On Sunday 27th July 1919, the Right Reverend Doctor Charles Frederick D’Arcy, Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore, dedicated the memorials to the men from the congregation of St. John’s Church of Ireland, who had served in the Great War.

One of the lessons in the service was made by Mr Henry Seaver, whose son had died in the Great War. The memorial to the fatalities was a two-light stained-glass window produced by Ward & Partners of May Street. 

It featured two angels with heads bowed in prayer and the scripture, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The names of twenty men who made the supreme sacrifice are recorded on two panes and the dedication at the base of the window reads,

“To the glory of God, and in cherished memory of the above-named members of this Church, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, 1914-1918. These two windows are erected by the parishioners of St John’s Church, Laganbank.”

The memorial to those who served and returned took the form of a tablet contained 86 names and the inscription plate read,

“This tablet commemorates the gallant services of those members of this church who fought in the Great War, 1914-1918”.

When St John’s Church closed in the 1940s, the congregation re-located to Orangefield, where a new St John’s Church was built. The Roll of Honour tablet was moved to the new church but the stained glass windows were not. They were packed in a wooden case and moved to storage in the crypt in St Anne’s Cathedral.

When I started searching for the memorial window, I was told that there was no storage crate in St Anne’s and I was later told that memorial windows from St John’s had been installed in St Andrew’s Church, Glencairn. However, the windows in St Andrew’s Church did not include the war memorial window. In late April of this year, Alistair McCartney advised me that the storage crate from St John’s Church had been in St Mary’s Church on the Crumlin Road for the last twenty years.

John McCormick and I visited St Mary’s Church to photograph the war memorial window, which was in four sections.

The Fallen of St John’s Church, Laganbank

William John Beggs was born in Larne and enlisted with the Royal Engineers. He was serving with 7th Depot Company when he died of pneumonia at Victoria Barracks Military Hospital on 3rd December 1915, aged 42, and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

Alexander Bingham was born on 17th September 1890 at Lindsay Street to Thomas Bingham and Julia Bingham (nee Goudy) who later lived at Erin Street. Brigade Quartermaster Sergeant Bingham died of suffocation in the trenches on 27th November 1915, aged 25, and is buried in Forceville Communal Cemetery and Extension in France.

Robert Henry Black was born on 20th November 1883 at Annette Street to William John Black, a brad finisher, and Eliza Black (nee Hobson). Riflemen Robert Henry Black was Killed in Action on 1st July 1916, aged 32, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France. He is also commemorated on the memorial for May Street Presbyterian Church.

Two sons of James Clulow, a long-time Sexton at St John’s Church, and Jane Clulow (nee Smith) are commemorated on the window.

Edward Clulow was born on 23rd January 1882 at Charles Street South and he served with 1st King’s Dragoon Guards in the Second Anglo-Boer War, being awarded the King’s South Africa Medal with the South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps. He was serving with “C” Squadron 5th Dragoon Guards when he died of Wounds on 27th March 1918, aged 36, and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension at Rouen in France.

Thomas Clulow was born on 8th October 1883 at Charles Street South and he enlisted with the South Lancashire Regiment on 20th January 1903 and was stationed in India from November 1904 to March 1906. He was mobilised on 5th August 1914 and was deployed to France with 2nd Battalion eight days later. He sustained shrapnel wounds to the leg on 20th September 1914 during the Battle of the Aisne and spent ten months at the 1st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen before being discharged at Warrington on 6th August 1915. Thomas Clulow of Renfrew Street died of myelitis (nervous exhaustion) at the Union Workhouse Infirmary on 19th September 1916, aged 30, and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

William Connell was born on 13th Aug 1897 at Schull in County Cork to John Connell, HM Coastguard, and Mary Jane Connell (nee Shipsey) and he joined the Royal Navy on 14th March 1913 from the Greenwich Naval College. He was serving as a Boy (1st Class) on HMS Monmouth when she was sunk in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile on 1st November 1914. He was 17 years old and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Edward Collins was born on 15th July 1889 at Catherine Street to John Collins, a coachman, and Sarah Ann Collins (nee Bailey) and he enlisted with the Royal Irish Rifles on 9th November 1908. He was serving in India with 1st Battalion at the outbreak of the Great War and was deployed to France with on 6th November 1914. Rifleman Edward Collins Died of Wounds on 11th March 1915, aged 27, and is buried in the Merville Communal Cemetery in France.

Charles Robert Cooney was born on 13th March 1894 at Moneymore to James Lamont Cooney, a clerk, and Margaret Alice Cooney (nee Lillie) and he was educated at Moneymore National School and Cookstown Academy. He received his commission with 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in October 1915 and was posted to France on attachment to 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles on 20th July 1916. Second Lieutenant Cooney was attached to 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed in Action on 9th October 1916, aged 22, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

There is insufficient information to positively identify James Foster.

