Finally, Loughries True Blues LOL 1948, unfurled their new Orange Banner on Saturday 9th June 2012, in Mary Street Orange Hall Newtownards
I will blog in the next post the events of the day - however for this blog post I want to concentrate on the banner and why we choose what we did !
The following is an explanation of the banner - both sides.
This was prepared and delivered by: -
Stephen
Rodgers LOL1948
Choosing a theme for a
new banner is a difficult process – so many people have their own opinions and
you have got to get it right as you will hopefully be walking behind it for
many years to come.
I have been asked to
give you an explanation of our banner design – the images we have chosen, our
reasons for choosing them and the story behind each image.
Main Side – “Ulster. Defiant and Loyal”
With 2012 being the
centenary year for the signing of the Ulster Covenant, the painting depicts
events that occurred as a consequence of the covenant – with specific relevance
to the Newtownards District.
In 1911 the
3rd (Irish) Home Rule Bill threatened the Unionist people
of Northern Ireland as it intended to provide self governance for Ireland which
included Northern Ireland at that time.
Sir Edward Carson
campaigned against Home Rule. In 1912 he formed the first loyalist
paramilitary group - the “Ulster Volunteer Force” in an attempt to counter the threat of Home
Rule.
On 28th
September 1912 he was the first signatory on the Ulster Covenant, which bound its
signatories to resist Home Rule – and this is one of the images that we have
chosen.
The Covenant was signed by over 237,000 men, and the
Declaration by over 234,000 women of Northern Ireland.
Despite its
opposition in Northern Ireland, the Home Rule Bill was passed by the Commons on
25 May 1914 and it was awaiting Royal assent when the outbreak of the First World
War led to its suspension until the end of the war.
Following
the signing of the covenant the Ulster Volunteer Force received a large arms
cache from Germany in 1914.
On the night of 24th April a decoy ship (SS Balmerino) was sent to Belfast, where it was
intercepted by Customs. Meanwhile a ship full of munitions, the Clydevalley,
arrived at Larne where it was
unloaded by the Larne Harbour section of the Ulster Volunteers.
Here some of the munitions where to be loaded onto two
additional ships for transfer to Bangor and Donaghadee. The Innismurray was the ship selected for the
transfer to Donaghadee and the next image depicts the unloading at the harbour.
It was the job of the 2nd battalion of the North Down Regiment
(the Newtownards and Comber volunteers) to collect the shipment at Donaghadee under the direction of James Craig (Unionist Leader and future Prime Minister of Northern
Ireland). Up to 1000 Ards men turned up for the operation.
It was reported that the Innismurray reached
Donaghadee at
5:30am and the entire cargo of
over 70 tons, was safely transferred from the vessel to waiting cars in a
couple of hours. The ship then left the harbour and the cache was driven off to Newtownards, to be
concealed for a time before being re-distributed throughout the district.
The Ulster Volunteer Force had pulled off the feat
of the century that night by landing 25,000 rifles and three million rounds of
ammunition in a single night. And, most importantly of all, it was the
means by which Ulster’s future could be assured.
At the
outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Carson announced that an “Ulster
Division” would be formed from the 80,000 already armed members of the Ulster
Volunteer Force, and the 36th (Ulster) Division was swiftly
organised.
There were three existing Irish regiments based in Ulster
at the time - the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers and
the Royal Irish Rifles and the Ulster Division raised thirteen battalions for
these three regiments.
Our next banner inclusion depicts the 13th (Service) Battalion (1st County Down) Royal Irish
Rifles going over the top in the Great War.
The 13th battalion formed in
County Down in September 1914 from the Down Volunteers, they trained on the Clandeboye
Estate and came under orders of what was
the 108th Brigade in 36th
(Ulster) Division.
On 1st July 1916 the
entire 36th Ulster Division suffered losses of 5104 men. The heaviest losses
within the Division were the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles which reported
595 casualties. Total British losses for that day amounted to a horrific 19,240
dead, 35,493 wounded, 2152 missing, and 585 prisoners.
It is reported to be the greatest
ever British loss for any one single day during the war.
Our next image shows the ULSTER TOWER -
near Thiepval, France
The Ulster Tower
is a memorial to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division. And is a very close copy of Helen's Tower
which stands in the grounds of the Clandeboye Estate where the men of the 108th
Brigade of the 36th Ulster Division trained before moving to England
and then to France early in 1916.
Our Central Image is the CARSON STATUE
In July 1932, Carson and 40,000 others witnessed the
unveiling of a large statue of himself in front of Parliament Buildings at
Stormont. It was erected by the loyalists of Ulster as an expression of their
love and admiration for Lord Carson.
We have included an inscription that
reads – “This we will maintain” –
As this story has told us – Ulster has remained defiant and loyal for
over 100 years.
As so many before us have given so much for their country -
As Protestants, Orangemen and Orangewomen we must maintain this
loyalty to our Queen & Country and continue to defend our protestant faith.
As this story has told us – Ulster
has remained defiant and loyal for over 100 years.
As so many before us have given
so much for their country -
As protestants, Orange men and
Orange women we must maintain this loyalty to our Queen & Country and continue
to defend our protestant faith.
The Reverse side - King William side
The Reverse side - King William side
As you all
know, all of our orange banners have an image of King William III (King Billy) to
lead us to the demonstration field on the 12th July.
Our chosen
image is of - what was at the time - “Prince
William of Orange”, landing Torbay in 1688 to depose James II from the
throne of England.
James was
a Roman Catholic, most English - who were predominantly Protestant, disliked
him.
In July
1688 a group of prominent Englishmen invited Prince William of Orange and his
Wife Mary (who was James II’s protestant daughter) to come to England with an
army and help the people rise against King James.
William landed
at Torbay on 5th November, 1688 with an army of 15,000 and quickly
gathered support as he crossed the country. At the same time King James’
support dwindled and the eventually fled to France.
In January
1689, it was declared that James II had abdicated, and King William III and
Queen Mary II were declared joint sovereigns.
Being a Roman
Catholic, James had a lot of support in Ireland so he returned there in 1689 in
an attempt to recover his throne. A series of events eventually lead to his Jacobite
army taking on the Williamite army at the battle of the Boyne on 1st
July 1690 – and we all know the result of that one!
This is
the explanation of our banner.
S. Rodgers
