Category: Murray Club

The 332nd Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry

The 332nd Commemoration of the Relief of Derry took place on the 14th August 2021. While more than the 30 who took part in August 2020 due to Covid regulations, the Association continued to be cautious and reduced the main Parade in Londonderry to the General Committee and eight Parent Clubs. The colour and spectacle of thousands of Apprentice Boys with banners and bands on the main Parade wasn’t to be.

There is a gallery of images for the 2021 Commemoration of the Relief of Derry, from our Galleries Page. Unable to host the Service of Thanksgiving for the Relief of Derry on the day of the Apprentice Boys Commemorations, a Service was held on the evening of the 12th August led by the Dean of St Columb’s Cathedral.

As is tradition the heralding the main Commemorative events, the firing of a cannon one and three times for the Brave 13, took place at midnight in the 13th August.

This was followed by members of the Murray Club symbolically touching the four gates of the City Walls, closed to the armies of King James.

The morning’s Commemorations started as they would any other year, with General Committee and the eight Parent Clubs walking the Walls.

Having held an Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph the parade returned to the Memorial Hall, from where the main Parade undertook the traditional route of the full Association.

Returning back to the Memorial Hall later in the afternoon. The flags that had been erected earlier that morning on Walker’s Plinth were taken down, and the day ended with the close of General Committee which had been opened before the day commenced.

Meanwhile around the country, Murray Clubs participated in local parades in local towns, keeping alive the memory of the Brave 13.

Bryansford & District Murray started the day by sharing a message on social media:

In the evening Bryansford joined other Clubs of Apprentice Boys in Rathfriland:

 

Ballywillan Murray joined others in Coleraine for a Commemoration Parade:

In Aghadowey, the Murray Club started the day with a short Service of Remembrance at the local Cenotaph:

Aghadowey Murray then joined other Clubs from the Coleraine area, in Coleraine, for the afternoon:

In Newtownstewart the local Murray Club started the day with an Act of Remembrance at the local Memorial, followed by a Parade and then a Family Fun Day:

Joining Newtownstewart Murray were Clubs from Plumbridge, Sion Mills, Raphoe, Castlederg, Ardstraw, and Cappagh. Bands accompanying were Newtownstewart’s Red Hand Defenders, Eden Flute Band, Castlederg Young Loyalists Old boys, and Donemana Sons of William.

Finally, Upperlands Murray Club held an Act of Remembrance at the local Memorial, before parading though Upperlands and on to Maghera to join other Clubs to Commemorate the 332nd Relief of Derry:

 

 

The Murray Club has Clubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and Australia. This website explains the importance of Col. Adam Murray and why our Club is named after this particular hero of the Siege. If you would like to know more about the Club please use our contact page.

The 332nd Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates.

This year the Murray Club has the honour of being to the fore in assuring the traditions of the Association for the 322nd Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates against the army of King James in 1688.

Each year one of the eight Parent Clubs that are the foundation of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry have the honour of undertaking the lead role in the traditions of the Association. With the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines in place, the scale of the Commemorations was much reduced.

As is tradition in heralding the day’s events, the firing of a cannon one and three times for the Brave 13, took place at midnight.

This was followed by members of the Murray Club symbolically touching the four gates closed to the armies of King James.

A two storey high Lundy was not burned on Bishop Street following the Service of Thanksgiving at St Columb’s Cathedral.  A very much ‘reduced’ Lundy was burned at the start of the day, enabling the tradition to be secured that included the presentation of Lundy’s Soles and the lighting taper to the Murray Club President. The decision on the ultimate recipients of these items will be made when the Parent Club is again able to meet, physically, as a Club.

Starting at the Memorial Hall, thirteen Apprentice Boys – one from each Parent Club, four Officers of General Committee and a Standard Bearer carrying the Crimson – along with a drummer and fluter paraded to the Siege Heroes Mound within the grounds of St Columb’s Cathedral. At the Siege Heroes Mound a wreath was laid by the President of the Murray Parent Club in memory of the Defenders of Derry, and a short service was conducted by Rev. Nigel Cairns of St. Augustine’s Church.

Following which the Apprentice Boys paraded back to the Memorial Hall, the flags that had been erected earlier that morning on Walker’s Plinth were taken down, and the day ended with the close of General Committee which had been opened before the day commenced.

