City’s fallen sons remembered

Young men from Londonderry who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-18 are being remembered as part of the extensive WWI Centenary events across the city this week.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2014, 06:00 BST
HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052
HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052

St Columb’s Cathedral is one of the central venues for the commemorations. A major exhibition marking the enormous loss of life sustained by the city will be officially opened at the Cathedral tomorrow evening, Thursday, by the Lord Lieutenant of the city of Londonderry, Angela Garvey.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, November 11, the sacrifices made by the young men who formed Hamilton Flute Band, and who went to war in defence of their country, will be recalled in a special tribute evening ‘Marching as to War’, also at the Cathedral. Music for the evening will be provided by the current members of ‘The Hamiltons’.

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Specially commissioned works by poet Sam Burnside and painter Leslie Nicholl will be on display in the Cathedral, as part of the Centenary exhibition.

HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052
HRH Princess Royal talks to Stanley McMinn about his First World War display at the unveiling of the Centenary Wood at Faughan Valley. INLS2014MC052

There will also be poignant scenes at the Cenotaph on Sunday, as people from all walks of life converge on The Diamond for the annual Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony.

On Saturday there will also be a special tree planting event at the Centenary Wood officially launched in April by HRH The Princess Royal. It is hoped that the first of 40,000 trees will be planted at the site, as well as poppies and other woodland shrubs and bulbs, helping to crate a permanent living memorial to those in the city who died in what was one of the bloodiest battles in history.

For more information on these events see pages 4 and 7 inside.

Related topics:Cathedral