Ards Memorial Group

Ards Memorial Group Ards Memorial Group — A local club dedicated to remembering the sacrifice of Ulster’s soldiers in both World Wars and all conflicts since.

Honouring their courage, preserving their memory.
“We will remember them"

07/09/2026

🇬🇧 7 SEPTEMBER 1940 | THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN & THE LONDON BLITZ

On this day in 1940, the skies above Britain became the scene of one of the defining struggles of the Second World War.

On 7 September 1940, the Luftwaffe launched a massive attack on London, targeting the docks and the East End. The raids marked the beginning of what became known as the London Blitz.

Above the city, RAF pilots fought desperately to defend Britain.

Flying aircraft such as the Spitfire and Hurricane, young British and Commonwealth airmen faced the Luftwaffe day after day. They knew the stakes. If the RAF could not prevent Germany gaining control of the skies, an invasion of Britain could follow.

Below them, millions of civilians endured the bombing.

Homes were destroyed. Streets were reduced to rubble. Families sheltered underground while the sound of aircraft, explosions and anti-aircraft guns filled the night.

But Britain did not surrender.

Londoners returned to their homes and workplaces. Firefighters, ambulance crews, ARP workers, police officers, doctors, nurses and countless civilians continued their work despite the destruction around them.

Among those who took to the skies were men from Ulster and Northern Ireland.

At least 28 men from Northern Ireland served as Battle of Britain pilots, including the famous Belfast-born RAF fighter pilot Brendan “Paddy” Finucane ☘️🇬🇧

The RAF fought in the skies.

The British population endured the bombing.

And across Britain, including Ulster, people refused to be broken.

On 7 September, we remember the pilots who took to the skies, and the civilians who endured the Blitz below.

They defended their country. They endured the bombing. They refused to be broken.

In the words of Winston Churchill
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Lest we forget 🌺

🇬🇧 THE BATTLE OF THE IMJIN RIVER, 1951 ☘️They stood between the enemy and Seoul.In April 1951, during the Korean War, th...
02/09/2026

🇬🇧 THE BATTLE OF THE IMJIN RIVER, 1951 ☘️

They stood between the enemy and Seoul.

In April 1951, during the Korean War, the British 29th Infantry Brigade faced a massive Chinese offensive along the Imjin River.

Among those fighting were the men of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Ulster Rifles.

Alongside the Gloucestershire Regiment, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Belgian UN Command and supporting units, the Ulstermen faced overwhelming enemy numbers during days and nights of fierce fighting. L

The Royal Ulster Rifles fought hard around Hill 398, beating back repeated attacks as the Chinese attempted to break through the British positions. On one day alone, A Company faced sixteen separate attacks.

As the situation deteriorated, the Rifles were ordered to withdraw on 25 April, fighting their way back with the Brigade. Their stand, alongside their comrades, helped delay the Chinese advance towards Seoul.

Today, the battle honour IMJIN remains emblazoned on the Regimental Colours of the Royal Irish Regiment, carrying forward the legacy of the Royal Ulster Rifles and their sacrifice in Korea.

From Ulster to Korea.

We remember their courage. We remember their sacrifice.

Lest We Forget. 🌺

31/08/2026

TULLYVALLEN, 1 SEPTEMBER 1975

On 1 September 1975, members of Tullyvallen Guiding Star Temperance Orange Lodge LOL 630 gathered for their regular meeting at their Orange Hall near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

That evening, IRA terrorist gunmen carried out a cowardly attack, opening fire on the men gathered inside the hall. Five innocent men were murdered and others were wounded.

We remember:

John Johnston
James McKee
Ronald “Ronnie” McKee
Nevin McConnell
William Herron, who later died from his wounds.

They were ordinary men attending their Lodge. Fathers, sons, brothers, friends and members of their community.

They gathered that night as members of an institution founded upon faith, fraternity and the defence of civil and religious liberty.

Tullyvallen was not an isolated tragedy.

344 members of the Orange Institution were murdered during the Troubles. The youngest victim was only 18 years old.

Behind every name was a family. Many children lost a parent. Many families were left to carry a loss that never went away.

