On Monday 1st September, 2014, the Ulster History Circle erected a plaque to David Nelson VC. Nelson was the first Ulsterman, and second Irishman [the first was Maurice Dease of Co Westmeath – August 23rd 1914] to be awarded the VC in the First World War. 

Monday 1st September was 100 years to the day of the battle at Néry, France, where he won the Victoria Cross. Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, the local TD  unveiled the plaque. I attended the ceremony as Chairman of the Somme Association, accompanied by our Director Carol Walker. 

                          Carol and I with Chris Spurr, Chair of the Ulster History Circle.

The place was the former Presbyterian church at Cahans, about six miles south of Monaghan town. The Nelson family attended the church, which is being restored as an inter-community project. The Ulster-Scots Agency funded the plaque, which was the History Circle’s second in the Republic.

          Carol and I with Minister Heather Humphreys and Maynard Hanna (Ulster Scots Agency).

In collaboration with the Ulster-Scots Agency, there is a proposal to put up plaques to all the Ulster WWI VCs over the next few years. The idea would be to put up the plaques as near as possible to the anniversary of the date they won the medal. 

Photos by Maud Hamill (Ulster History Circle)

Ulster-born VCs, 1914-1919 War

Eric Bell+* [1895-1916] – Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh – 1916

Edward Bingham [1881-1939] – Bangor, Co Down – 1916

James Crichton** [1879-1961] – Carrickfergus, Co Antrim – 1918

Edmund De Wind+** [1883-1918] – Comber, Co Down – 1918

James Duffy [1889-1969] – Gweedore, Co Donegal – 1917

Robert Hill Hanna [1887-1967] – Kilkeel, Co Down – 1917

Thomas Hughes [1885-1942] – Carravoo, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan – 1916

William McFadzean+* [1895-1916] – Lurgan, Co Armagh – 1916  

Robert Morrow+ [1891-1915] – Newmills, Dungannon, Co Tyrone – 1915

David Nelson [1886-1918] – Darraghlan, Stranooden, Co Monaghan – 1914

Robert Quigg [1885-1955] – Ardihannan, Bushmills, Co Antrim – 1916 [Somme]

James Somers [1884-1918] – Belturbet, Co Cavan – 1915

Total: 12 

+ VC awarded posthumously

* died at the First Battle of the Somme, July 1, 1916

** already has Ulster History Circle plaque 

By county: Antrim: 2; Armagh: 1; Cavan: 1; Donegal: 1; Down: 3; Fermanagh: 1; Monaghan: 2; Tyrone: 1 

By year: 1914: 1, 1915: 2; 1916: 5; 1917: 2; 1918: 2