December 14

remembrance ni

On this day in 1955, the legendary Ulster soldier Lt Colonel Blair "Paddy" Mayne, DSO and three Bars, and a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS) died in a car crash near his home town of Newtownards.

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December 14

Cairncastle and Cobh link to Free French navy

The Parish Church of Cairncastle near Larne has two remarkable links to Spanish and French navies.

In the grounds of the parish church there was a Spanish Chestnut tree which a local legend said had grown from chestnuts in the pocket of a saillor of the Spanish Armada whose body had been washed ashore in the parish and afforded burial in the churchyard. In 2020 the tree had to be removed because of its dangerous state. All was not lost as the wood was converted into sets of fund-raising coasters.

The parish church link to the Free French navy is the memorial Holy Table. It was donated to recall Edward John King-Wood, a Naval Reserve officer who was mentioned in despatches and was lost in Branlebas, a torpedo boat formerley of the French Navy.

Branlebas was one of the units of the French Navy which adhered to General de Gaulle´s Free French force after the capitulation in June 1940. The vessel was manned by a mixed French and British crew and came under the orders of the Royal Navy. On 14/12/1940, when in the English Channel she was lost through stress of weather.

Branlebas left Dartmouth around 1800 hours on 13/12/1940. She was charged with escorting a west bound convoy. Her poor sea going qualities meant she could not keep pace with the convoy in rough weather and she lost contact. At 0900 hours on the 14th Dec a heavy head sea

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caused her to break her back at the after end of the engine room. The stern section separated, turned over and sank immediately.

Only three sailors survived and they were picked up from a life raft four days later. The English survivor was Wilfred Sealey a telegraphist. His watch stopped at 9.15 am. Branlebas was unpopular with her crew. There were rats on board and she made a lot of smoke. She was not built for the type of conditions encountered that night and many of the crew had a bad feeling about the trip.

The Admiralty loss position puts her 25 miles SSW Eddystone but she is likely to be further down than that having spent 15 hours at sea. Plymouth divers are still investigating wrecks in the area and hope eventually to find her.

There was another Irish fatality in the ship. Petty Officer Stoker Patrick Barry (P/K 61230) was from Cobh, Co. Cork. He was a son of Richard and Mary Barry and husband to Mary Barry, of Cobh. Patrick is named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Cobh has a strong link with the RN. In WW1 it was a major anchorage and base for the RN and US navy. Each year the local parish hosts a naval remembrance service attended by representatives of the Irish Naval Service, past members of the service and RN veterans.

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On this Day - December 14 1914

The Germans continue with attacks on Ypres.

1937

The Japanese change the name of Peiping to Peking. They also begin what will be known as the Rape of Nanking, during which they massacre an estimated quarter of a million Chinese.

1939

The RN destroyer HMS Kelly was badly damaged by a mine in the North Sea. She was out of action for most of 1939 -

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40 before going to the Mediterranean. Throughout her service, Kelly was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten, as commander (Captain D)of the 5th Destoryer Flotilla.

Because of its brutal aggression against Finland, the Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations.

1940

Australian troops relieve Indian troops in Egypt; Indian troops are sent to the Sudan

1941

German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel orders the construction of defensive positions along the European coastline. As German forces evacuate Kalinin, 100 miles to the Northwest of Moscow, Hitler furious at what he sees as weakness by his Generals, countermands Field Marshal von Brauchitsch’s plans for withdrawal.

Convoy HG76 (32 ships), sets sails from Gibraltar with heavy escort. Royal Navy destroyers sink two Italian Light Cruisers off Cape Bon. Both Cruisers were carrying much needed fuel for Panzer Armee Afrika.

Thailand formally allies herself with Japan. Japanese troops continue to land throughout the Philippines.

1942

A three day tank battle begins South of Stalingrad.

1943

German strength on Eastern Front is now only 2,086,000, with 188,000 allied and satellite troops. German casualties for 1943 were 900,000.

