Video: Borough pauses to remember sacrifice of a generation

Veterans, church leaders, politicians and local residents gathered at Mossley Mill on Monday night (August 4) for a special remembrance service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Britain entering the First World War.
Mayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PAMayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PA
Mayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PA

The event, organised by Newtownabbey Borough Council and local branches of the Royal British Legion, took place beside the replica WW1 trench at the back of the mill site.

More than 100 people gathered on the Newtownabbey Way shortly before 10pm for a candlelit vigil as part of the UK-wide Lights Out commemoration.

Bible readings and prayers were led by the Mayor’s chaplain, Rev Campbell Dixon, along with Fr John Forsythe, Mark Johnston and Rev Billy Davison.

Mayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PAMayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PA
Mayor Thomas Hogg takes part in the Lights Out event at Mossley Mill to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Pic by Paul Moane, Aurora PA

The service was also addressed by Royal British Legion representatives Billy Snoddy and Ivan Hunter, who read out the names of the first Irishmen to die in the 1914-18 conflict.

The playing of the Last Post was followed by two minutes silence as all those gathered bowed their heads in a shared moment of reflection.

Across the borough, many householders switched off their lights between 10pm and 11pm, leaving only a single light or candle lit in memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War.

• See full report in this week’s Times