The Great War Roll of Honour for Belfast Royal Academy includes a section listing distinctions gained by former pupils and includes the award of the Portuguese Military Order of Aviz to one person. This is the first time that I have seen a reference to an Ulsterman receiving this award or, indeed, any award from the Republic of Portugal. Although he is recorded on the Roll of Honour as “J A Molloy”, his name was Alexander Joseph Molloy.
Alexander Joseph Molloy was born at Poona in India on 5th September 1872 to Assistant Surgeon Oscar Fredrick Molloy, Royal Army Medical Corps, and Jane Molloy (nee Douglass). His father held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel when he retired from the RAMC and was living in Holywood when he died of pneumonia and cardiac failure on 27th March 1902, aged 58. His mother later lived at Malone Road.
Alexander was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Belfast Royal Academy. He enlisted with the Royal Irish Regiment on 1st April 1892 and served in India until November 1895. He held the rank of Corporal when he was transferred to the Class B Army Reserve on 11th June 1897. Corporal A J Molloy joined the Cape Colony Police in September 1897 and served in the Second Anglo-Boer War, being awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and South Africa 1901 clasps)*. He transferred to the Cape Rural Police on 20th November 1901 and was discharged from the Royal Irish Regiment on 30th September 1902 when he was promoted to Chief Constable.
At the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted as a Gunner with the South African Field Artillery for service in the German South-West Africa campaign. On being released from service in 1915, he enlisted as a Private with the South African Infantry for service in the German East Africa campaign. He held the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major when he received a field commission in June 1916. He was serving with an Askari force in East Africa when he resigned his commission in May 1918. He then enlisted as a Private for service in Europe and later received a commission with the Royal Army Service Corps. He was serving on the Western Front when he was hospitalised with influenza on 23rd November 1918 and was evacuated to England on 15th December.
After the Armistice, he was stationed at Victoria Barracks in Belfast and held the rank of Captain when he relinquished his commission. He returned to South Africa and lived at Tennyson Street in East London.
During the Great War, he was:
- awarded the Silver Medal for Valour by the King of Italy (London Gazette, 31st August 1917),
- Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 7th March 1918),
- awarded the Military Cross (Edinburgh Gazette, 25th March 1919), and
- made an Officer of the Military Order of Aviz by the Republic of Portugal (London Gazette, 6th April 1920).
Although he served in combat zones 1914 and 1915, he was not entitled to receive the 1914/15 Star as he had not served in a qualifying campaign. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
* According to local newspaper reports, Alexander served with the Cape Mounted Rifles in the Second Anglo-Boer War, being wounded at Stormberg in December 1899. The newspaper reports record that he was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal (four clasps) and the King’s South Africa Medal (two clasps). The author has not been able to locate a matching reference in the British Army medal rolls for that conflict.
Nigel Henderson, History Hub Ulster
Whilst researching Arthur Moore Cinnamond, a victim of the 1941 German air raids, I came across an obituary in the Belfast Telegraph that recorded that he was a member of Cliftonville Golf Club. Hugh Daly from Cliftonville Golf Club informed me that Arthur had been a member of the club’s council in 1911 and was club Captain in 1925. At the Annual Meeting of the club in March 1919, Arthur Cinnamond intimated his intention to provide a special victory prize to commemorate club members who had served in the Great War.
William Henry Calvert was born on 7th June 1892 at Oldpark Road to William Henry Calvert, a draper, and Margaret Calvert (nee McKay). The family was living at Cliftonville Street in 1911 when William junior was an apprentice jeweller with Gibson and Company of Donegall Place and Castle Place. William Henry Calvert senior was a member of Cliftonville Golf Club Council in 1911 and served on the committee for 18 years.
John Dobson was born on 21st December 1889 at Connor in County Antrim to William
Edwin Samuel Frizelle was born on 26th January 1894 at Ballysaggart near Dungannon to
Frederick William Girvan was born on 23rd May 1893 at Kilbride near Doagh to Robert
Arthur Moore Cinnamond was born on 8th October 1872 at University Street to Arthur Cinnamond, a wine merchant, and Eliza Cinnamond (nee Barber). He was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Queen’s College in Belfast, and Christ Church in Oxford. After completing his education, Arthur joined the family firm and he married Harriett Mary Molyneux Rogers of Princethorpe, Cliftonville Road, on 22nd November 1898 at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Donegall Street. In 1901, they were living at Glenisheen on Cliftonville Road and Arthur was a director in Cinnamond Moore Limited (Distillers and Wholesale Wine and Spirit Merchants) of Church Lane. In 1911, Arthur was an auctioneer and valuer, and he became the sole proprietor of Clarke Sons (Auctioneers) of Rosemary Street in 1913. He joined Civic Masonic Lodge No 425 on 13th December 1916 and remained as a member until his death. Harriet Cinnamond died at their Glenisheen home on 3rd October 1938, aged 68.
