Orange Victims Day recalls 'terrible days past' when 344 members of Orange Family were murdered during Troubles
The annual Orange Victims Day, tomorrow, recalls “terrible days past” when 344 members of the Orange family were murdered during the Troubles - with a special event in Markethill to unveil a refurbished memorial.
The Orange Order adopted 1 September as Orange Victims Day in 2018 – the anniversary of the IRA attack on Tullyvallen Orange Hall in south Armagh in 1975 which claimed five lives.
Since then various lodges across the Province hold events on the date in memory of the 344 members of the Orange family who were murdered during the Troubles. The majority were serving members of the security forces, though many others were civilians.
Leaders of the various loyal orders will mark the date by gathering at the Orange Order headquarters in east Belfast while numerous other local acts of remembrance will be held by across the Province.
The Markethill memorial, which has just been refurbished, was erected in 1986 in memory of seven local Orangemen who were murdered by the IRA. Tragically, another four names were later added, taking the list to 11.
A special event in their memory, ‘Eleven Names, an evening of reflection’ will take place on Tuesday 1 September in Kilcluney Orange Hall, in Markethill at 8pm.
At the event, 11 pen-portraits will be read for each of the 11 murdered men, seven of them read by a close family member. Organisers expected it to be "an emotional night".
The 11 men are Robert Walker (ex-USC), Robert Freeburn (civilian), Robert Lockhart (RUC), Mervyn Robinson (RUC), Thomas Cochrane (UDR), Charles Spence (UDR), Snowdon Corkey (RUC), Michael Marshall (RUC), David Sterritt (RUC), Robert Crozier (UDR) and David Dougan (Civilian).
A booklet is also being published with portraits of each of the 11 men.
District Master Noel Hendren said the marble memorial in Markethill, "serves as a reminder of terrible days past, and a motivation to drive forward to make sure there are better days ahead for our children and grandchildren".
He added: "The names listed on it are still remembered locally, but as the years pass memories fade and new generations come through, not all are fully aware of that terrible period in Northern Ireland’s history."
Orange Grand Master Harold Henning said that each year on 1 September the Orange family pauses to "honour and remember the 343 Orangemen and one Orangewoman murdered by terrorists during the period known as ‘The Troubles’.”
He added: “We remember also the ongoing plight of the injured and bereaved. As we remember with profound sadness, we especially think of the hundreds of grieving families, who live with their own personal loss every day. They are forever in our hearts and in our prayers."
A selection of other events on 1 September are;-
• Lower Iveagh District Junior LOL 31 are gathering to mark the date at Dromore Orange Hall at 7pm.
• Carnmoney District L.O.L. No. 25 is holding a remembrance event at Glengormley Cenotaph, Lillian Bland Park at 7pm.
• West Belfast Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Orange Hall will hold a memorial service on Tuesday at 7:30pm.
• County Armagh Grand Orange Lodge will dedicate a new memorial tablet to honour their murdered Brethren at Sloans House in Loughgall.
• On Sunday Portadown Orange District LOL 1 parade will leave Carleton Street at 3pm and make its way to War Memorial for short Act of Remembrance Parade.