The President of the Murray Club has taken on the role of General Treasurer of the Associated Clubs in recent months, due to the passing of Bro. Alwyn Ferguson earlier this year – the black ribbon was placed on the Crimson in his memory. For that reason, there was also a representative from the Murray Parent Club as one of the eight Parent Club representatives, Bro. David Austin.

The Murray Club would like to thank the following for their advice and support in fulfilling the honour of undertaking the traditions for the 332nd Annual Shutting of the Gate Commemoration: General Secretary of the Associated Clubs, William Moore, for his limitless knowledge of our Association’s traditions; The Governor of the Association, Graham Stenhouse, and the Chairman of the Trustees of the Memorial Hall, Ivan Taylor, for joining us in assuring 13 touched the gates. Thanks too to Donemana Murray for the four members who live in Londonderry, and joined us to touch the Gates. Thanks to Norman Rossborough and Christopher Sherrard for manning the Cannon. Thanks to the Walker Family for all aspects of building and the burning of Lundy, and raising the flags on the plinth. Thanks to Rev. Nigel Cairns, St. Augustine’s Church, for attending the Siege Heroes Mound and leading the short Service. Thanks to Gordon Porter, drum, and Tim Cairns, flute, who accompanied the 13 Apprentice Boys on this unique Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates. Final thanks to Trevor Boyd and the ABOD Marshals for being there at all times.

A gallery of images for 5 December 2020, the 332 Annual Shutting of the Gates, is available by clicking this link.

NB. Some of the images are not perfect. There was a struggle with the rain and gusts of wind that the photographer didn’t always win. 

 

Remembering

The Annual Remembrance Sunday at the National Cenotaph in London was a much smaller, though no less poignant, event in 2020.

Very much scaled back Acts of Remembrance took place at War Memorials and Cenotaphs across the UK, at the weekend and today, the 11th November, without crowds and with numbers attending severely restricted within Official Covid guidelines and regulations.

For Apprentice Boys, in Londonderry, Officers of General Committee and a representative of each of the Parent Clubs laid a wreath at the War Memorial in the Diamond on Saturday 7th at 11am. Gordon McMorris, President, representing the Murray Club.

Today, on the 11th November, wreaths were laid in `Greenock at the War Memorial, Wellpark, by Vice President, Bro Robert Lamont, and Past President and SAC Worthy Chairman, Bro Thomas Porteous.

 

Further south, wreaths were laid at Horwich and in Manchester by Lancashire & Cheshire Murray Club.

Acts of Remembrance honour all those who served, and remember the Fallen in all war and conflicts. Sometimes it is difficult to think of ‘all‘, but the challenge and sacrifice of the many can often be best expressed in an individual story. In comments at the Wishaw Murray Remembrance on Saturday past, the Club President Alan Love, spoke of the experience of one who served:

Today gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the father of one of our members Bro Charles Kelso. Gunner Kelso served with the 155th Lanarkshire Yeomanry. In March 1941, he sailed from the River Clyde with the 155th bound for India in preparation for a spell in the North African Desert against Rommel’s Afrika Corps. However in August due to the increasingly warlike aggression of the Japanese, they were instead sent to Malaya. When the Japanese invaded the Malayan Peninsula the 155th were thereafter continually in action until the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942.

After the fall of Singapore the men of the 155th were to suffer dreadfully as Prisoners of War to a cruel and ruthless enemy. Many of the men of the 155th were to suffer and die in the bowels of the deadly Kinkaseki Copper Mine on Taiwan. More men of the Regiment died as POWs than those who fell in action.

Gunner Frank Kelso was a prisoner in the notorious Kinkaseki POW Camp on Taiwan now recognised as being one of the worst in the Far East, where POW were subjected to the most inhumane treatment imaginable, being forced to slave in the deep, dark depths of a copper mine that was extremely hot and dangerous. The food was insufficient which led to many types of disease resulting from lack of food and vitamins. Dysentery, pellagra, beri beri, ulcers, pneumonia, diphtheria and many other ailments took their toll on the men. Add this to the lack of medicines, while those medicines that were available were often withheld by the Japanese, making it extremely difficult for the medics in the camp to keep the men alive.

Many men died in the camp and when others became too sick and weak to work in the mine they were moved out to other camps. Gunner Kelso’s health was so bad in Kinkaseki POW Camp that in 1943 he was moved to Taihoku 6 where he remained until after the war. Of the 500 prisoners in Taihoku 6, 74 died as POW.

Gunner Frank Kelso, an unsung local hero.

