Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch
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Stewartstown Cenotaph - WWI
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Casualties
No Mem Ref Service No Rank Name Regiment / Service Battalion Date Of Death
1 01 K/27693 Stoker 1st Forrest, John Royal Navy HMS Hampshire 05/06/1916
2 02 Clyde Z/3809 Ab Sea Hannon, Malachy Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Hawke Battalion 13/11/1916
3 03 Lieut Stuart, Andrew John Viscount Royal Scots Fusiliers 6th Battalion 25/09/1915
4 04 Capt Hon. Stuart, Robert Sheffield Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Battalion 02/11/1914
5 05 Lieut Harris, Eric Wallace Royal Garrison Artillery 213rd Siege Battery 04/11/1917
6 06 2nd Lieut Stewart, Joseph Royal Dublin Fusiliers 4th Battalion 16/08/1917
7 07 17230 Reg QMS Barlowe, James Alex Bell Royal Irish Rifles 19th Battalion 16/07/1919
8 08 Pte. Watters, Hugh Henry Highland Light Infantry 15/08/1918
9 09 95897 Gnr Devlin, John Royal Field Artillery C Battery 53rd Brigade 19/12/1915
10 10 10653 R/man Carron, Francis Royal Irish Rifles 6th Battalion 08/08/1915
11 11 1157 R/man Fulton, Robert Royal Irish Rifles 16th Battalion 02/07/1916
12 12 21215 R/man Leslie, Thomas 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade 2nd Battalion 12/08/1917
13 13 27459 Pte. Armstrong, David Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 12th Battalion 12/08/1917
14 14 23160 Pte. Bleeks (Bleakes), George Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 01/08/1918
15 15 3853 Pte. Donaldson, John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 23/11/1916
16 16 21164 Pte. Mallon, Edward Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion 01/07/1916
17 17 10693 Pte. Murphy, Patrick Joseph Leo Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 23/08/1914
18 18 6794 L/Corp McAleece, James Royal Irish Rifles 11th Battalion 01/07/1916
19 19 10534 Pte. McAleece, William Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 10/07/1916
20 20 23188 Pte. McReynolds, Hamilton Patterson Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 9th Battalion 12/03/1916
21 21 4069 Pte. Newell, John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 07/11/1914
22 22 9988 Pte. Newell, Joseph Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion 21/10/1914
23 23 20502 Pte. O'Neill, John Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 7th Battalion 27/04/1916
24 24 31893 Pte. Quinn, Peter Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Depot 25/10/1918
25 25 61888 Pte. Bleeks, William Thomas Machine Gun Corps 3rd Indian Division 17/10/1918
26 26 27220 Pte. Donnelly, Samuel Royal Scots 15th Battalion 01/07/1916
27 27 77056 Pte. Norris, Robert Henry Canadian Infantry 7th Battalion 21/07/1915
28 28 63968 Pte. Reid, Robert Labour Corps 107th Battalion 12/12/1917
Location
Town : Stewartstown
Latitude : 54.577522
Lontitude : -6.676385
Date Unveiled :
Stewartstown War Memorial is located in the square in the town centre. If approaching from Cookstown along West Street, it is on the left hand side of the square. It is a granite obelisk standing 16 feet (5 metres) high. There are two plaques, one for each war.

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Memorial History
From the Tyrone Courier dated 3rd May 1917: Stewartstown’s Roll of Honour – Certificates Presented
An interesting function took place in the McNeice Memorial Hall, Stewartstown, this (Wednesday) afternoon when certificated of honour were presented to the relatives of some seventy men from the district serving with the Forces. Colonels Irvine and Stewart and the band of the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers, commanded by Bandmaster R Watson Ramsay, (which arrived earlier in the day from the Depot, Omagh, and discoursed a selection of airs in the Square prior to the meeting) also took part. The following is a list of men in respect of whom certificates were presented:-
bullet Captain Harris, Fred, RAMC
bullet Staff Sergeant Newell, James
bullet Private, Newell, Samuel, injured
bullet L/Corp, Newell, William
bullet Private, Newell, Joseph
bullet Private, Newell, John
bullet AB Sea, Hannon, Malachy, missing
bullet Private, Wright, W J
bullet Private, Bell, Albert
bullet Private, Morgan, William, discharged
bullet Private, Morgan, Richard
bullet Private, Donaldson, John
bullet Private, Dillon, H
bullet Private, Carron, John
bullet Private, Carron, Francis
bullet Sergeant, Shields, John
bullet Private, Curran, Francis?
