Further to our original post back in April 2016 regarding the part played by those players who answered the call to join up and fight in the Great War or 1914-1918, we have been greatly assisted by various organisations and individuals in providing the details needed to create an accurate record of those who served.

This has now culminated in the unveiling of a Remembrance Memorial to recognise and honour the young men who left the rugby field to fight and die on the battlefields of France and beyond, over 100 years ago. A Roll of Honour was also produced, courtesy of Hugh Anderson, which includes not only those who were killed in action, but also served in the war. The Club is also in the process of engraving a brass plaque, marking those who made the ultimate sacrifice, which will eventually be mounted in the club pavilion. Special thanks to Jim Lacey for his help in organising this lasting memorial.

Shortly after the outbreak of the War, Rugby Football was suspended by the Irish Rugby Football Union throughout the island of Ireland. It would not resume until the season 1919 -1920, when Bangor would win the Provincial Towns' Cup for the fourth time in its history.
In the last full season played prior to the beginning of hostilities, Bangor RFC 2nd XV had won the Harden Cup. Seven of that team 'joined up' and three were 'killed in action' before the end of 1916 (see below).

In total twenty one members of the Club served in the Great War and ten made the supreme sacrifice. Of these were three more pals who had played for a very successful 1st XV in the Season 1910 -1911, when Bangor won the Ulster Junior League, the Past Players Cup and were beaten finalists (by Knock F.C.) in the Ulster Junior Cup Final.

Killed in Action:
• Berkeley. W.L. – L/Corp South African Infantry (d) 24-04-1917, Age 24
• Brown. F.A.J. – Lt Royal Munster Fusiliers (d) 09-09-1916, Age 22, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• Harper. A. – Lt Seaforth Highlanders (d) 09-04-1919, Age 31, Towns Cup (1903-1904)
• Hewitt. H.M. – Lt Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (d) 01-07-1916, Age 29, Junior League (1910-1911)
• Hind. E.W.G. – Lt Royal Irish Rifles (d) 01-07-1916, Age 22, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• Mahaffy. H.I. – Lt Royal Flying Corps (d) 22-09-1917, Age 23
• Mahoney. T.G. – Lt Lancashire Fusiliers (d) 13-07-1916, Age 21, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• Motherwell. J.E. – Lt Royal Irish Rifles (d) 21-10-1916, Age 29
• McLaughlin. J. – Pte Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (d) 27-02-1916, Age 26, Towns Cup (1908-1909), Junior League (1910-1911)
• Weir. H.L. – Lt Royal Irish Rifles (d) 28-10-1918, Age 30, Towns Cup (1908-1909), Junior League (1910-1911)

They also served:
• Atkinson. D. – Corp Royal Irish Rifles, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• Brewer. H.H. – Lt Durham Light Infantry, Harden Cup (1913-1914), Towns Cup (1919-1920 & 1923)
• Claney. S.McK. – Lt West Yorkshire Regiment, Towns Cup (1908-1909 & 1919-1920)
• Corry. A.W. – Pte Cheshire Regiment, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• Craig. F.W. – Capt Royal Army Medical Corps, Mentioned in Despatches
• Currie. P.J. – Lt Cheshire Regiment, Towns Cup (1903-1904)
• Meek. W.J. – Capt Royal Army Service Corps, Towns Cup (1919-1920)
• Milliken. J – Lt Royal Irish Rifles, Harden Cup (1913-1914)
• McDonagh. F.M. – Chief Petty Officer Royal Naval Air Service, Towns Cup (1903-1904 & 1908-1909), Junior League & Past Players Cup (1910-1911)
• Sheppard. H.F. – Major Royal Irish Rifles, Military Cross 1916, Towns Cup (1980-1909), Junior League (1910-1911)
• Wright. R. – New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Towns Cup (1903-1904)

The Club would like to express its thanks to these sources of information:
• North Down Museum (Ards & North Down Borough Council)
• Royal British Legion, Bangor Branch
• Barry Niblock (Remembering Their Sacrifice in the Great War: The War Dead of North Down)
• Ken Switzer
• Hugh Anderson (Graphics and design)
• Barry Greenaway (Archivist, Bangor Grammar School)
• Gerry Drennan & Tony Heffernan (Bangor Rugby Football & Cricket Club)

The photo shows (L-R):
Norman Gault, Gerry Drennan, Tony Heffernan, Hugh Anderson, John Langtry