Bro Murray Douglas Dunbar laid a wreath on behalf of Wishaw Murray Club.

Murray Club Roll of Honour

 

In memory of many, in honour of all.

 

 

Visit to Graves – Remembering Murray the Siege Hero

Each year the Murray and Mitchelburne Clubs lay a wreath on the graves of Col. Adam Murray and Col. Mitchelburne respectively. The annual visit to Old Glendermott Cemetery took place on Saturday 19th September.

As with so much in 2020, in the context of COVID19 restrictions, the visit was scaled down with just a number of Officers from each Club attending.  For the Murray Club, joining the President, Bro. Gordon McMorris, were Bro. Edgar Laird, Vice President, Bro. David Austin, Chaplain, Bro. David Hoey, Secretary and Bro. John Goligher, Treasurer.

Bro. David Austin, Chaplain of the Murray Club, opened the short ceremony with prayer.

Once the wreaths were laid, and the Salute made, he closed proceedings with prayer.

Though few of us in number, the traditions that define our Association were again maintained and honoured. We hope and pray that in 2021 we will be able to return to a full Service at the Graves to honour the heroes.

In lieu of the usual collection following a service at the graves, the two Clubs will donate £50 to the Benevolent Fund.

Donemana and the 331st Relief of Derry

Donemana Branch Murray Club held a Wreath Laying ceremony at the War Memorial in the grounds of Donemana Orange Hall to mark the 331st anniversary of the Relief of Derry.

Saturday 8th August was like no other in living memory, as pandemic regulations limited celebrations for the end of the historic siege of Londonderry.  In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the local Branch club were in the same situation as others across the Province, unable to parade in the city of Londonderry.

A number of the Branch club members attended the Wreath Laying ceremony, where the Branch President, Worthy Bro Ian Gordon left a Wreath at the at the War memorial to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Members of the Donemana Branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, Murray Club. L-R (Front Row) Bro Billy Anderson, Bro Keith Buchanan (Secretary), Bro Joseph McDonald, W. President Bro Ian Gordon, Bro Thomas Allen, Bro George Sayers, Bro Ian Donnell (Chaplin). Middle Row: Bro Adam Buchanan (Assist Standard Bearer), Bro Lynn Buchanan, Bro Ivan Buchanan (Treasurer), Bro Barry Buchanan, Bro Craig Buchanan, Bro Colin Campbell. Back Row: Bro Ian Sayers, Bro Hall Kee, Bro Ryan Armstrong, Bro Alan Donnell, Bro Alexander Kerrigan.

Two members of Barron Accordion Band, David Buchanan and Mrs Sylvia Rankin,  played the appropriate hymn “Abide with me” prior to the Laying of the Wreath as part of a short service.  Prayers were said by the Branch Chaplin. Bro Ian Donnell and at the end of the ceremony Bro Colin Campbell ( Piper) played a “Lament”.  Bro Ivan Buchanan (Branch Treasurer) gave a short talk on the history of the famous siege and especially the vital part played by the “Gallant Thirteen” young Apprentice Boys who shut the gates of the city against the advancing Redshank Troops who were to secure the City for King James.

Bro Ian Gordon, President of Donemana Murray, about to lay the wreath at the War Memorial at Donemana Orange Hall, Sat 8th August 2020.

Prior to the start of the Wreath Laying ceremony, a special guest of the Branch club, Mrs Mary Hamilton, wife of the late Bro Ernest who had been a faithful and loyal member of the Branch club for well over 50 yrs, presented the Branch club with a number of gifts, including a Replica of one of the famous cannons used in the defence of the city during the 105 day siege, and a framed photograph of her late husband.  Mrs Hamilton spoke briefly and very emotionally about her late husbands love, dedication, loyalty and great respect he had for the Branch club and its members.  Mrs Hamiltons three daughters accompanied her on the day to give her their fullest support, namely Eleanor, Heather and Miriam.

At the end of the day, Bro Tommy Allen presented Mrs Daisy Watt with flowers on behalf of the Club in recognition of all the work she undertakes with organisations who use the Orange Hall, not least in the added role of preparing the Hall for use within Covid Regulations.

331st Relief of Derry in Wishaw

Unable to travel to Londonderry for the 331st Anniversary of the Relief of Derry on Saturday 8th August, members of the Wishaw Murray Branch Club turned out on Sunday, 9th August 2020 at the Armed Forces Memorial Garden in Belhaven Park, Wishaw, to commemorate locally.

