New memorial for fallen UDR soldiers

The event will take place at the town’s war memorial on February 4.

A parade will leave from the Harbour Carpark, at 1.00 pm, led by The Pride of the Raven band.

It will proceed to the war memorial at Joymount for a service conducted by Pastor Sam Grant.

Stephen Weir, chairman, of Carrickfergus UDR Association, said: “There are so many people in the borough who have served in the 1/9 UDR which was later known as 9 UDR.”

Stephen went on to say that the six ft black granite memorial will be a replacement for the existing brick cairn.

He indicated that fundraisers have been organised during the past six months to pay for the £5,500 monument.

It will feature the names of three UDR soldiers who were killed during the Troubles.

They are Private HJ Russell, Private SA Carleton and Lieutenant WC Kerr.

Private Henry James Russell had enlisted in the UDR just over a month after leaving the RAF.

His body was found by an Army patrol in a laneway in east Belfast in July 1972.

Former UDR members and their families are invited to join the parade with members of Carrickfergus UDR Association and the Carrickfergus branch of the Royal British Legion.