British soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division go over the top on the first day of the Battle Of The Somme, July 1st, 1916. The mural is a reproduction of a famous photo by Paul Popper.
The mural replaces one to the UVF’s Platoon 5 , A Co., and the memorial stone is dedicated to it (and not to the WWI soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in the charge from Thiepval Wood, July 1st, 1916): “This stone is dedicated to the memory of the fallen volunteers of No. 5 platoon A company 1st Belfast battalion Ulster Volunteer Force. ‘As poppy petals gently fall/Remember us who gave our all/Not in the mud of foreign lands/Nor buried in the desert sands//In Ulster field and farm and town/Fermanagh’s lanes and Drumlin’d Down/We died that violent death should cease/And Ulstermen might live in peace’ Lest we forget.” For the side walls, see Thiepval St.
On May 5th, 1914, Edward Carson declared in a speech that “Only a fool would fight if there is a hope of accommodation” referring to the tensions between Unionists and the British parliament’s Home Rule bill (and not to any of the divided territories mentioned along the top – Israel Palestine, Shankill Falls, Nicosia, Baghdad, Berlin – or the dichotomies along the bottom: Security separation, perception reality, fear trust, belief.
The work is by John Johnston and Dee Craig and is one of the three 2009 pieces added by the Greater Shankill Partnership and Reimaging Communities programme on the Cupar Way “peace” line.
“Richard Mussen joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th foot) at the age of 15. At the outbreak of the Zulu wars he volunteered for active service and was transferred to the Second Battalion The South Wales Borderers (24th foot). At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 9th Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles and with him went his 4 sons and 2 sons-in-law. His son Richard (junior) was killed at the Somme on Thursday 21st March, 1918 and is remembered at Pozieres Memorial. Richard Mussen was buried from 22 Dundee Street [which was just above Agnes Street] on 29/12/1936 and was accorded full Military Honours. He was laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery.”
Here is a short NVTv documentary about Mussen, including (at 12m25s) the image on which the mural shown here is based. The mural was done with spray paint by artist Sam Bates a.k.a. SMUG. It was officially unveiled on June 24th, 2011 but painted much earlier.
(Rísteard Ó Cíonga/Richard J King design)(on the tree in Hedge Row School)(below Irish dancers)
Cultúrlann McAdam – Ó Fıaıch was renovated in 2010-2011 at a cost of 1.9 million pounds, with the addition of the Dillon Gallery. It would be reopened on September 19th by President Mary McAleese (WP). The images here show some of the construction hoardings from left (Nansen St) to front (Falls Road) to right (Fallswater St).
“Whiterock Orange Hall LOL 974”. Whiterock Temperance dates back to at least 1926 but presumably had a different lodge before 1958, which is the date on the Springfield Road building.
“Rear Admiral Edward Bingham VC OBE, son of Lord Clanmorris, was born in Bangor and served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in engaging the German fleet during the battle of Jutland. The Bingham family name adorns various settings in the town where he is remembered with pride. Read Admiral Bingham’s Victoria Cross was purchased by north down borough council and is on display at the North Down Museum.” Born 26th July 1881, died 24th Sept. 1939.
“Give your child a special gift this year – the gift of bilingualism. Naíscoıl & Gaelscoıl Éadaın Mhóır. Saroıdeachas ı gcroílár an phobaıl. Quality education in the heart of the community.” On the rear of Free Derry Corner.
“Sgt. Thomas George Wortley, “D Coy” 14th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles, Service No. 14/17063, died Messines 07-06-1917. Spanbroekmolen British Cemetary Grave C10.” Carrickfergus born; lived in Fleet Street, Belfast (Carrickfergus Roll Of Honour).
The bravery of two Carrickfergus natives, which won each of them the VC, is recounted on the side-wall to a larger 14th Royal Irish Rifles mural. Pte. James Crichton served with New Zealand infantry in France (in WWI) and Sgt. Daniel Cambridge served in Crimea.