North Down Herald and Co Down Independent - Friday, 7 July 1916

Marriage.

NEILL--CRAWFORD -- July 5th, 1916, at Helen'd Bay Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. W. J. Currie, B.A., John Ferguson, third son of the late James Neill, Queen's Parade, Bangor, and Mrs. Neill, "Ashleigh," Windsor Avenue, Bangor, to Jessie, Younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harper Crawford, "Aurora," Ballyholme Road, Bangor. At home, 7 Queen's Parade, Bangor, 28th and 29th September.

Clippings

BANGOR CASUALTIES

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hewitt, Downshire Road, Bangor, received on Wednesday evening a telegram from the War Office that Lieutenant Holt Hewitt, of the Inniskillings and lately of the Machine Gun Corps, it missing, believed killed. The sad news has occasioned widespread sorrow in Bangor and Belfast, in both of which places Lieutenant Hewitt has many friends. Sincere and heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt and the other members of their family in this second great sorrow which has come to them through the war. It is only twelve months since another son, Lieutenant Ernest H. Hewitt, of the Royal Lancaster Regiment, was reported missing, and as no news has since been heard of him he is presumed to have been killed. Lieut. Holt Hewitt was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast, and prior to the outbreak of war he was manager of the firm of Messrs. W. M. Barkley and Sons, the well-known Belfast coal importers. He was an enthusiastic member of Mr. T. M. Madden's (D) company, North Down Regiment, U.V.F., and being a keen sportsman he was connected with the Bangor Golf Club and the Bangor Rugby Football Club. Since the resignation of Mr. Wm. MacDonagh, he filled with great acceptance the position of honorary secretary of the Bangor Parish Church Select Vestry, by the members of which, as by all who ever came into contact with him, he was held in high regard. He is the third son of Mr. J. H. Hewitt, the esteemed manager of the Workshops for the Blind, Royal Avenue, Belfast. Lieut. Hewitt was a man of sterling character. His loss is a loss not alone to the immediate circle of his friends but to the entire community. We join in tendering to the beremvsd parents our sincere sympathy, and express the hope that some reassuring news may yet be received.

Word has been received by Mrs. Shanks, Ballymagee Street, Bangor, that her son, Sergeant John Shanks, of the R.I.R., has been wounded, though, it is believed, not seriously. Lance-Corporals David and James M'Gilton, Railway View Street, Bangor, are both in Hospital, the former suffering from shell shock, while the latter sustained a shrapnel wound in the eye. The piece, we are glad to learn, has been extracted, and the patient is doing well. Another recent casualty is Private Bob Beattie, R.I.R., son of Mr. and Mrs. Beattie, Bingham Street.

We learn with regret that Captain J. S. Davidson is amongst the officers killed in the recent British advance. There was no more popular or resourceful officer in the local contingent of the Ulster Volunteer Force; by all the members of which he was sincerely admired. As is well known, he is a son of Mr. S. C. Davidson, managing director of the Sirocco Works. He was a director of that concern himself, and lived at Seacourt, Bangor. A leading spirit in the U.V.F. in North Down, he joined the 1st Co. Down Regiment of the Ulster Division in September, 1914, and latterly has been in the brigade machine gun company. He was recently wounded, but remained on duty. Sincere sympathy is extended to the sorrowing family circle.

Second-Lieutenant T. P. M'Connell, wounded, is a son of Mr. Thos. E. M'Connell, J.P., 81 University Street, Belfast, of Messrs. Robson',s Ltd., Chichester Street. He originally enlisted in the ranks of the Y.C.V.'s, and on 26th June, 1915. was promoted to a commission and posted to the East Belfast Regiment. Before joining the army Second-Lieutenant M'Connell was in business with his father at Messrs. Robson's.

Private Heyburn, of Groomsport, also made the supreme sacrifice. He was a popular and gallant soldier, and his death is widely regretted.

Amongst the Bangor men who have been wounded or are suffering from shell-shocK are: Rfm. Bob Graham, R.I.R., Church Street; L.-Cpl. Edward O'Neill, R.I.R., Church Street; Rfm. James Brown, R.I.R., Church Street; Rfm. Lowry, R.I.R., Bingham Street; Pte. Patton. Groomsport Road; Rfm. James Gorman, R.I.R., King Street; Rfm. Norman Legge, R.I.R., Southwell Road; Rfm. R. Bickerstaff. R.I.R., Brunswick Road; Pte. David Barnes; Sergeant Bertie M'Cready, R.I.R., Ruby Street (wounded in three places, not seriously). Rfm. Matt Brown, Church Street, missing; Rfm. Robert Gordon, Church Street, Royal North Downs, wounded; Rfm. John M'Caw. Church Street, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, wounded (3rd time); Rfm. W. Crosier, Castle Cottage, wounded; Rfm. H. Beattie, 2nd County Down Battalion, wounded; Rfm. Hugh Blakely, Groomsport, wounded; Rfm. Alex. Barrons, Groomsport, South Antrim Regiment, wounded; L.-Cpl. James Adorrian, Crosby Street, wounded; Rfm. W. Ritchie, Ballymagee Street, wounded; Rfm. R. M'Ilroy, Ballymagee Street, wounded.

Keen sympathy is accorded to all who are suffering anxiety or loss.

COMPANY SERGEANT-MAJOR HERBERT CUMMINGS KILLED

Great sympathy is felt with the parents and friends of Company Sergeant-Major Herbert Cummings, who is reported killed. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Cummings, Ballymagee Street, Bangor, and before the war he was a half-company commander in A Company (Capt Burrowes'), North Down Regiment, U.V.F. He was employed by the firm of Messrs. Workman & Clark, and permission was obtained by the firm for him to return home to take np munition work, but having joined with the other boys he preferred to remain at what he believed to be his post of duty to the end. A genial, cheery friend and companion, "Herbie," as he was popularly known, will be much missed. His only brother, Mr. Percy Cummings, is serving with the Canadians.

SECOND-LIEUTENANT JAMES HOLLYWOOD.

Second-Lieutenant Jas. Hollywood, Royal Irish Rifles, killed in action, was a son of Mr. James Hollywood, J.P., Red Gorton, Helen's Bay, and 130, Albertbridge Road, Belfast. He was in the service of Ross Bros, Linenhall Street, before he received a commission in the 18th (R.) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles at Clandeboye, 5th May, 1915, being sent recently to the Central Antrim Regiment. His brother, Lieutenant A. C. Hollywood, Royal Irish Fusiliers, was wounded some months ago.

LIEUT EZEKIEL VANCE.

Lieutenant Ezekiel Vance, Royal Irish Rifles (South Antrim Volunteers) killed in action, was a son of the late Mr. William Vance, merchant, Antrim, and Mrs. Vance, Riverside, Antrim, a son-in-law of the Right Rev. Dr. West, Antrim (Moderator of the General Assembly), and a brother-in-law of the late Dr. Gorman, Bangor, County Down. Lient. Vance was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and before the war was in the estate agency business with Mr. H. D. M. Barton, of The Bush. He was prominently identified with the Ulster Volunteer movement, and was a company commander of the Antrim contingent.

 

^ top of page