BALLYMENA 1914-1918

Carved in stone ...but not forgotten

A link to this site now appears on the website of the Ballymena Times newspaper.

If you want to keep up with the present day news in Ballymena and District, log on the Times at

http://www.ballymenatoday.co.uk/

NEW UPDATES This site was last updated on November 16,  2007

New addition: POWs remembered

Pictures from Ballymena and the Great War Exhibition

New section on Ballymena's 'forgotten' war poet.

Latest: Additions to the pre-May 1915 Recruitment listings.

 

The website has now been expanded to contain all functions on one easy to use site. A fully illustrated history of the Ulster Division, based on the writings of Cyril Falls is also nearing completion. Please visit these pages for a clearer picture of the Division in which so many local men served during World War One. 

See 'what's new' section and individual pictures added by John Hoy to 'Virtual Memorials'

USING THIS SITE

 

WELCOME  to the first website devoted to Ballymena and District in the First World War.

Researching a soldier from the Great War period can be a daunting task, but this site should make the job a lot easier.

Have a look at the ‘buttons’ at top of your screen. You will see a list of options.

 

For those who wish to know more about an ancestor who died during the war, simply search John Hoy’s alphabetical listings (Virtual Memorial).

 

These will give you the man’s rank, unit and army service number. A date of death and the nature of his demise is also provided along with cemetery or memorial details. That’s the really easy part!

 

 

WEEKLY WAR

 

NOW, you will also see a section called ‘The Weekly War’. This is a collection of pictures and reports from the files of the ‘Ballymena Observer’ newspaper of the period.

 

 By cross referencing dates of death with the appropriate ‘Weekly war’ section, you SHOULD be able to find out a great deal more about your ancestor.

 

TRACKING DOWN SERVICE DETAILS

 

BE aware that not all soldiers’ deaths were reported but fear not, there are other methods to learn more about them.

 

For instance, by using the on-line search facility for First World War medal index cards at the National Archive, you can open up a whole new avenue of exploration.

 

If you require hints or tips on that process, contact us through the ‘Guest Book’ facility.

 

The ‘Weekly War’ is almost unique in that it contains a vast amount of detail and pictures about men who served, when they enlisted, wounds and gallantry awards.

 

It is fair to say that tracking down a man who died is much easier than finding out about a man who served. Hopefully, the ‘Weekly War’ will make that task a great deal easier.

 

 

HISTORY OF THE ULSTER DIVISION

 

ON our 1916-18 pages, you will be able to read an on-line version of the original history of the Ulster Division  in which so many local men served.

 

If you have any queries or perhaps further information to help us boost this database and website, do not hesitate to get in contact.

 

This service is free and we will be only too glad to hear from you. Keep coming back for regular updates!

 

And don't forget to sign the guestbook .....

 

Des Blackadder & John Hoy

January 2006

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to ....

John Hoy for painstaking memorial research and continued interest in this project.

Ralph J. Whitehead for vital insights into the 'other side of No-man's Land' and loads of other stuff!

Paul Reed for answering Somme queries with enthusiasm and promptness despite his busy schedule.

Andy Pay for some truly generous help with research on the 12th Royal Irish Rifles.

All the troops on the Great War Forum for their enthusiasm and interest. Special mentions to the 'Irish Brigade' (north and south)!

Cheers to you all - Des Blackadder