Kilrea, County Londonderry.

Kilrea War Memorial is located at The Diamond (the crossroads) in the centre of the village.

It is an obelisk made of Newry granite and is 24 feet (7.25m) in height. It occupies a position over the historic pump in the square, which in former days was the scene of contention between rival political sections, who, particularly on festival occasions, endeavoured to placed their party emblems on it. The memorial was placed there in an to attempt to unify the population. A portion of the old pump remains at the base of the obelisk.

“To the glory of God and in undying and affectionate remembrance of the gallant men of this town and district who served and who made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War, I reverently unveil this War Memorial. May the memory of their noble deeds be a never dying inspiration in the long years to come.”

Rev. J. R. Boyd, a former chaplain to the forces at the Curragh, dedicated the memorial.

The memorial contains the names of 46 men who were killed plus close on three hundred men and eight nurses whose service in the war are also recorded.

‘The memorial bears the following inscription,-

“This memorial is erected to the men of Kilrea and district who were killed and to those who served in the Great War,   1914 – 18.”

It also contains the names of the following places where Kilrea men served: -

Marne, St. Quentin, Egypt, Mons, Somme, Gallipoli, Ypres, Messines, Palestine, Aisne, Guillemont, and Macedonia.’

For more information read Forgotten Heroes of Kilrea, 1914 -1918. ISBN 0 948154 39 X

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