LOCAL HISTORY: World War 1 and the role of the Ulster Volunteer Force of Newtownards
Read here about the important role and
sacrifices the men of Newtownards,
Ulster Volunteer Force played in the lead
up and during the first world war..............
sacrifices the men of Newtownards,
Ulster Volunteer Force played in the lead
up and during the first world war..............
NEWTOWNARDS & HOME RULE
With the introduction of the third home rule bill in 1912, another constitutional crisis was looming. As you would expect from a very
strong pro union town like Newtownards, folk were against it and indeed, a strong effort would be made to resist it.
A campaign in the town was organised by the Orange Order, the North Down Unionist Association, the Newtownards Unionist Club and
the local Ards branch of the North Down Womens Unionist Association.
It was Easter Monday 1912 when these organisations met with the leaders of British Unionism. Sir Edward Carson, Boner Law, Walter
Long and the Marquess of Londonderry. All told how impressed they were with the commitment that the people of Newtownards
showed towards the union.
The following day, travelling by train, coach and foot, over 1100 people of Newtownards, led by "Lord Londonderrys Own Flute Band"
made thier way to the huge rally of over 100,000 Unionists at Balmoral.
With the introduction of the third home rule bill in 1912, another constitutional crisis was looming. As you would expect from a very
strong pro union town like Newtownards, folk were against it and indeed, a strong effort would be made to resist it.
A campaign in the town was organised by the Orange Order, the North Down Unionist Association, the Newtownards Unionist Club and
the local Ards branch of the North Down Womens Unionist Association.
It was Easter Monday 1912 when these organisations met with the leaders of British Unionism. Sir Edward Carson, Boner Law, Walter
Long and the Marquess of Londonderry. All told how impressed they were with the commitment that the people of Newtownards
showed towards the union.
The following day, travelling by train, coach and foot, over 1100 people of Newtownards, led by "Lord Londonderrys Own Flute Band"
made thier way to the huge rally of over 100,000 Unionists at Balmoral.
1912 would be filled with Ulster days all over the province, and on Saturday
28th September led to the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant. Two
days before this, Newtownards held a rally on the Thursday evening. Factories
closed early to allow workers to attend and almost every house in the town
was decorated with flags.The town hall was covered in Union Jacks and a
huge scroll was also on the gable wall which read " ULSTER IS RIGHT", along
with another on a church front reading " NO HOME RULE" A message was
read out on behalf of Sir Edward Carson, who apologised for not being able to
attend the meeting in " The Unionist stronghold of Ards - if not indeed the
Unionist stronghold for the whole of Ulster" He was happy that Newtownards
regarded him as a friend and neighbour, and the people of Newtownards were
very dear to him. The speaker went on to say that prosperity in Ulster was now
dependant on maintaining the Union, and he would return to Lord Carson to tell
him that the whole of Newtownards was at his back in the fight to defend it.
On Ulster day, 28th September 1912, Newtownards solemnly declared its
attachment to the union.
28th September led to the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant. Two
days before this, Newtownards held a rally on the Thursday evening. Factories
closed early to allow workers to attend and almost every house in the town
was decorated with flags.The town hall was covered in Union Jacks and a
huge scroll was also on the gable wall which read " ULSTER IS RIGHT", along
with another on a church front reading " NO HOME RULE" A message was
read out on behalf of Sir Edward Carson, who apologised for not being able to
attend the meeting in " The Unionist stronghold of Ards - if not indeed the
Unionist stronghold for the whole of Ulster" He was happy that Newtownards
regarded him as a friend and neighbour, and the people of Newtownards were
very dear to him. The speaker went on to say that prosperity in Ulster was now
dependant on maintaining the Union, and he would return to Lord Carson to tell
him that the whole of Newtownards was at his back in the fight to defend it.