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1944

Congress passes and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs into law an act authorising the creation of the ranks of General of the Army and Fleet Admiral, so that the highest American officers can attain a rank equivalent to that of Field Marshal. Over the next week, George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Henry “Hap” Arnold are promoted to the rank in the Army, while William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King and Chester Nimitz are made Fleet Admirals. Subsequent to the war, William F. “Bull” Halsey will be promoted Fleet Admiral and Omar N. Bradley will become the last General of the Army.

U.S. troops capture an important Japanese supply post on Leyte, at the southern tip of the “˜Yamashita defense line”.

1945

SS personnel convicted of atrocities at Belsen and other concentration camps, are hanged.

Roll of Honour - December 14 Representing their comrades who died on this day

1915

+WHITLEY

Royal Irish Rifles. 17th Btn. Rifleman.12456. Died 14/12/1915. Age 46. Dundonald Cemetery, Belfast

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1917

+GREER, Joseph

Royal Irish Rifles, 14th Btn. Rifleman.17772. Died 14/12/1917. Aged 31. Son of Margaret Hydes (formerly Greer), of 12, Donegall Cottage, Cavehill Rd., Belfast. Etretat Churchyard Extension, Seine-Maritime, France

+KELLY, Joseph

Royal Irish Rifles, 9th Btn. Rifleman. 16642. Died 14/12/1917. Age 42. years old. Husband to Mary Anne Kelly, of 136, Boundary St., Belfast. Rocquingny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, France

1918

+McALLAN, George HerbertRoyal Air Force. Formerly South African Medical Corps. Lieutenant (and Quartermaster). Died 14/12/1918. Son of Alexander and Marion McAllan. George was born in Belfast on 02/02/1879. He attended the Collegiate School, Monaghan and then the Royal School Dungannon. George McAllan played rugby for both schools and then for Dungannon RFC. In February 1901 he moved to South Africa. In 1903 he married Catherine Hogate of South Africa. During WW1 he volunteered for active service and in February 1915 he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps, and was later promoted to Lieutenant. He died in December 1918 from the effects of injuries received whilst in the Royal Air Force. Thaba Tshwane Military Cemetery, Pretoria

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+MURPHY, John

Royal Irish Rifles, 3rd Btn. Rifleman. 7446. Died 14/12/1918. Age 29. Born on 23/01/1889 in 22 College Street West, the fourth child of James Murphy, a labourer, and his wife Sarah (nee Simpson). In June 1908, John now living in Conway Street, enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles (Special Reserve), as part of a restructuring of the militia regiments that year. This had been the 4th Royal Irish Rifles with which John had served previously. On the outbreak of war, John was called up and went to France in September 1914 with the Expeditionary Force. He was wounded and sent home in October 1914 with a gun shot wound to his right thigh. Although the wound caused no permanent incapacity John was now suffering from chronic bronchitis. It was believed this had originated in 1914 when he was at camp near Belfast and had been aggravated by his service in France. He was discharged on 16/04/1915 as no longer physically fit for service. On 07/11/1918 John married Margaret Foley in St. Matthews Church, Ballymacarrett. Unfortunately, they weren't to have much time together, for just five weeks later, on 14/12/1918, John was to die of heart failure at the home of his sister Elizabeth in Bangor. Interred Bangor Cemetery

+STEWART, C

Royal Irish Rifles. 1st Btn. Corporal. 8396. Died 14/12/1918. Age 38 years old. Son of John and Mary Stewart, of 3, Legmail St., Ballysillan Rd., Belfast. Belfast (Milltown) Roman Catholic Cemetery.

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1940+KING-WOOD, Edward JohnRNR. Lieutenant. MiD. Died 14/12/1940. Age 32. French ship Branlebas. Branlebas was a French Navy torpedo boat which Captured by the British at Portsmouth on 03/07/1940. Lost 14/12/1940 during a storm 25 miles south-south-west off Eddystone while she was serving in the Royal Navy.Son of William and Daisy King-Wood. Husband to Florence Mary King-Wood, Larne. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 44. Memorial Holy Table, Cairncastle Parish Church

1941+MADDEN, William Royal Artillery. Gunner. 853182. Died 14/12/1941. Aged 26. 31 Field Regt. Son of Mrs. Susan Madden, of Bolea, Co. Londonderry. Alamein Memorial, Egypt

