The Roamer: Proud military past of town that ran trains on main street

It was erected in 1921 by the parents and brothers of Major Ralph Montgomery DSO, RFA (Royal Field Artillery) who died on active service on 1 April 1919, in France, during the so-called Spanish Flu pandemic.

Hailing from the nearby Blessingbourne Estate, four Montgomery brothers fought in WWI, three with the Artillery, and they were all mentioned on this page when a book was published recounting the supreme sacrifice of 72 local servicemen in both world wars, written by Mark Byers.

Called ‘Fivemiletown’s Fallen’, the book marked the erection of the town’s Community War Memorial on Sunday 20 September 2015.

Since then the name of Corporal Alex Lynn, killed in action in Normandy in 1944, was added to the Memorial.

This year there’s another important commemorative event in the town – and another book. The Fivemiletown Branch of the Royal British Legion marks the 100th anniversary of its formation in May 1923 and

Mark Byers has penned its history in a publication aptly titled ‘Fivemiletown Remembers - 100 Years of Uniform & Service’.

In September 1919 a branch or ‘Post’ of ‘Comrades of the Great War’ association was formed in the town to represent the rights of ex-servicemen and women who had served during WWI.

The ‘Comrades’ were extremely active locally and soon attracted over 90 members.

They quickly acquired an ex-army surplus corrugated iron building which they erected on ground gifted by the aforementioned Montgomery family, opposite the Fivemiletown National School.

Their new venue was officially opened in August 1920 by Brigadier Ambrose Ricardo CMG, CBE, DSO from Sion Mills who’d commanded the 9th Battalion (Tyrone Volunteers) Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during WWI.

On 15 May 1921 the Comrades amalgamated with three other ex-servicemen’s associations and formed The British Legion. Fivemiletown’s Comrades officially became part of the British Legion in May 1923, thus this year’s centenary.

Launched in the town last night, Mark Byers’ impressive 255-page book tells the Comrades’ remarkable story and focuses on some of the local veterans who fought in both world wars and in more recent conflicts, including Northern Ireland.

Amongst speeches and presentations by branch and club officials, and a full-scale concert, Mr Byers shared highlights from his book.

He explained that local clergy played a significant part in both wars “as military padres during the past 100 years.”

The Very Rev James Nolan PP of Fivemiletown “was taken Prisoner of War during the German Spring Offensive in 1918,” Mark continued, “and Chancellor Robert Gracey served with distinction from 1940 to 1945 and took part in the liberation of Western Europe.”

Amongst other local ‘men of the cloth’ who served as military chaplains were The Right Rev. Alan Buchanan Bishop of Clogher (who was also a POW), the Rev Victor Byers and Rev Barry Hastie.

Mark’s book includes the remarkable stories of local family members who went to war - seven Gillespie brothers, four Bloomfield brothers and more recently, three Browne brothers, who all served in the British Army.

In 1971, on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the British Legion, Her Majesty The Queen granted the organisation Royal status -

During the 1980s the Fivemiletown Legion’s ‘old tin hut’, which had fallen into disrepair, was replaced by a brand-new purpose-built hall.

“This was a great community effort,” Mr Byers explained at the book launch, adding “the majority of the work was successfully completed voluntarily by Legion members.”

The new hall was dedicated by Rev. Robert Riddel on Saturday 14 September 1985 and opened by Vice Admiral Arthur Hazlet - Northern Ireland area President of the Royal British Legion.

‘Fivemiletown Remembers’ is now available there too and for wider availability email [email protected]