On Ulster day, 28th September 1912, Newtownards solemnly declared its
attachment to the union.
| Men from Newtownards, Ulster Volunteer Force walking down Talbot Street on their way to training camp at Clandeboye |
NEWTOWNARDS & UVF GUN RUNNING
Drilling and war games alone would not win wars and it was obvious that the UVF needed arms. And they would get them. On the night
of 24th April 1914, 25000 rifles and over 3 million rounds of ammunition were to land at Larne, Bangor and Donaghadee. It would be
the job of the Newtownards UVF to collect the guns at Donaghadee. They were told to assemble at 10pm and also to bring rations to
do them for twelve hours. They didnt know where they were going or why. Up to 1000 men turned up, and as they marched up the
Movilla Road the men knew their destination was either Donaghadee or Millisle for a gun running operation. The Ards men marched
straight to the harbour and cordoned it off. No one was allowed near the harbour without a pass. The boat was due at 2:00 am and a
small police patrol arrived at about 2:30 am, but were so out numbered were not able to do anything. At 3:00 am, word arrived that
weapons had been successfully landed at Bangor. Although very happy, there was still no sign of the boat expected at Donaghadee.
Finally at 5:30 the Innismurray arrived and the guns were lifted ashore and loaded onto waiting cars which drove them off to
Newtownards, to be concealed for a time before being re-distributed again. Over 70 tons were landed and distributed in under 2 hours.
Drilling and war games alone would not win wars and it was obvious that the UVF needed arms. And they would get them. On the night
of 24th April 1914, 25000 rifles and over 3 million rounds of ammunition were to land at Larne, Bangor and Donaghadee. It would be
the job of the Newtownards UVF to collect the guns at Donaghadee. They were told to assemble at 10pm and also to bring rations to
do them for twelve hours. They didnt know where they were going or why. Up to 1000 men turned up, and as they marched up the
Movilla Road the men knew their destination was either Donaghadee or Millisle for a gun running operation. The Ards men marched
straight to the harbour and cordoned it off. No one was allowed near the harbour without a pass. The boat was due at 2:00 am and a
small police patrol arrived at about 2:30 am, but were so out numbered were not able to do anything. At 3:00 am, word arrived that
weapons had been successfully landed at Bangor. Although very happy, there was still no sign of the boat expected at Donaghadee.
Finally at 5:30 the Innismurray arrived and the guns were lifted ashore and loaded onto waiting cars which drove them off to
Newtownards, to be concealed for a time before being re-distributed again. Over 70 tons were landed and distributed in under 2 hours.
| Newtownards UVF men unload the guns and ammunition at Donaghadee harbour |
| A UVF roadblock in donaghadee |
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
When Britain declared war on Germany on Tuesday 4th August 1914 there was a calling out around the town for Army reservists.
many town members made their way to watch the local, 4th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles ( the Royal North Down ) report for
duty. The reservists were given a full medical examination, some clothing, a uniform and equipment. That same evening an additional
thirty young men enlisted and a further eighty six joined over the next few weeks.
More reservists arrived over the coming days by train, and by the Thursday the full mobilisation was complete. 400 men assembled at
the Comber Road and when they left for Holywood they were accompanied part of the way by Newtownards UVF men who cheered
them on when the time came to part company.
The fate of the hundreds of local UVF men was still to be decided, and, at the end of August, Lord Carson and the Government had
struck a deal. Home rule would not be implemented until after the war and that there would be some sort of special accomodation for
Ulster.
The Ulster Volunteer Force would be kept together as the 36th Ulster Division, and the men would be enrolled in territorial units
formed out of local volunteer regiments and trained initially in Ulster.
Both of the North Down UVF regiments would be grouped together as the 13th Battalion, part of the 108th Brigade of the Royal Irish
Rifles, 36th (Ulster) Division. Enrolment from the UVF in Newtownards started on the evening of Monday 7th September and 'A' & 'B'
Companies assembled at Walkers Mill Yard.
Dr Wright addressed a meeting in which he outlined the welfare arrangements for wives and families, and he made a plea for the
Volunteers to defend the Empire. 'C' & 'D' Companies who met in the orange hall recieved the same message.
