Rostrevor/Warrenpoint Soldiers in WW1

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by fergie hanna, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. fergie hanna

    fergie hanna Junior Member

    Really like the interest shown by everyone using this site, so I have decided to add my name to the user list in the hope that someone might be able to assist.
    I live in a village called Rostrevor in County Down, and while I am intensely interested in WW1, unfortunately there are no memorials or records readily available of the people from that area (and the nearby towns of Warrenpoint, Hilltown and Mayobridge) with regards to their service in the Great War. It is my intention along with several others with similar interests, to compile a list of these men (between the four towns the number of dead in that period is well over 100)and publish a book/booklet about this area's contribution to WW1.
    If anyone could assist in this respect I would be greatly indebted to them.
    Fergie Hanna
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Welcome to the forum Fergie, have sent you a PM.

    I take it you've been using Geoff's excellent search engine to help ID casualties from the area?

    Regards
    Diane
     
  3. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Hi Fergie. Welcome to the forum. For WW1 research I'd reccommend The Great War Forum. Great War Forum
     
  4. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Fergie,

    Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your endeavours.

    Mark
     
  5. Assam

    Assam Senior Member

    Use this for those serving in the australian forces:

    WW2 Nominal Roll

    regards

    simon
     
  6. ww2ni

    ww2ni Senior Member

    Hi Fergie,
    Good to have you with us.

    Try giving the Somme Heritage Centre at Newtownards a call. Dont think they have a website but the folks there are very helpful.

    Best of Luck.
     
  7. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum Fergie - enjoy!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Fergie
    Are you only interested in the Fallen, or do you also want names and details of those who survived?
     
  9. fergie hanna

    fergie hanna Junior Member

    Folks, many thanks for your kind words and assistance.
    I am interested in anyone from this area (Rostrevor, Warrenpoint, Hilltown, Burren, Killowen and Mayobridge) who served, not just those who unfortunately lost their lives. As there is very little in the immediate area to look to for information, I am hoping that people like yourselves can point us in the right general direction, and I will be very grateful for any guidance from you all.
     
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Geoff's 1914-21 Search Engine

    If you use this search engine, put the place name in the including box and see what it might bring up.
    I can't post up results for you to reference as I'm not at home, sorry.
    RJL / Robert has helpfully mentioned GWF but it's also good to get the word out as far a field as possible
    Has any in your group got ancestry subscription?

    What about Mourne Observer Down Recorder archives, can anyone find out about checking them for obits and articles? I know I got help from a forum member for WW2 stuff printed in the Belfast Telegraph - available through Central Library apparently.

    And there are local church records and plaques to consider ...
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    James Draper Gwynne and son David

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=57416&stc=1&d=1311689635

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=57417&stc=1&d=1311689635
     

    Attached Files:

  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    William Gwynne

    Have War Diary and an account of action which I will edit in later.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    John (Jack) Gwynne
     

    Attached Files:

  14. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Irish Memorial

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=57424&stc=1&d=1311690379
     

    Attached Files:

  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  16. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    I know you're only after WW1 but I thought I'd mention this man as I spotted his grave in Rostrevor some years ago while looking for Gwynne info.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details
    Sergeant GEORGE LYSAGHT HOSFORD STEEDE, 1063715, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve died age 21 on 14 October 1941
    Son of Dr. Benjamin Hosford Steede, M.A., M.D., and of Maude Steede, of Belfast.
    Remembered with honour ROSTREVOR (KNOTTY ASH) CEMETERY
     
  17. fergie hanna

    fergie hanna Junior Member

    Debbie,
    As you may have guessed by now I am not very good at this type of social networking. I sent an e-mail to you at the weekend of all of the material I had on the Gwynne brothers. If it didn't come through to you, could you let me know at and I'll try and get it through to you again.Thanks for everything
    Fergie Hanna
     
  18. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Fergie
    I did get it, but am not at that machine at the moment. (There were 250 emails awaiting my return. You're next for a reply, honest. :) )

    In meantime thanks ever so much for the articles. These will mean an awful lot to my husband's uncle.
    All the best, be in touch via email soon
    Diane
     
  19. fergie hanna

    fergie hanna Junior Member

    Debbie,
    That material was absolutely fantastic. I will be in touch with you about including an article on the Gwynne family in the Rostrevor/Warrenpoint WW1 history, as I really believe it is a story which has to be told, Very touching indeed.
    Thanks again
    Fergie
     
  20. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Nationalist village remembers its war dead

    image.png
    The stories of dozens of men from the Rostrevor area who died in the British Army in World War One have been told in glass memorials

    An overwhelmingly nationalist village stopped this week to remember its dead - men who fought and died in the First World War.

    Rostrevor may now be mainly Catholic in make-up, but its history is more diverse.

    On the way in to the village from Warrenpoint is a 100ft tall obelisk, built in 1826 in memory of Robert Ross.

    He was a British Army general who burned down the White House during the War of 1812.

    What is now Kilbroney Park was once owned by the Bowes-Lyon family and is said to have been regularly visited by the Queen Mother.

    According to event organiser, Dr John McCavitt, Tuesday's service at the Church of Ireland in the village square offered an opportunity for people to learn about their past.

    "In many ways Rostrevor isn't as unlikely a place as it might seem for an event like this," he said.

    "At the time, 100 years ago, it was the home to quite a lot of senior British Army officers.

    "A lot of it is completely unremembered.

    "They have lost touch, so our ambition is to reconnect people. We are doing it now because when the 100th anniversary of Armistice comes around people will hopefully have reconnected. Around 75% of people at this event were Catholics," added Dr McCavitt.

    Margaret Mahood was born in Rostrevor but now lives in Banbridge.

    She said the efforts of the County Down village's most famous recent resident did much to lay the groundwork for an event such as this.

    "Mary McAleese did a lot of good building bridges," she said.

    Years of research
    "When she went to the Ulster Tower in 1998 with the Queen people realised that it wasn't only the Protestant side of the population in Ulster which fought, it was also the Catholic side.

    "My husband's uncle, Alan Edgar Mahood, died on the first day of the Somme, 1 July 1916.

    "He was aged 18 and was born in Rostrevor. He was one of nine. His brother Fred was a Marine in World War II.

    "Another brother (Bertie) emigrated to America and one of his sons joined the American Forces," added Mrs Mahood.

    The stories of dozens of men like Alan Mahood, who fought and died, were told through exhibition, lectures and music. The local Men's Shed produced a series of striking glass memorials, emblazoned with local names as part of their Tommies project.

    In terms of the information, much of the research was conducted by the late Fergus Hanna.

    His wife Shelia Cooper-Hanna said he would have been delighted with the outcome.

    "He did a lot of the research for this event," she said.

    "For years he did World War One research on local people who were in the war. Nobody knew about them. He passed away last year but he would have loved to see this.

    "He got a lot of information that people didn't have here. He did this over a period of years. He said nobody knew the local people who were in the war. It took him to libraries and all over the place," added Ms Cooper-Hanna.


    With many of the exhibits produced by local primary schools, organisers are hoping Rostrevor's story will not be forgotten again.
     
    Owen likes this.

Share This Page