VETERANS

BLACK, Daniel JosephRN. AB. J44801. Enrolled 17/10/1917 for 12 years. Boy service in Impregnable, Victory, Egmont, Prince of Wales and Vivid 01/19/1915 - 03/07/1917. In Orcana, Vivid and Curlew until 11/1918. Invalided 14/12/1920. Born Larne 18/10/1899. ADM 188/736/44801

DOYLE, Thomas HughRN. AB. 226467. HMS Hawke survivor October 1914. Enrolled 14/12/1903 for 12 years. Served to 04/03/1909. Joined RFR 14/08/1909. Served from 14/08/1909. Hawke, Pembroke I and President III. Invalided 26/12/1917. Born

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Belfast 14/11/1885. Warkworth Rd., Belfast. ADM 188/399/226467

DUFFY, EdwardRN. Stoker I. K29865. Enrolled 14/12/1915 for hostilities. In Victory III, Southampton and Dartmouth. Demobbed 03/08/1921. Born Newry 19/06/1890. ADM 188/926/29865

FERGUSON, JosephRN. Sen. Rd. M9258. In Haslar Hospital. Pembroke, Royal Sailors’ Home Chatham. Demobbed 14/12/1918. Born Down, 11/08/1895. ADM 188/1036/9258

HAMILTON, Robert JamesRNAS. Air Mechanic I (C). F5367. Enrolled 03/06/1915 for hostilities. President II, Mudros (01/07/1917 - 10/01/1918), Crystal Palace and Daedalus. To RAF 31/03/1918. Born Belfast 14/12/1891. ADM 188/570/5367

KELLY, Patrick RN. Stoker First Class. K29868. Enrolled 14/12/1915 for hostilities. In Victory II, Maidstone and Forth. Demobbed 29/05/1919. Born Strabane 30/03/1892. ADM 188/926/29868

MacMANAWAY, LancelotRN. Chaplain. QHC. MA. “Personal - The Rev. Lancelot MacManaway is on a short holiday home with his father, the Dean of Clogher, at the Deanery, Enniskillen. Mr. MacManaway is a chaplain in the Royal Navy, on board HMS Renown, the great battleship which was recently struck by two bombs from a German aeroplane, on the North Sea.” Impartial Reporter 09/05/1940. Assisted Chaplain to the Fleet at commissioning service for HMS

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Albion 14/12/1959. To retired list 01/03/1967. St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen WM

MAYNE, Blair “Paddy”

On 14/12/1955, the legendary Ulster soldier Lt Colonel Blair "Paddy" Mayne, DSO and three Bars, and a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS) died in a car crash in his home town of Newtownards. Ireland and Lions rugby player, amateur boxer and lawyer.

TODD, William JohnRNAS. F2746. Armoured Car Division. Enrolled 14/12/1914. Depot Deal. Invalided 19/11/1915. Civilian employment - motor mechanic. Born Dungannon 03/07/1893. ADM 188/565/2746

WHITE, Samuel McBrinnRN. KX113115. Brother of John, London Irish Rifles, KIA Italy 30/10/1943 aged 22, and Hugh, PoW. Son of Mrs. Hanna White, Spencer St., Belfast. Burial from Glenburn Methodist Church 14/12/2005

WRIGHT, Craig RNAS. Chief Petty Officer. F2748. Armoured Car Division. Enrolled 14/12/1914 for hostilities. Pembroke III, President II, Russia 01/10/1916 - 31/033/19, MiD London Gazette 17/05/1918, Demobbed 28/03/19119. Born Bessbrook 08/07/1890. ADM 188/565/2748

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Every day is a Remembrance Day

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The remembrance ni programme is overseen by Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey OBE, QVRM, TD who served as Chaplain to 102 and 105 Regiments Royal Artillery (TA), as Hon. Chaplain to RNR and as Chaplain to the RBL NI area and the Burma Star Association NI. Dr McKelvey is a Past President of Queen’s University Services Club. He may be contacted at houston.mckelvey@btinternet.com

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