Altogether 130 Newtownards UVF men from the four companies came forward on that first evening, with 119 being passed fit.
On Friday 18th, the Newtownards UVF men walked through the town, being led by a Fife band and a huge group of residents. Although
the men were cheered, there was a noticeable absence of euphoria, as they then began the march to their nearby camp at
Clandeboye.
When Britain declared war on Germany on Tuesday 4th August 1914 there was a calling out around the town for Army reservists.
many town members made their way to watch the local, 4th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles ( the Royal North Down ) report for
duty. The reservists were given a full medical examination, some clothing, a uniform and equipment. That same evening an additional
thirty young men enlisted and a further eighty six joined over the next few weeks.
More reservists arrived over the coming days by train, and by the Thursday the full mobilisation was complete. 400 men assembled at
the Comber Road and when they left for Holywood they were accompanied part of the way by Newtownards UVF men who cheered
them on when the time came to part company.
The fate of the hundreds of local UVF men was still to be decided, and, at the end of August, Lord Carson and the Government had
struck a deal. Home rule would not be implemented until after the war and that there would be some sort of special accomodation for
Ulster.
The Ulster Volunteer Force would be kept together as the 36th Ulster Division, and the men would be enrolled in territorial units
formed out of local volunteer regiments and trained initially in Ulster.
Both of the North Down UVF regiments would be grouped together as the 13th Battalion, part of the 108th Brigade of the Royal Irish
Rifles, 36th (Ulster) Division. Enrolment from the UVF in Newtownards started on the evening of Monday 7th September and 'A' & 'B'
Companies assembled at Walkers Mill Yard.
Dr Wright addressed a meeting in which he outlined the welfare arrangements for wives and families, and he made a plea for the
Volunteers to defend the Empire. 'C' & 'D' Companies who met in the orange hall recieved the same message.
Altogether 130 Newtownards UVF men from the four companies came forward on that first evening, with 119 being passed fit.
On Friday 18th, the Newtownards UVF men walked through the town, being led by a Fife band and a huge group of residents. Although
the men were cheered, there was a noticeable absence of euphoria, as they then began the march to their nearby camp at
Clandeboye.
| The UVF men of Newtownards make their way to camp at Clandeboye ( left ) and Lord Carson addressing a large crowd and members of the UVF at the Clandeboye camp. |
These were the first steps that would bring these brave men to the Somme and for meny of these men it would be a journey that
would only be one way. By the end of November that year there was a total of 418 Newtownards men serving in the forces. All the
while, training continued at Clandeboye.
By 1916, 850 Newtownards men were in the forces. The town was the third highest supplier of recruits in Ulster outside Belfast and
Lurgan.
From the war a steady stream of casualties was emerging, but the steady stream turned into a flood after the battle of the Somme in
July 1916. The 36th Ulster Division was to attack Thiepval Wood. The 108th were to attack German positions at the Ancre river, with
the 13th Rifles - the County Down men - to attack south of the river.
The 13th had lost nearly all its officers by the time it reached the enemy trenches.
With duties including carrying wounded back from the front line, many members remembered not stopping for 3 days because the
casualties were so heavy. It is thought that only one in ten of the 13th Battalion survived the first few days of the Battle of the Somme.
News of any deaths did not reach Newtownards until July 8th, and that was only the news of officer deaths. As tradition, junior officers
led from the front and unable to contain the German machine guns, this led to a lot of the fatalities amongst the junior officers.The first
Newtownards fatality announced was for the son of Dr Wright, Matthew. By July15th there was still no official casualty list and this
was causing great anxiety in the town.
Captain Elliot Johnston, owner of the Glen print works in the town was killed on the first day of the Somme. A few days earlier he had
taken part in a daring pre battle raid on German lines, and captured 13 Germans.
Lieutenent J.L Peacock, Captain G.W Webb, brother of W.H Webb also lost their lives.
