Lady Lodge members to parade in England

The visit is part of an ongoing project to celebrate and promote the life of Ms Gailey, who was one of the first voluntary aid detachment nurses to serve in WW1.

A resident of Bayview Terrace, she was posted to serve in Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, treating injured soldiers returning from the battlefields of Europe. She contracted measles which developed into pneumonia and died from the fever in 1917. She was buried with full military honours, her coffin draped with the Union Flag and borne on a gun carriage. After the interment the Last Post was sounded by buglers from a Regimental Band.

The plan is to visit her grave in Liverpool and the hospital where she worked. The ladies will leave the city on July 9, take part in Battle of the Boyne celebrations in Liverpool and Southport on July 11 and return home on July 12 for the local celebrations on July 13 in Londonderry and Coleraine, parading with their new bannerette depicting a portrait of Laura Gailey and Londonderry Cenotaph.

The new bannerette will be unfurled and dedicated on July 1 at Glendermott Parish Church at the annual Battle of the Somme Service, organised by No. 5 District Loyal Orange Lodge.

The Ladies Lodge will be led by Caw Flute Band and at the conclusion of the service of remembrance, everyone is invited to return to the Royal British Legion Club in Iona Terrace for refreshments.

All Orange Brethren and Sisters are welcome to attend the parade and dedication. Support will be greatly appreciated by the Ladies of Woman’s LOL 29.