Three hundred crosses for murdered Orange members

Leaders of the various loyal orders came together in Belfast today to remember the 339 members of the Orange Order who were murdered during the Troubles.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 1st Sep 2020, 17:08 BST
Updated 1st Sep 2020, 17:48 BST
Grand Master Edward Stevenson lays a wreath at the Memorial Window in Schomberg House to mark Orange Victims’ Day. Picture: Graham Baalham-CurryGrand Master Edward Stevenson lays a wreath at the Memorial Window in Schomberg House to mark Orange Victims’ Day. Picture: Graham Baalham-Curry
Grand Master Edward Stevenson lays a wreath at the Memorial Window in Schomberg House to mark Orange Victims’ Day. Picture: Graham Baalham-Curry

The representatives laid wreaths at The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland headquarters, Schomberg House on the Cregagh Road, in memory of the 338 Orangemen and one Orangewoman who lost their lives.

Grand Master Edward Stevenson led the acts of remembrance at the institution Orange Victims Day in its Garden of Remembrance.

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He was joined by representatives of the Junior Grand Orange Lodge, Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland, Royal Arch Purple Chapter, Royal Black Institution and the Apprentice Boys of Derry.

The 339 members of the Orange Institution murdered during the Troubles were remembered at a ceremony in Belfast today to mark the third annual Orange Victims’ Day. Pictured in the memorial garden at Schomberg House are, from left, Governor Graeme Stenhouse, Apprentice Boys of Derry; Grand Master John Clarke, Grand Royal Arch Purple Chapter; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Most Wor. Bro. Edward Stevenson; Junior Grand Master Bro. Roy Nixon, Junior Grand Orange Lodge; Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution Rev William Anderson and Grand Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland Sister Joan Beggs. Photo: Graham Baalham-CurryThe 339 members of the Orange Institution murdered during the Troubles were remembered at a ceremony in Belfast today to mark the third annual Orange Victims’ Day. Pictured in the memorial garden at Schomberg House are, from left, Governor Graeme Stenhouse, Apprentice Boys of Derry; Grand Master John Clarke, Grand Royal Arch Purple Chapter; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Most Wor. Bro. Edward Stevenson; Junior Grand Master Bro. Roy Nixon, Junior Grand Orange Lodge; Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution Rev William Anderson and Grand Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland Sister Joan Beggs. Photo: Graham Baalham-Curry
The 339 members of the Orange Institution murdered during the Troubles were remembered at a ceremony in Belfast today to mark the third annual Orange Victims’ Day. Pictured in the memorial garden at Schomberg House are, from left, Governor Graeme Stenhouse, Apprentice Boys of Derry; Grand Master John Clarke, Grand Royal Arch Purple Chapter; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Most Wor. Bro. Edward Stevenson; Junior Grand Master Bro. Roy Nixon, Junior Grand Orange Lodge; Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution Rev William Anderson and Grand Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland Sister Joan Beggs. Photo: Graham Baalham-Curry

The service was among a number of commemorative events across Northern Ireland this week, as county, district and private lodges remember their fallen members.

Speaking at the service today, Grand Master Edward Stevenson said: “We come together to remember and respectfully pay tribute to the 338 Orangemen and one Orangewoman who were killed at the hands of republican terrorists during the Troubles. Many of those murdered were also members of our other Loyal Orders represented here today.

“This annual commemoration illustrates our determination that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

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“This is a day of remembrance and reflection for the wider Orange family. We remember not only those who lost their lives but also the families who lost loved ones. We also remember those who suffered serious injuries and still bear the scars – both physically and emotionally.”

He noted that the small white crosses spread across the order’s memorial garden each represent a life cut short.

“The Orange Institution will continue to give its support to the innocent victims and consistently challenge the republican agenda which would see the history books re-written,” he added.

The service was conducted by the order’s grand chaplain, Rev John Noble. It coincides this year with the 45th anniversary of the Tullyvallen Massacre in south Armagh. Four Orangemen were murdered in the IRA attack on Tullyvallen Orange Hall on 1 September 1975. A fifth member of the order died later as a result of his injuries.

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TUV leader Jim Allister also issued a statement today in memory of the fallen Orangemen.

“Today, on Orange Victims Day, we recall those from within the ranks of Orangeism who paid the supreme sacrifice,” he said.

“It is fitting that we should remember them on the anniversary of the Tullyvallen Massacre when five Orangemen were murdered for the crime of being Orangemen and Protestants. It is a particularly stark reminder of the blatantly sectarian nature of much of the PIRA campaign - something the people of Northern Ireland were reminded of again when guns used in Tullyvallen were employed in the murder of ten Protestant workmen at Kingsmills a few months later.

He added: “It is right and proper that such barbarism is recalled, even if it is in a somewhat scaled back fashion this year because of the pandemic. It is also right to remember that many IRA guns remain in circulation, fifteen years after they were supposedly all decommissioned.”

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