LOL 1927 Brethren remember sacrifice

Brothers David Ramsey, Ian Fulton and David Canning met at the Centenary Wood at Brackfield, on Saturday last to plant trees in memory of seven Brethren from LOL 1927 who made the ‘supreme sacrifice’

Commenting afterwards, Wor Bro David Ramsey said: “The location of the Centenary Wood reminded us of the similarities to Boniemaine Glen in County Donegal, which was very close to our Orange Hall. An abundance of hazel trees grew there and a river also ran through it. Our history recalls that during the Troubles of the 1920’s our Lodge met in various areas of Boniemaine Glen because of the dangerous situation prevailing in the country at that time.

“With this in mind, we decided to plant hazel trees and planted four of them very close to the river. The other three we planted were planted in the row immediately behind this.

“At each of the seven trees we positioned a small wooden remembrance cross which contained the details of each member. It is intended to put a more permanent marker on each tree in due course,” said David, continuing: “Photographs of each cross were taken for records. The fact that we planted hazel trees will distinguish the locations for us in years to come since no other trees of this type were planted in the immediate area. Photographs were taken with two Chelsea Pensioners who were visiting for the Remembrance Day events and also two former members of the Irish Defence Forces who had travelled from Dublin. Bro David Canning had previously met one of the IDR members while touring battlefield sites in France and Belguim in 2008,” he said.

The seven LOL 1927 Brethren who died are remembered and listed below.

Bro Robert Anderson, Springtown, Londonderry; 11th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Killed in action July 1, 1916, at the Somme. No known grave. Remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial.

Bro Robert Bell, Burnfoot, Co Donegal; 6th Inniskilling dragoons. Killed in action January 1, 1916. Remembered with honour in Hecqueliers Cemetery, France and in Knowhead Presbyterian Church, Co Donegal.

Bro Joseph Atcheson Crockett, Elaghbeg, Burnfoot, Co Donegal; 10th. Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Machine Gun Corps (Infantry Division). Killed in action on July 1, 1916, at the Battle of the Somme. No known grave. Remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial and in Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church, Co Londonderry.

Bro Robert Dinsmore, Gortcormican, Burnfoot, Co Donegal; 9th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Killed in action July 1, 1916, at the Battle of the Somme. No known grave. Remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial.

Bro Joseph Thompson Downey, Mannerstown, Burt, Co Donegal and West Calder, Edinburgh; 13th Btn Royal Scots. Killed in action September 27, 1915, at the Battle of Loos, while advancing on enemy trench positions. No known grave. Remembered with honour on the War Memorial in Loos, Pas da Calais, France and in Burt Presbyterian Church, Co Donegal.

Bro John Keys, Birdstown, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal; 11th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Killed in action July 1, 1916, at the Battle of the Somme. No known grave. Remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial and in Knowhead Presbyterian Church, Co Donegal.

Bro William McClintock, Galliagh, Co Londonderry; 11th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Killed in action on July 1, 1916, at the Battle of the Somme. Remembered with honour in Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval Memorial and in Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church, Co Londonderry.