The park was gifted to the people of Wishaw by Lord Belhaven in memory of his son Lieutenant Colonel The Hon Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Royal Field Artillery, Master of Belhaven who was killed in action during the 1914 – 1918 war. A memorial headstone in the park details an impressive military history; served with the 7th Division in Flanders in 1914.  In August 1915 he took out C Battery 108th Brigade R.F.A. in the 1st 2nd 3rd Battles of Ypres, Loos, the Somme Offensive and Messines. He was killed in action by a shell on Easter Monday, March 31st, 1918 at Castel, near Amiens whilst commanding 106th Brigade R.F.A. defending the ridge where the German advance was finally stayed. Buried in Rouvrel cemetery.

The short service began with a short prayer by acting Chaplain, Bro Murray Douglas Dunbar while President, Alan Love rendered a short history on the siege and the part played by the Ulster Scots followed by a wreath being laid by one of our youngest members Bro Kristofer Weir followed by the closing prayer and the National Anthem.

The President of Wishaw Murray thanked all who had attended and noted that it was particularly pleasing that so many of the younger members had attended this important event and freventlyhoped that next year would be in Londonderry.

The 331st Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry

The 331st Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry was held on 8 August 2020. Sadly the colour and spectacle of thousands of Apprentice Boys with banners and bands wasn’t to be. A respectful honouring of the traditions of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, within government guidelines of thirty participants, meant a rather different occasion than to what Members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry would be familiar.

Below are a series of videos recording small parts of the 2020 Commemorative events. At the bottom of the page is a link to a Gallery of photographs for the 331st Anniversary of the Relief of Derry.

Walking the Walls, passing Walker’s Plinth:

At the end of Walking the Walls, by First Derry Presbyterian Church:

Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, The Diamond:

Returning to the Memorial Hall at the end of the morning’s events: 

Click on this link to go to the Gallery for photographs of the 331st Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry, 8 August 2020. 

Fountain of Life

William Temple is long time member of the Murray Club in Londonderry. His life is the City, but specifically The Fountain. When in better health he gave guided tours on the history and significant aspects of this small area just outside the historic Walls.

His recently book “Fountain of Life” is a beautiful expression The Fountain, complimenting and explaining the social, economic and political history of the Fountain area during the 20th century, and inspired a series of paintings hanging in The Thiepval Gallery.

The book was due to be launched in March, but then the pandemic! The Newgate Fringe has stood in and launched the book on Tuesday 4th August 2020 as part of its events this week – more on the New Gate Arts Facebook page.

Copies can be bought at the Siege Museum, Society Street. The book can be delivered locally in Londonderry also – contact by phone or text 07858 108 285.  Books to be posted further afield can be ordered through the Bob Harte Memorial Trust via email – bhmt.gs AT gmail.com –  and the books are priced at £10.00 each (plus £3.50 for delivery within the UK).

Good to have, and perfect as a gift.

Helping in difficult times

In online Zoom meetings we have heard many stories of how our Clubs have keep in touch with their members these past few months. Facebook, WhatsApp and technology generally has been an essential part of ensuring contact is maintained and support is made available where required.

A good example of this activity comes from our Greenock Branch Club. Around ninety percent of Members are part of a WhatsApp group, and over recent months the rest were telephoned or visited to keep in touch with everyone.

Greenock Murray also made efforts to ensure that it supported the local community. The Club decided to donate funds to local health centres, particularly those who would normally rely on donations.

The President, Bro. Aitken, and Vice President, Bro. Lamont presented a £200 donation to the Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock. Some members made the presentation of £200 to the Cowal Hospice in Dunoon; one of the members having been a patient there on remission a few years past.

Finally, a £200 donation was presented by to the Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners’ Home in Greenock where the father of one of Greenock Murray’ members has been a resident for 15 years.

Great to see how Murray Clubs have risen to the challenges and made a difference to so many by helping those who might otherwise have been alone or unsupported in these difficult times, to Members and others within the wider community.

Welcome to the Murray Club website 

This has been in the ‘planning‘ phase for too long.

We hope that over time the website provides a valuable service; where our Members will be able to visit and see what is happening across our Murray Clubs, and where those who are not members might learn more about our Club and the historic Association of which we are part.

We have some catching up on news from last year, which gets us started.

We launch at a time of great worry for everyone. Looking forward to many good years ahead, once we are all able to get out and about once again. #StaySafeStayHomeSaveLives for as long as necessary.