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Living Roll of Honour
these are the names of the remaining 4 (original) men of the 8th Belfast HAA
Jim Lennon
(90) - 1919
Herbert Coulter (93) - 1916
Tommy Dickson (91) - 1918
Bertie Goodwin (90) - 1919
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Northern
Ireland
England
Northern Ireland
England
Northern Ireland |
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WW1
Soldiers database
8th
Index
WW2
Soldiers database
meems@marylennon.co.uk
latest news
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Photos now
online of the
Service and afterwards at the Lansdowne Court Hotel and it was lovely to
meet so many of the people who have contacted by email over the past couple
of years, a great day weatherwise and wonderful turnout and a good time was
had by all, lots of chatting and standing about, anyone who showed me
photographs of their soldiers, please send them so I can put them on the
site, also anyone who took photos on Sunday, either at St. Anne's or in the
Lansdowne I would love copies of them, they don't have to be professional
standard -- Mary
Published Date: 04 October 2010
Burma
veterans mark end of era
By Staff reporter
SECOND World War veterans yesterday gathered for the final time for a poignant
service of remembrance.
Up to 20 members of the Belfast branch of the Burma
Star Association were joined by family, friends and dignitaries for a special
ceremony at St Anne’s Cathedral in the city, as the standard of the
organisation was officially laid up for safekeeping. Like many of
their counterparts in the rest of the UK before them, a decision was taken to
bring the curtain down on a proud association, due to a combination of dwindling
numbers and the increase in the average age of members.
The Burma Star Association was formed in 1952, bringing
together local members of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force who fought in the
Far East during the six-year conflict. At its inception, the association
registered a total of 154 members. Its standard was dedicated in St
Anne’s in April the following year. Hymns and lessons used during that event
formed yesterday’s order of service. The service of remembrance
and thanksgiving was officiated by Dean Houston McKelvey.
In his address, he paid tribute to the veterans in attendance as well as those
who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the battlefields of the Far East.
“You, the members of the Burma Star Association and
your comrades from the association who have gone before... You have kept the
faith with those who fell in action, with those who died in captivity, with
those who later suffered for their service,” he said. “So,
please do not leave this place feeling depressed or downhearted by the
inevitable passage of time. “Rather, shoulders back, heads up -
You have kept faith with your comrades, and before God and man, I say - ‘Well
done. Mission accomplished in war and peace. Thank you. God speed.’”
Dignitaries at the special service included Belfast
lord mayor, Pat Convery, alongside the respective mayors of Newtownabbey and
Bangor. The Burma Star Association previously received the freedom of the latter
two council areas. Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan, whose father
Sir Robin served in Burma, read a lesson during the service.
Speaking prior to the service, Brian Rodgers, president of the NI branch of the
Burma Star Association, revealed that people had travelled from as far away as
Canada and the United States to be in attendance. While emphasising
the occasion would mark the “end of an era”, the former serviceman also
maintained the event was memorable. “I happen to be the youngest member
and it is sad because I see the older members, with their disabilities and so
forth, but their interest and allegiance to the association is remarkable,” he
said.
In August, the last Burma Star Association
commemoration parade took place in Belfast to mark the anniversary of Victory
over Japan Day (V.J. day).
Commenting on future
events, Mr. Rodgers said: “Those of us who can will still observe V.J. Day and
will lay a wreath, but there will be no parade.”
Burma campaigners George McFerran, Andy Weir, Harry
Sharkey and Tony Baker before the service
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Burma
Campaign to be Remembered
“On
October 3rd, 2010 at 3.30 pm, Dean Houston McKelvey will be holding a
service during which the Standard of the
Belfast Branch of the Burma Star Association will be laid up in St. Anne's
Cathedral, Belfast
“We would like as many people as possible with family links to those who
served to be present in the Cathedral.
Please contact us by sending an e-mail to admin@belfastcatheral.org or a SAE
and we will be in touch”.
The close links between the Cathedral and the Burma Campaign are symbolised
by the Association's Memorial in the
North Aisle and the memorial of the 8th (Belfast) Regiment of the Royal
Artillery.
The address of Belfast Cathedral, is Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2HB.
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we went to the Burma Star Luncheon at the Lansdowne Court Hotel in Belfast
on Saturday 26th September 2009
movie clip and photos
if anyone
was there and has some photos they would like to send me, please contact me
at the above email address
photo of Tommy Dickson and his daughter Maureen, Tommy's wife unfortunately had a
bad fall last year and wasn't able to attend
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The Eighth Belfast
to the tune of "The Old Brigade"
We are the boys of the
Eighth Bel-fast
Who fought with you side by side
Gun-team to Gun-team, the dye was cast
Fought til' we damn near died.
Who so rea-dy to fight for right
Who so loy-al and true?
Sure we are the boys who show'd our might
We are the boys you knew.
Chorus
So from Uls-ter and Great
Britain too
"Big Jim-my" was our man
We tried to be a loy-al crew
In the jungles of A-ra-kan.
The stead-il-y win-ning right from wrong
Ready from first to last
Mar-ching a-long sing-ing our song
We're the boys of the Eighth Bel-fast.
Over the sea far away some
lie
Far from the land they love
Their's not to question do or die
Their re-ward is in Heav'n above
Not in an ab-bey laid at last
Find they a place or part
These gal-lant boys of the Eighth Bel-fast
Now sleep in their countries heart.
Chorus
So from Uls-ter and Great
Britain too
"Big Jim-my" was our man
We tried to be a loy-al crew
In the jungles of A-ra-kan.
The stead-il-y win-ning right from wrong
Ready from first to last
Mar-ching a-long sing-ing our song
We're the boys of the Eighth Bel-fast.
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