By September 1916, the full extent of the catastrophe was now becoming clear. People were standing each day at their doors
awaiting the postman and watched as he made his way up their street, wondering where he would stop. Would they get a letter from a
serving loved one or would they get the dreaded small brown envelope, that contained the official communication about the death of a
loved one.
When a mother got a letter from a son she would come out and share it with others to a collective sigh of relief, but in many other
houses there would be grief and silence.
The Newtownards Chronicle, unofficially calculated that 63 men had been killed in the campaign, 34 were missing, 100 were wounded,
and that 8 were prisoners of war. About one in nine of the Newtownards Volunteers serving were killed in the Somme campaign. The
final death toll for the war was 300, out of 1400 Newtownards Volunteers.
would only be one way. By the end of November that year there was a total of 418 Newtownards men serving in the forces. All the
while, training continued at Clandeboye.
By 1916, 850 Newtownards men were in the forces. The town was the third highest supplier of recruits in Ulster outside Belfast and
Lurgan.
From the war a steady stream of casualties was emerging, but the steady stream turned into a flood after the battle of the Somme in
July 1916. The 36th Ulster Division was to attack Thiepval Wood. The 108th were to attack German positions at the Ancre river, with
the 13th Rifles - the County Down men - to attack south of the river.
The 13th had lost nearly all its officers by the time it reached the enemy trenches.
With duties including carrying wounded back from the front line, many members remembered not stopping for 3 days because the
casualties were so heavy. It is thought that only one in ten of the 13th Battalion survived the first few days of the Battle of the Somme.
News of any deaths did not reach Newtownards until July 8th, and that was only the news of officer deaths. As tradition, junior officers
led from the front and unable to contain the German machine guns, this led to a lot of the fatalities amongst the junior officers.The first
Newtownards fatality announced was for the son of Dr Wright, Matthew. By July15th there was still no official casualty list and this
was causing great anxiety in the town.
Captain Elliot Johnston, owner of the Glen print works in the town was killed on the first day of the Somme. A few days earlier he had
taken part in a daring pre battle raid on German lines, and captured 13 Germans.
Lieutenent J.L Peacock, Captain G.W Webb, brother of W.H Webb also lost their lives.
By September 1916, the full extent of the catastrophe was now becoming clear. People were standing each day at their doors
awaiting the postman and watched as he made his way up their street, wondering where he would stop. Would they get a letter from a
serving loved one or would they get the dreaded small brown envelope, that contained the official communication about the death of a
loved one.
When a mother got a letter from a son she would come out and share it with others to a collective sigh of relief, but in many other
houses there would be grief and silence.
The Newtownards Chronicle, unofficially calculated that 63 men had been killed in the campaign, 34 were missing, 100 were wounded,
and that 8 were prisoners of war. About one in nine of the Newtownards Volunteers serving were killed in the Somme campaign. The
final death toll for the war was 300, out of 1400 Newtownards Volunteers.
Members of the Ulster Volunteer Force at the UVF hospital inside Clandeboye Camp
| They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. |
NEWTOWNARDS & THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE
The existence of the Ulster Volunteer Force was first publicly acknowledged in Newtownards at a meeting of the local Unionist club in
February 1913. Political actions alone were not going to protect the Union. Colonel Sharmen Crawford told that meeting that there was
going to be a mobile force which could operate on the frontier line.
Things were to happen in the autumn, and he wanted the men of Newtownards to prepare themselves over the summer months.
People were slow to join the UVF at first, and indeed by June there was still only a small ammount, and even of these men, quite a few
had not been turning up for drill that was held every Tuesday night in the orange hall.