Lance Corporal Joseph Thompson Larkin (Service Number PLY/X 104620) was serving with 48 Royal Marine Commando when he died on Active Service in France on 6th June 1944, aged 22, and is buried in the Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery in Hampshire. Joseph Thompson Larkin was born on 21st December 1921 to Joseph Larkin, a holder-up, and Matilda Larkin (nee Mullan). Matilda Larkin of Lisavon Street died on 11st August 1932, aged 33, and Joseph Larken senior married Maud Winters on 24th July 1937. Joseph and Maud Larkin were living at Sandbrook Park in 1944.
Private Michael John McGee DCM (Army Number 14216814) was serving with 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment (Army Air Corps) when he died of wounds on 6th June 1944, aged 21, and is buried in Benouville Churchyard. The London Gazette (Supplement: 36994) dated 20th March 1945 reported that Private McGee had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. As the DCM award was for the same act of gallantry for which Private McGee had been Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 2nd January 1945), the MID award was cancelled. The DCM citation read,
Sergeant Edward Eli Reynolds (Army Number 3907378) was serving with 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers when he was killed in action at the age of 33 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery. Edward Eli Reynolds was born in Monmouthshire on 1st October 1911 to Edward Eli Reynolds and Elizabeth Ann Reynolds. His mother died in 1912 and his father married Anne Jane Peebles in late 1914. His father was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9th August 1915 whilst serving with 4th Battalion South Wales Borderers. Edward married Elizabeth Ross on 30th October 1937 at Ebrington Presbyterian Church. Edward enlisted in his father’s regiment and Army Order 247 of 1939 reported that Private Reynolds had been awarded the General Service Medal with “Palestine” clasp. Elizabeth Reynolds was living at Waterside in Londonderry when her husband died.
Private William John Rowe (Army Number 7011445) was serving with 5/7th Battalion Gordon Highlanders when he was reported as “Missing” on 6th June 1944. The War Office Casualty List No. 1543 (5th September 1944) reported that he had been Killed in Action on that date. Private Rowe was 29 years old when he died and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery. William Rowe was born on 21st March 1915 at Lisnaskea to Thomas Rowe and Isabella Rowe (nee Thompson), his second forename being registered as JOSEPH. His father had accidentally drowned at Clarendon Dock in Belfast on 18th January 1915, aged 40, whilst serving with 11th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Regimental Number 17258). Thomas Rowe is buried in the Roll of Honour Ground in Belfast City Cemetery and commemorated on the Screen Wall.
Sergeant James Young (Army Number 6977467) was serving with 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment (Army Air Corps) when he was reported as “Missing” on 6th June 1944. In September 1944, the War Office confirmed that he had been Killed in Action on that date. He was 28 years old and is buried in Ranville War Cemetery. James Young was a son of John Joseph Young and Mary Elizabeth Young of Omagh and he had enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Hugh Montgomery (1743-1832) of Glenarm and Benvarden, Co. Antrim was one of the original founders or partners of the private bank, ‘H Montgomery & Company’ that was formed in Belfast in 1809. Around 1815 it became known as Northern Bank. He retired as a partner in 1822. His son, another Hugh Montgomery (1794-1867) succeeded his father in the partnership.
Hugh’s son, James C Montgomery was appointed as an additional Director in 1860. His health did not allow him to take up his duties and he resigned in 1862. He died abroad, in 1870 aged 34.
On Sunday 12th October 1919, the new War Memorial Organ in the church was used for the first time in public worship. In his address, Dr Park referred to the 555 men from the congregation and Sabbath School who had served in the Great war, 86 of whom had made the supreme sacrifice. The following Sunday, Mrs John Sinclair unveiled a brass tablet which had been erected by the afternoon Sabbath School in memory of the members of the congregation and school who fell in the Great War. The newspaper article on the unveiling reported that the tablet was attached to the front of the pulpit and recorded the names of the 86 fatalities. The church was not rebuilt and the congregation amalgamated with Ekenhead Memorial Presbyterian Church at its new site on the North Circular Road, adopting the name Rosemary Presbyterian Church. A history of the congregation by J W Kernahan includes a photograph of the War Memorial Organ, and the plaque on the front of the pulpit is visible. 
