“Wheresoever, howsoever or whenever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall do so as free men. – UVF East Belfast.” Three hooded gunmen frame a verse from Laurence Binyon’s For The Fallen.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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“Lest we forget. This memorial is dedicated to the men of the Willowfield Battalion, East Belfast regiment, Ulster Volunteer Force, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918. It stands on the site of the old Willowfield unionist hall, opened by Sir Edward Carson on May 16th 1913, as a drill hall and rifle range for Willowfield UVF. It was from this hall volunteers marched to Balmoral, from there to the green fields of France, some never to return. Sleep on, dear sons of Ulster, ’til the trumpet sounds again.”
“In memory of our fallen comrades Ulster Volunteer Force East Belfast.”
“In solemn remembrance we salute the brave men of Ulster. Without favour or reward they fought militant republicanism on its own terms. Their courage, dedication and sacrifice we will remember for evermore. Joe Long, Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Charlie Logan, Trevor King, Billy Miller, Tommy McDowell, Joe Shaw, Colin Caldwell, Harris Boyle, Wesley Somerville, Geoffrey Freeman, David Swanson, Sinclair Jonhston, Robin Jackson. This is a few of the many. For God and Ulster.”
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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PAF [Protestant Action Force], UVF, and YCV mural in Devenish Drive, Monkstown.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Small boards in Hollybank Park, Monkstown.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Something of a turf war in Monkstown: a UFF board on top of a UVF stencil in Devenish Drive, with a UVF board just round the corner in Cashel Drive.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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A paramilitary mural in Monkstown (see J1042) is replaced by one of the statue to Sir Edward Carson at the entrance to Stormont. The names from the previous mural (John Webber/Webster and Lee Irwin) are retained and Steven Cook’s added, though this name was not on the original version of this mural (X05396).
Here is a memorial video to John Webster/Webber who died in 2000. Lee Irwin, who died from cancer at age 16, was the son of Liverpool UVF leader John Irwin (BelTel). Steven Cook is unknown except for a Young Carson’s Volunteers memorial parade in 2014.
The plaque reads “In memory of volunteers John Webster, Lee Irwin & Steven Cook. Lest we forget.” Tynan Drive, Monkstown. In 2014 the bronze plaque on the fence was replaced with a black one:
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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“Rathcoole Red Hand Commando – the elite”. “RHC – be the best. 99.9% need not apply.”
Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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“In memory of a fallen comrade, Colin Ralph Caldwell, murdered, Crumlin Road jail, 28th November 1991. 3rd Belfast battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force. Lest we forget.” The bomb had been planted by the IRA, killing the UDA’s Robert Skey immediately (November 24th) and Caldwell, from his wounds, a few days later on the 28th. A flute band was named in Caldwell’s memory and had a board across the street: Colin Caldwell Memorial FB.
Derry Hill, Rathcoole
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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UVF volunteer Colin Caldwell died of injuries sustained in an IRA bombing inside the Crumlin Road jail in November 1991. A Rathcoole flute band was named in his honour (later merging with Sons Of KAI?).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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The “Commando Memorial” stands 17 feet high near Lochaber in the Scottish highlands, in memory of the British Commando Forces created in WWII. It is depicted in this Red Hand Commando (B Company 1st Battalion) mural in Derrycoole Way, Rathcoole. Below the three commandos is one of the RHC mottos “It is not for glory or riches we fought but for our people.” (See also Lamh Dearg Abu and Our Grip Is Tight).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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