PUL

The Hell They Called Highwood

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It took Allied forces two months (July – September, 1916) to take High Wood (Bois de Fourcaux – wood of the pitchforks, as made from the chestnut trees (Great War Forum)) as part of the battle of the Somme. The commemorative mural shown here replaces an earlier UFF piece for the Coleraine 2nd battalion of the Londonderry-North Antrim brigade. On the third side is the emblem of the UDA, surrounded with an Ulster Banner and the flag of the independent Northern Ireland – previously there had been two Ulster banners.

Loughanhill Park, Coleraine

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Our Fallen Friends

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Five-part memorial from Freeman Memorial Flute Band (Fb) “in memory of our fallen friends, [UVF] Lt David Swanson, Vol Aubrey Reid, Vol Mark Dodds, killed on active service 2nd October 1975. Robbie Freeman, died 27th December 1997.” As is common to both republicans and loyalists, “active service” means a premature bomb explosion. Four people listed died in a car explosion at Farrenlester, just outside Coleraine – the three listed and a fourth who is variously named as Geoffrey, Robert, or Andrew Freeman. The date for “Robbie Freeman” is perhaps a relative (father?) of the Freeman who died in 1972.

Tullans Park, Coleraine

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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We Will Take The Matter Into Our Own Hands

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This is a repainted version of the mural seen previously in 2006 – the main elements remain the same but a few Ulster Volunteers/36th (Ulster) Brigade elements have been added (as distinct from the UVF), the quote on the right has changed, and there is a dedication.

The quote is from “Sir Edward Carson, 1912” (probably 1920, 12th of July – Treason Felony | RTÉ): “We in Ulster will tolerate no Sinn Féin but we tell you this – that if, having offered you our help, you are yourselves unable to protect us from the machinations of Sinn Féin, and you won’t take our help, we will take the matter into our own hands.”

The Gareth Keys commemorated here is perhaps the same Gareth Keys who painted the yellow UVF mural in Donegall Pass, and whose death is described in this BelTel article.

Castlereagh Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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UVF East Belfast Battalion

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“In proud memory of fallen comrades Capt Joe Long, Vol James (Milky) Cordner, Vol Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Vol Robert Bennett – lest we forget”. Seymour was shot dead by the (P)IRA (Sutton); James Cordner and Joseph Long were killed in a premature explosion (Balaclava St), and Robert Bennett was killed by the British Army during a riot (Sutton). 

The plaque was previously on a brickwork column in front of the previous mural – see M02953.

Ballymacarrett Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Sans Peur

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It’s not clear how long this mural has been in place (possibly 1994 or earlier), but this is a design (four wings of the UDA in the quadrants of an Ulster Banner shield) with a long heritage – see 1988 in the Fountain, Londonderry, 1990 in the Waterside, Londonderry, 1988 variation in Belfast.

For a view of the “Ulster 1690” behind the wall, see X02887.

Cuba Walk, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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