On Sunday 25th April 1920, two memorials were unveiled at the church by the Right Reverend Doctor John Morrow Simms, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, who had served as Senior Chaplain to the Ulster Division during the war. One of the mural tablets was erected inside the church and commemorated fourteen men from the congregation who died during the war. The second mural tablet was erected by 33rd Company Boy Scouts and was placed on external wall of the church at the junction of York Street and Earl Street. This memorial tablet recorded the names of 132 men from Earl Street and District who served in the Great War, 36 of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. Newspaper articles about the unveilings recorded the names of those commemorated on the two tablets, although none of the fatalities named on the congregational tablet are named on the district tablet. In essence, the external tablet probably represented service and sacrifice by people who lived in the streets between Gallaher’s Tobacco factory and the York Street Flax Spinning mill. To the best of my knowledge, no photographs of either memorial tablet have survived, although there is a newspaper photograph of the unveiling of the district memorial. The church was not rebuilt, and the congregation merged with Castleton Presbyterian Church on York Road, the amalgamated congregation adopting the name of Alexandra Presbyterian Church.
On 9th May 1920, the Very Reverend Thomas Gibson George Collins, Dean of Belfast dedicated memorials commemorating the service and sacrifice by men from the parish. Choir stalls and a bronze mural tablet, on which the names of thirty fatalities were recorded, was erected by congregational subscription. Mr Andrew Alexander Clendinning, a linen merchant, gifted the Roll of Honour tablet which recorded the names of 156 men who served and survived. Mrs Mary Kathleen Watson gifted a prayer desk in memory of her husband, the Reverend John Edmund Malone Watson MC, who was a chaplain to the forces and died of wounds on 10th April 1918, aged 31. In the 1943 Belfast Street Directory, the site was recorded as “Vacant” and the church was restored by 1947.
This church was located on the corner of Oldpark Road and Ardoyne Avenue and was built in 1901. On Sunday 30th May 1920, the Right Reverend Doctor Charles Thornton Primrose Grierson (Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore) dedicated a new pulpit in the church as a memorial to those from the parish who had died in the Great War. The pulpit of white oak was manufactured by Purdy and Millard of Howard Street and a brass plate on the front panel named thirty fatalities, under the headings Navy and Army. On the base of the pulpit were carved the words of His Majesty King George V, “The men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die.” The memorial was unveiled by Mr James Barlowe and Mr James Bustard, two former churchwardens who had both lost their only sons in the war. In his address, the Lord Bishop stated that 160 men from the church had volunteered for service in the Great War. The memorial cost £150, which equates to approximately £5,500 in current terms. Newspaper reports on the unveiling ceremony recorded the names of the fatalities and a photograph of the memorial pulpit was published in the Belfast Telegraph. The 1951 and 1955 street directories record that the site for the replacement church was located at the junction of Cliftonville Road and Cardigan Drive, and the new church was completed in 1958.
On Sunday 19th September 1920 a reading desk was dedicated as a memorial in this mission hall, which was associated with Donegall Street Congregational Church. The desk was unveiled by Captain William Reid and the names of fourteen fatalities from the congregation are recorded on the front of the desk. The newspaper coverage of the unveiling service included a photograph of the memorial and the hall had been re-opened by 1945.
On 7th April 1925, Sir William Turner JP, Lord Mayor of Belfast, unveiled a polished marble tablet which recorded and the names of the fourteen members of the congregation who died and the names of a further 100 people who served in the Great War. The memorial was the work of Thompson & Sons of Limestone Road and the embellishment at the top of the tablet features crossed flag and the Dove of Peace under a Crown. A photograph of the memorial was published in the Belfast Telegraph in April 1925 and a fine photograph of the memorial can be found online. The church was never rebuilt, and the congregation merged with Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church. 
After the German air raid on the night of 15th/16th April 1941, Antrim Road residents raised concerns that dangerous animals might escape during air raids. The account in Scott Edgar’s 
In essence, when articles were compiled this century, the researchers knew there was an elephant called Sheila at the zoo in 1938 and that an elephant called Sheila died at the zoo in 1965. Unfortunately, they made the assumption that the elephant that died in 1965 was the elephant who had arrived in 1938.