bullet Private, Shiels, David
bullet Private, Rooney, John
bullet Private, Armstrong, Thomas G
bullet Private, Armstrong, David
bullet Private, Armstrong, T
bullet Private, Maguire, R, discharged
bullet Private, Maguire, T, discharged
bullet Private, Maguire, John
bullet Private, Devlin, F, wounded
bullet R S M, Vallely, J A
bullet Private, O'Neill, Charles
bullet Private, Farr, Robert
bullet Private, Smith, William
bullet Private, Millar, William
bullet Private, McCord, Thomas
bullet Private, Death, Joseph
bullet Private, Richards, F, prisoner
bullet Private, Patterson, Nat
bullet Private, Patterson, James
bullet Private, Patterson, Charles
bullet Private, Quinn, Hugh, prisoner
bullet Private, Hamill, John
bullet Private, Groogan, James, wounded
bullet Private, Bleeks, William, wounded
bullet Private, Bleeks, George
bullet Stoker, Forest, John, drowned
bullet Private, Forest, James
bullet Private, Forest, George
bullet Private, Davidson, Charles
bullet Private, Hutchinson, H J
bullet Private, Best, William
bullet L/Corp, Best, John, wounded
bullet Private, Shepherd, Robert
bullet Private, Battersby, John
bullet Private, Battersby, David
bullet Cadet, Stewart, Joseph
bullet Private, Hamilton, Samuel
bullet Private, Whinnery, William
bullet Private, O'Rourke, Hugh, wounded
bullet Sergeant, Campbell, T
bullet Private, Kelly, Daniel, wounded
bullet AB Sea, Kelly, Hugh
bullet Private, McGurk, Frank
bullet Private, Reid, Robert, missing
bullet Private, Gilliand, Samuel
bullet Private, Abernethy, John
bullet Private, Donnelly, Samuel, killed
bullet Private, McReynolds, Hamilton, killed
bullet Private, Mulgrew, John
bullet Private, McAleece, William, killed
bullet Private, McAleece, James, missing
bullet Private, Canavan, Thomas
bullet Private, Clarke, William, wounded
bullet Private, Clarke, Gerald, wounded
bullet Private, Canavan, John, wounded
bullet Private, Tohill, Henry
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 20 November 1919: Memorial to Stewartstown Soldiers
A meeting was held in the Minor Hall, Stewartstown, on Monday evening, for the purpose of further considering the best means of commemorating the men who died on the battlefield while defending the Empire against German aggression, under the distinguished presidency of Viscount Charlemont. Mr John Shields, Hon. Sec. handed in a cheque for fifty pounds which he had received from the Earl of Castlestewart; Viscount Charlemont promised a similar amount. A discussion ensued on the decision arrived at at a previous meeting. The chairman said he considered it outside their reach to raise sufficient money to put up anything approaching a decent edifice, creditable to the great heroes, who fought and died manfully in defence of their homes and their Empire. He would prefer not putting up anything that the finger of scorn could be pointed at. Mr Harris said personally he would be in favour of an obelisk at £200, or, according to the amount they were able to realise. Rev T A Greer, B.A., said he agreed with Mr Harris. Rev W McElhatton, B.D., said he had not been at any meeting before, and did not know how far they had progressed with the matter. Would it be possible to have a clock or something of that matter? Mr C S Dudgeon said they already were provided with a town clock. The chairman said if they put up a clock, they would require someone to look after it. He was of the opinion that the matter would be largely determined by the funds. Mr Charles Logan, J.P., said he was not in favour of putting a lump of money in stone and mortar. He was informed that these obelisks in many places already erected, were neglected. He would prefer if it was possible to see something of a utility nature. Mr H S Burrows said personally he was in favour of a hall. He thought they should consider the wishes of the comrades of the Great War. They have no place to meet, and every night are compelled to stand about the street corners. He gave them rooms to hold their meetings. He suggested that Mrs Kennedy, Mr Harris and Mr Fox offer each a prize of a short horn. (laughter). Mr Dudgeon said in twenty or thirty years, obelisks become dilapidated. He referred to a local one in support of his statement only erected a few years ago.
