Carrickfergus to get Royal British Legion centenary plaque

Carrickfergus RBL would like to erect a granite plaque at the town’s war memorial to mark the 100th anniversary of the organisation.

The RBL has told the council that a commemorative plaque was last placed at the memorial by the Carrick branch in June 1991 to mark its 70th anniversary.

An amendment to the proposal by DUP Councillor Gregg McKeen to support the request, suggested that the council should contact all RBL branches in the borough to plan something similar in each area was also approved.

Carrickfergus DUP councillor Alderman Billy Ashe said: “The Legion in Carrickfergus does sterling work and should be supported.”

He went on to note that the British Legion’s work which supports serving and former serving personnel is not just in Carrick but throughout the borough.

The RBL is “the largest Armed Forces charity, with 235,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities; helping us give support wherever and whenever it’s needed”.

The charity provides lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families and leads commemoration to those who lost their lives during active service and in conflict.

Meanwhile, a letter to the borough council from Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner Danny Kinahan has welcomed the introduction of the Armed Forces Bill which Mr Kinahan said will “enhance support for service personnel and their families”.

“It is absolutely critical that we firmly establish in Northern Ireland all that is promised in the Armed Forces Covenant.”

The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge to “acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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