John James Greenlee was born on 21st February 1881 at Elizabeth Street to Robert Greenlee, a carpenter, and Martha Greenlee (nee Clendinning). He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 5th February 1916 and was serving with 43rd Battery (8th Brigade) Canadian Field Artillery when he was Killed in Action on 23rd November 1917, aged 38, and is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3 in Belgium.

Samuel Halliday was born on 1st October 1877 at Norton Street to Samuel Halliday and Elizabeth Halliday (nee Lunn). Samuel was 34 years old when he enlisted with the Royal Engineers at Old Town Hall on 16th February 1915 and was deployed to France with 150th Field Company on 5th October 1915. Samuel collapsed in a trench and died of syncope on 9th February 1917, aged 39, and is buried in the Berks Cemetery Extension in Belgium.

William Henry Hamilton was born on 13th June 1882 at Reilly’s Place to William Henry Hamilton, a cattle dealer, and Lucy Hamilton (nee Killen). He enlisted with 17th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and was deployed to France with 8th Battalion on 5th October 1915. William was Killed in Action on 23rd November 1917, aged 35,and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval in France.

William Grainger Hanna was born on 29th September 1894 at Arkwright Street to William Hanna and Mary Hanna (nee Lyons), who were living at Glenwherry Street when their son died. William enlisted with the Royal Irish Rifles and was posted to France with 14th Battalion in October 1915. He was Killed in Action on 1st July 1916, aged 21, and is buried in the Mill Road Cemetery at Thiepval in France. His death was confirmed in the War Office Daily List dated 4th October 1917.

John Kells was born on 23rd June 1887 at Douglas Street to James Kells, a coachman, and Mary Kells (nee Yarr) and he enlisted with the Royal Irish Rifles. He was posted to France with 8th Battalion in October 1915 and was Killed in Action on 2nd July 1916, aged 29, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

Alexander Morrison was born on 12th July 1895 at Stirling to James Morrison and Emily Morrison and the family was living at Garfield Terrace on My Lady’s Road when he enlisted with the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Belfast on 13th August 1912. Alexander was serving with 1st Royal Marines Battalion (Royal Naval Division) when he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Logeast Wood on 21st August 1918. Acting Corporal Morrison was Killed in Action on 6th October 1918, aged 23, and is buried in Hermies Hill British Cemetery in France.

James McCracken was born on 14th December 1891 at Market Street to William John McCracken and Jane Julia McCracken (nee McLean) and he enlisted with 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and was posted overseas after 1915. James was serving with 6th Battalion Machine Gun Corps when he died of pneumonia on 6th November 1918, aged 29, and is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen.

Edward Lawson McDonald was born on 24th June 1882 at Botanic Avenue to James Thompson McDonald, a stockbroker, and Fanny Anne McDonald (nee Seaver). Edward was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles with effect from 6th January 1916 and held the rank of Lieutenant when he was posted to 12th Battalion on the Western Front on 20th July 1916. Edward was Killed in Action on 22nd November 1917, aged 35, and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval in France.

James Henry Robinson was born on 3rd April 1898 at the Fire Station HQ on Chichester Street to William John Robinson and Sarah Robinson (nee Johnston). James enlisted with the Royal Irish Rifles and landed at ANZAC Cove with 6th Battalion on 5th August 1915. Lance-Corporal Robinson was Killed in Action five days later at the age of 17 and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey.

David Harden Scott was born on 24th November 1895 at Abbey Street in Bangor to Matthew Scott, a station master, and Elizabeth Scott (nee Lemon) and they were living at Dufferin Avenue when their son died. David was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles with effect from 28th January 1915 and was deployed to France with 16th Battalion in October 1915. He served with the 36th Divisional Cyclist Corps before being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and he was awarded the Military Cross. Lieutenant Scott was serving with 65 Squadron Royal Flying Corps when he was Killed in Action on 12th November 1917, aged 21, and is buried in Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery at La Gorgue in France.

Charles Seaver was born on 1st July 1894 at Easton Terrace, Cliftonville, to Henry Seaver, a civil engineer, and Norah Seaver (nee Lepper) and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 8th September 1914. He held the rank of Captain when he was posted to the Western Front in January 1916 and he sustained shrapnel wounds to the arm in late July. He was serving with 8th Battalion when he was wounded in the head on 9th September during the Battle of Ginchy and died at No 2 General Hospital on 3rd October 1916. He was 22 years of age and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery at Rouen in France.

Nigel Henderson, History Hub Ulster Researcher