Obituary: Major John McConnell - Braidwater stalwart and veteran of World War 2

Major McConnell, formerly of Longcommon, passed away at Prospect Nursing Home, on June 23. He was 96.

Born on August 5, 1915, he was educated at Campbell College and in August 1933 became apprentice Mill Manager at the Braid Water Spinning Mill of which his father, S.J. McConnell was Managing Director.

Writing in the 2001 publication on the history of the Mill - “Braid Water Spinning Company 1865-1998”, Major McConnell recalls that “there was no molly-coddling” and that he had to walk or ride a bike to the Mill “like anyone else” and joined on a starting wage of 2/6 per week.

“The Phoenix Weaving Horn sounded at 7.45am - the signal for many Braid people that they had 15 minutes to get to the mill, myself included,” he wrote.

Major McConnell worked at the Braidwater until war broke out in 1939, returning on being demobbed in March 1946.

During the war he served with the local Royal Artillery battery which specialised in the anti-aircraft role. In the latter stages of the war he commanded anti-aircraft guns in the bitter battle against the V-1 rockets which threatened London.

He was appointed to the Board of the Mill in January, 1949, but left the company some five years later when he joined Mackies in Belfast, as sales director.

Major McConnell was noted for his wit and great fund of local knowledge of the workings of the Mill and the many families who worked there. As a member of the town’s Royal Artillery Association branch he was a regular representative at the Memorial Park each year where he laid a wreath on behalf of fallen comrades.

Major McConnell, who was cremated at Roselawn on June 28 following his funeral service in West Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, is survived by his children, Ruth, Sam and Ann, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and family circle.