A local major employer of the time, Dr Wright, and the council were pretty depressed but they remained optimistic, one stating : " I am
convinced that the men of Newtownards will be there when the time comes. They were at Balmoral and when the time comes to
handle the rifles which the government have failed to sieze - they will be there "
And he was right. Morale was boosted by a very impressive muster of 2500 UVF men at the six road ends on the 24th July 1913, who
met up to hear speeches from Carson, Crawford and Craig. The Newtownards UVF carried rifles as they were led to the six road ends
by Lord Londonderrys Own flute band and bugulars. Along with the UVF, some 3500 spectators turned up to the event and being
inspired by what they saw and heard, many more joined the ranks of the UVF.
By the end of 1913 the Newtownards District of the UVF had been turned into a cohesive force and they were now ready for thier first
official inspection which was to take place in a field behind the Castle Gardens spinning mill on a damp Saturday in December.
Despite the bad conditions, 700 men turned up from seven companies from the Ards peninsula which included two from
Newtownards. After a big recruitment drive over Christmas, that 700 men would become 1000, by the end of January 1914. Most of
which came from men in Newtownards, and indeed doubled the companies of UVF in the town from 2 to 4.
'A' Company commanded by Montserrat Walker, 'B' Company commanded by James Blow, 'C' Company commanded by Matthew
Wright, and 'D' Company commanded by W.H.Webb. It was now time to organise and with that the companies from Newtownards,
Comber, Donaghadee, Kirkcubbin, Greyabbey, Ballywalter, Mount Stewart and Portaferry were made into the 2nd Battalion of the
North Down Regiment.
They trained with a view of resisting anyone who may try and force home rule upon them.
Major training was to take place in the Spring and so on the Easter weekend, the four Newtownards companies marched over to
Clandeboye along with transport and ambulance wagons at the rear, and companies from the first and second battalions engaged in
war games.
The existence of the Ulster Volunteer Force was first publicly acknowledged in Newtownards at a meeting of the local Unionist club in
February 1913. Political actions alone were not going to protect the Union. Colonel Sharmen Crawford told that meeting that there was
going to be a mobile force which could operate on the frontier line.
Things were to happen in the autumn, and he wanted the men of Newtownards to prepare themselves over the summer months.
People were slow to join the UVF at first, and indeed by June there was still only a small ammount, and even of these men, quite a few
had not been turning up for drill that was held every Tuesday night in the orange hall.
A local major employer of the time, Dr Wright, and the council were pretty depressed but they remained optimistic, one stating : " I am
convinced that the men of Newtownards will be there when the time comes. They were at Balmoral and when the time comes to
handle the rifles which the government have failed to sieze - they will be there "
And he was right. Morale was boosted by a very impressive muster of 2500 UVF men at the six road ends on the 24th July 1913, who
met up to hear speeches from Carson, Crawford and Craig. The Newtownards UVF carried rifles as they were led to the six road ends
by Lord Londonderrys Own flute band and bugulars. Along with the UVF, some 3500 spectators turned up to the event and being
inspired by what they saw and heard, many more joined the ranks of the UVF.
By the end of 1913 the Newtownards District of the UVF had been turned into a cohesive force and they were now ready for thier first
official inspection which was to take place in a field behind the Castle Gardens spinning mill on a damp Saturday in December.
Despite the bad conditions, 700 men turned up from seven companies from the Ards peninsula which included two from
Newtownards. After a big recruitment drive over Christmas, that 700 men would become 1000, by the end of January 1914. Most of
which came from men in Newtownards, and indeed doubled the companies of UVF in the town from 2 to 4.
'A' Company commanded by Montserrat Walker, 'B' Company commanded by James Blow, 'C' Company commanded by Matthew
Wright, and 'D' Company commanded by W.H.Webb. It was now time to organise and with that the companies from Newtownards,
Comber, Donaghadee, Kirkcubbin, Greyabbey, Ballywalter, Mount Stewart and Portaferry were made into the 2nd Battalion of the
North Down Regiment.
They trained with a view of resisting anyone who may try and force home rule upon them.
Major training was to take place in the Spring and so on the Easter weekend, the four Newtownards companies marched over to
Clandeboye along with transport and ambulance wagons at the rear, and companies from the first and second battalions engaged in
war games.
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