Comber Church of Ireland (St Mary’s)

 First World War

1914 – 1919

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

IN EVER GRATEFUL AND CHERISHED MEMORY OF

THOSE FROM THIS CONGREGATION WHO

VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE WITH HIS MAJESTY’S

FORCES IN THE GREAT WAR

OF WHOM THIRTEEN ‘NOBLY FIGHTING NOBLY FELL’

AND SIXTY-TWO HAPPILY RETURNED

 THE HEROIC DEAD

 Bell J. Arthur

Bruce George J. DSO, MC

Campbell Edward

De Wind Edmund VC

Earney Henry

Harris James

Hiles Hector

Mullan Alex

McIlwrath Alex

McRoberts Thomas

Spence Jack M

Thompsett William

Walsh James

SERVED AND RETURNED

 

Allen J J Cullimore		Harris Robert
Allen James G		Harris William
Bailie William J		Hiles Robert
Bates F Norman		Humphreys William
Baxter Robert MM		Irwin John
Baxter William J		Kerr Robert F
Bowman Henry		Lamont Robert
Cairns Samuel		Manning Charles C MC, CF
Campbell Frank		Mason David
Campbell John		Mullan Charles
Campbell Robert		Mullan George
Cinnamond Hubert P MC		McBride James
Cinnamond L’Isle P		McClure Robert H
Crichton John		McClure Samuel
Crilly David		McGreeghan Hugh MM
Crilly John		McIlwrath James C
Culverwell G Hugh		McKnight Alexander
Culverwell J Stanley		McKeag Henry J
Culverwell O Gerald		McWilliams Joseph
Culverwell E Ronald MC		Nolan William
Culverwell F Maurice		Redpath James
Dunbar James		Roberts William
Dunbar John		Roddy George
Duff William		Shanks David J
Dugan William		Skillen David
Edgar John		Smyth George
Fisher John D		Spence William
Fisher Robert		Walsh Samuel
Gordon William		Wells Samuel
McConnell William
Baxter May		De Wind Edith C

 TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF

2^ND LIEUT. EDMUND DE WIND VC

15^TH BATT. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES

(AND NOV. 1914 – APRIL 1917 31^ST BATT. CANADIANS)

WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT RACECOURSE REDOUBT

NEAR ST. QUENTIN 21^ST MARCH 1918

AGED 34 YEARS

 ‘BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE’

 

 THE TABLET IS FROM THE GERMAN GUN

FORMERLY IN THE SQUARE AND RECORDS THE DEEDS OF

EDMUND DE WIND

2^ND LIEUTENANT 15^TH BATT. ROYAL IRISH RIFLES

FOR WHICH HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS

 

FOR MOST CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY AND SELF-SACRIFICE ON THE 21^ST MARCH 1918 AT THE RACECOURSE REDOUBT NEAR GROAGHIE FOR SEVEN HOURS HE HELD THIS MOST IMPORTANT POST, AND THOUGH TWICE WOUNDED AND PRACTICALLY SINGLE-HANDED, HE MAINTAINED HIS POSITION UNTIL ANOTHER SECTION COULD BE GOT TO HIS HELP.  ON TWO OCCASIONS, WITH TWO NCOS ONLY, HE GOT OUT ON THE TOP UNDER HEAVY MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE FIRE, AND CLEARED THE ENEMY OUT OF THE TRENCH, KILLING MANY.  HE CONTINUED TO REPEL ATTACK AFTER ATTACK UNTIL HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AND COLLAPSED.  HIS VALOUR, SELF-SACRIFICE AND EXAMPLE WERE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER