of Canada Crooks, W. J. (regiment unknown) Curran, David, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Curan, Sam, Pte. Machine Gun Corps. Currie, Hugh, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Darragh Thomas, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Darragh, Thos. Pte. Connnught Rangers Donaghy. F. (unknown) Dowie, Fred, Pioneer R.E. Espey, James, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Espie, Thomas, L/c. S. African Scottish Regiment. Eyre, Charles Joseph, Cpl. 10th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Falls, R., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Falls, Sam, Scotch Guards. Faulkner, John, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. (18th) Ferguson, Edward, Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Ferson, James, Pte 4th Battn. Machine Gun Corps. Fleming, Samuel Alexander, Pte. 10th Canadians Freeburn, Alex. Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Gilmour, Brice, Irish Guards Glasgow, H. M., Corp. R.E Gorman, Wm., Pte. Canadian Army Gormley, James, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Graham, Andrew M’Clintock, Pte. 19th Battn. A. I. F. Greer George,Pte. 75th, Batt. Canadians Hagan, Hugh. (unknown) Hamilton, W. T., 9th Battn. Royal Irish Fusiliers Haryey, J. Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Hegan, James, Pte. Canadian Infantry Henry, Geo. A., M.M. Sergt. Royal Irish Fusiliers Hill, Wm. Geo. Cpl., Royal Irish Rifles Hogg, William, Pte. 8 Canadians. Hogshaw, Robert, Pte. 9. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Kennedy, Thos. J. Lieut. Irish Guards King, John, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lavery, James S., Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Lawless, Robert, Lce.-Cpl. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lawn, William, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lawn, William, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lord, Wm, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lord, Charles G., Lce. Cpl; 7 Leinsters Lyttle, Alex, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lyttle, Wm., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Lyttle, Robert, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Allister, Archie, Pte. Gordon. Hldrs. M’Bride, John, (unknown) M’Caffrey, John, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Clelland, Chas. Wesley, Trooper N.I H. M’Cord, Andrew, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Gahey, James, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. M’Geown, Edward, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Geown, Marvyn Jack, (unknown) M’Gookin, Wm., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Ilree, Alexander, Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers. M’Keown, Thomas, R.N. M’Larnon, Alex. Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Menemy, David, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers M’Nicholl, Robert, Act. Sergt. 1st Battn. Royal D. Fus. M’Veagh W. J., Lieut. R, Munster Fusiliers Magee, J., Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Magee, John G. Pte. Highland L.I. Mallon. Peter, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Mayne, John, Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Mayne Joseph. (unknown) Mayne, Corp. Wm., Pto. 9 Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fus. Mayne, William, Connnught Rangers Millar, Robert J., Sergt. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Montgomery, Chas., Pte. Scots Guards Montgomery, Charles. (unknown) Montgomery, Robert, Pte. 5th Welsh Regiment Morrison, Victor. (unknown) Mulhollaud, C. Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Murdock. Wm., Sgt.-Major R.H. Murphy, Patrick, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Neill, James,Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Nelson, James, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Nixon, William, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Owens, John, P Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Owens, Patrick; Pte. Royal Dublin Fusiliers Parke, John, Pte. Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Rush, John, Cpl, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Slevin, John, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Sloan, John, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Sloan, Joseph, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Smyth, James, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Speirs, Sam, Pte. Royal Irish Fusiliers Steele, Thomas. (unknown) Stewart, Abraham. (unknown) Stewart, Joseph, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Taylor, Hugh. (unknown) Taylor, Hugh. (unknown) Taylor, Joseph, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Thom, W., Corp. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Tomb, Wm. H. (unknown) Usher, George, Pte. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Whann, William, Pte. S. Guards

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