1 September is now recognised as Orange Victims Day, chosen to mark the anniversary of the Tullyvallen massacre, the largest single loss of life suffered by the Orange Institution in one attack during the Troubles.

Today, we remember not only the five men murdered at Tullyvallen, but all 344 members of the Orange Institution who lost their lives through terrorism during the Troubles.

We will never allow our history to be rewritten, nor will we allow innocent victims to be forgotten.

Their names will be remembered.
Their story will be told.
Their memory will be passed to the generations who follow.

For our civil and religious liberties.

Here we stand. We can do no other.

Lest we forget 🌺

28/08/2026

SEPTEMBER. A CRUEL MONTH FOR THE IRISH RANGERS ☘️🇬🇧

For many, September is simply another month.

For the men of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, it carries memories of friends who never came home, and of one who came home carrying a battle that never left him.

It begins before September even arrives.

29 August 2020. Ranger Brett Savage.

Brett survived the fierce fighting at Musa Qal’eh in 2006. He returned home, but carried the scars of war for years. On 29 August 2020, aged only 32, Brett could battle no longer.

Then come the September dates.

1 September 2006. Ranger Anare Draiva.
Killed during the fighting at Musa Qal’eh.

4 September 2008. Ranger Justin James Cupples.
Killed while serving in Sangin, Afghanistan.

6 September 2006. Lance Corporal Paul Muirhead.
Wounded alongside Anare at Musa Qal’eh on 1 September. He fought for five days before dying from his wounds.

6 September 2006. Lance Corporal Luke McCulloch.
Killed in action at Sangin on that same day.

Five names.

Five young men of 1 ROYAL IRISH whose loss is remembered within a matter of days.

For those who served beside them, these are not simply dates on a calendar.

They were Rangers. Friends. Mates. Brothers.

Men who laughed together, soldiered together, endured Afghanistan together, and stood beside one another when it mattered most.

Some gave their lives on the battlefield.

One returned home and continued fighting his own battle for many years afterwards.

As August gives way to September, we remember them all.

Brett Savage.
Anare Draiva.
Justin Cupples.
Paul Muirhead.
Luke McCulloch.

Gone, but never forgotten by the brothers who stood beside them.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Faugh A Ballagh ☘️🇬🇧

Lest we forget 🌺

🇬🇧 REMEMBERING NARROW WATER 🇬🇧 Today, 27th August, we remember the 18 British soldiers murdered by Irish Republican terr...
27/08/2026

🇬🇧 REMEMBERING NARROW WATER 🇬🇧

Today, 27th August, we remember the 18 British soldiers murdered by Irish Republican terrorists at Warrenpoint in 1979.

The fallen came from two proud regiments, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and The Queen’s Own Highlanders.

Eighteen men. Two regiments. One shared sacrifice.

We remember every name, their service, and the families and comrades left behind.

Our history will never be allowed to be rewritten. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Lest We Forget 🌺

25/08/2026

Each year on my adventures I take across wreaths, crosses, poppies and other items to leave at graves of friends relatives who now rest in Normandy, Northern France & Flanders.

This year I will invite friends of the page to dedicate a poppy and I will visit the relatives grave and place it along with a 36UD prayer card. Poppies are the large plastic type, around 6inch diameter although supplies are limited.

If you prefer a handwritten poppy cross or even a small wreath, or a hand written message that I will laminate, then you will need to arrange delivery (Belfast) and I’ll take it across.

I will post a list of memorials and cemeteries later in the week that are on this years itinerary (I will also consider others nearby if not on the list)

🌺 Lest We Forget

For years the message from Drumcree has remained the same.The right to celebrate your faith, heritage and culture must b...
25/08/2026

For years the message from Drumcree has remained the same.

The right to celebrate your faith, heritage and culture must be treated with the same respect afforded to others.

Equality must mean equality for all.

Today is not the end of Drumcree. But after almost three decades, it is a significant legal victory and a reminder of what can be achieved through persistence and the rule of law.

No surrender of our culture.
No surrender of our heritage.
No surrender of our rights.

🇬🇧 FOR OUR CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES, HERE WE STAND, WE CAN DO NO OTHER. 🇬🇧

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Newtownards

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