Mrs Kennedy said she was in favour of a hall, and suggested they purchase a substantial house and convert it into a hall. Mr Thomas G Brown said if they erected a hall of a fair dimension, they could let it occasionally for amusements, and in this way contribute to the upkeep. Mr Dudgeon said they could get a number of honourable members who would contribute a subscription yearly, and this would contribute to the annual expenses. Mr Fox suggested they purchase a wooden hall. Several huts are now for sale. Mr Harris- Better first ascertain the amount of money they can realise before deciding. Chairman – As Mr Harris has suggested, first make an appeal for funds. Rev T A Speer thought they would probably get more by deciding beforehand. Mr Dudgeon – At our last meeting we decided to have an obelisk. The Chairman said that after some time the interest taken in these things drop. Many things were started after the South African War. In Coagh they raised about £1100 for a hall, so you think Mr Logan it would be possible to raise that amount in this district. Mr Charles Logan, J.P., said he did not think so, but something he thought of a more moderate scale would suffice. The church school house was suggested as a suitable building. Mr Harris said they would require to consult the vestry first. The chairman said he would write to the board of education. Mr Burrows offered a house in the Square, and Mr Dudgeon and Mr Brown were appointed to consult the local contractor. Mr Harris said he would rather build a new hall. After discussion, Mr Logan, J.P., suggested that they put it down provisionally, Hall or Obelisk. This was agreed. The chairman said that they will issue an appeal to the press for sufficient money to erect a hall, and in the event of a sufficient amount not being forthcoming, they put up a memorial in the Square or at Mullentian in the form of an obelisk. Subscriptions to be sent to Viscount Charlemont, Mr John Harris, treasurer, and Mr John Shields, Honorary Treasurer.
Stewartstown War Memorial is located in the village square. It is a granite obelisk standing 16 feet (5 metres) high and surrounded with a substantial railing and is situated at the top of the square
On the top of the south face of the obelisk there is a black laurel wreath. On the shaft the names of the First World War Dead are listed on the panel below.
The names of the Second World War dead are listed on the east face of the obelisk.
The Memorial was unveiled in 1921 by the sister of Viscount Charlemont, the Hon. Rachel Caulfield who performed the ceremony on behalf of Viscount Charlemont’s wife Lady Charlemont, who was too ill to attend.
Viscount Charlemont explained that the obelisk was only part of the Memorial in Stewartstown, as trees were to be planted all around the square in the village.
The unveiling ceremony was performed by 38 ex-servicemen and a detachment of soldiers from the Military Depot in Omagh.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 20th November 1943: Remembrance Day in Stewartstown
Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph on Thursday week in memory of the men who lost their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. Amongst the donors were:-
bullet Viscount and Viscount Charlemont of Drumcairne
bullet Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church
bullet ‘In loving memory of fallen comrades’, British Legion, Stewartstown
bullet In loving memory of Flight Sergeant John Newell, RAF. Always remembered by his father, mother and brothers
bullet In loving memory of John and Joe Newell. Always remembered by his mother, brother and sisters
bullet In loving memory of my two dear brothers, Charles and Frank Campbell, of the 10th Battalion R.I.R., South Belfast Volunteers, killed in action in France in 1917. Deeply regretted by their sister and brother in law, Mrs E McVey, Drumagullion
bullet In loving memory of my son, William Bleeks. Always remembered by his father and mother.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 17th November 1945: Stewartstown
Remembrance Day was observed in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, the service being conducted by Rev S Huston. The names of the Roll of Honour 1914-1818 and 1939-45 were read and the two minutes silence observed. Appropriate psalms and hymns were led by the choir, Miss Viola Rea at the organ. After the service, wreaths from the congregation in remembrance of those who had fallen in the two wars, and of Richard David Millar of the Royal Corps of Signals who died in a prisoner of war camp, was placed at the cenotaph by Mrs J C McCague, and one from the choir in memory of Sergeant Edward Brown, Royal Air Force, was placed by Mrs J Bradford.
Memorial References and Links
No Link Reference Doc
1 Ulster War Memorials - Stewartstown Details of Stewartstown War Memorial