THE RED CROSS
At the advent of First World War it was recognised that a local Red Cross unit was necessary and William Edwin Sands (of seed potato fame) instigated the formation of one in Culcavey and one in Lisburn. Dr McCandless gave the lectures in Culcavey and Dr St George, followed by Dr Page, gave the Lisburn lectures. Out of the Culcavey mens' class some 14 men went on to serve in military hospitals at home and abroad. Tommy Wright was one such member that can be named who served in hospitals. Two brothers, Oliver and

Harry Adams, were also members.

V.A.D.
It was not only the men of the area who provided their services to the Nation, women all over the country were determined to do their bit. War brings casualties and this is where the women came into their own. The V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment) formed in Culcavey was led by Miss Elizabeth Hogan, daughter of Rev. Hogan. When Miss Hogan left to live in England, Mrs Pimm took over her post. Miss Phenix Maze also joined and then went on to nurse in Scotland. A letter from Miss Hogan to Margaret Hall Sands dated September 1915 asked if any more members had volunteered for military nursing as her sister Annie had been accepted and had been sent to Egypt to help nurse the soldiers who had been fighting so nobly in the Dardanelles. Mrs McCarthy, mother of Tommy McCarthy who is mentioned in this book, was also a prominent member.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The pain of the First World War was repeated again for the people of the area with the advent of Second World War when in the area from Newport Bridge to the Factory all the following men enlisted: Tommy McMullen, killed in N. Africa; Bertie Singleton, captured at Arnhem; Tom Armstrong; Alfie Steel; Tommy Pollock; Walter Berry; Bob Kane; Eddie Kane; Tommy Kane; Jack Lynas; George Smith; Billy Boal; Albert Pollock; Tom Dickinson; Davy McCabe; William Cargin (died on active service); Peeler' (Jim) McAdam; Alfie Wilcox; Tom Wilcox; William Cairns; Bob Cairns. From other parts of the area came Tom Martin, William Martin, Dougie Armstrong, Lily Armstrong, Robert Cumins, Willie John Singleton, Albert Crothers, George Hanna and Wilson White, Jnr. Although not from the area, other soldiers and airmen married local girls: Al Sulsh, RAF (killed on active service); Bertie Campbell (prisoner of war); Harry Riddle; Jim Jackson; Bill Prince; Eddie Prior. These men saw and were involved in some of the worst fighting of the war. Prince and Jackson were wounded. The above does not represent a totally comprehensive list of names, there may be others who enlisted and did their duty.

Death came irrespective of age or circumstance, as in the case of

LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN OLIVER CUMINS
On 31st May 1941, Oliver Cumins of Carnbane House lost his life in an aeroplane crash just over two miles away from the RAF base at Pwlleli, north Wales.

At the time a local newspaper gave this account of the tragedy:

"Intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs JM Cumins, of Carnbane House, Lisburn, that their second son Leading Aircraftman Oliver Cumins, has been killed. Leading Aircraftman Cumins, who joined the RAF in January was training as an observer. He was an official of the Ulster Bank Ltd., and had been a member of the head office and Enniskillen Branch staffs. He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution."

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register records the deaths of the following local men:

PRIVATE WILLIAM CARGIN
William Cargin served in the Aux. Mil. Pioneer Corps and died on 26th September 1940. He is buried in Maze Presbyterian Churchyard.

CORPORAL GEORGE GILMORE
George Gilmore, who lived at Bog Road, died on 21st February 1945 at the age of 29. He served in the 3rd Btn., Irish Guards, and was husband of Georgina Gilmore of Ballynahinch. George was buried at Milsbeek War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands, the resting place of men from the 51st (Highland) Division, the 52nd (Lowland) Division, and the 3rd Battalion Irish Guards.

CORPORAL JAMES HENRY GILMORE
James Hen^ry Gilmore, son of Isaiah and Emma Gilmore of Lisburn and brother of the above, served with the 4th Parachute Btn., Army Air Corps, and died on 31st May 1944 at the age of 22. He is buried at Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.

ENGINE ROOM ARTIFICER 4TH CLASS JOHN McKEE
John McKee served on H.M.S. Kongoni, Royal Navy and lost his life on 9th November 1942 aged 27, and was interred at Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery, Gauteng, South Africa. He was son of George and Rhoda McKee of Belfast. George lived at No.1 English Row.

LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS McMULLEN
Thomas McMullen served with the 6th Btn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and lost his life on 27th April 1943. He was laid to rest in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia. Thomas was the son of Robert James McMullan & Isabella McMullan, and nephew of John Cairns, Newport, Hillsborough.

You just have to visit the cemetery of our All Saints' Eglantine Church to recognise the price paid not only by our native boys, but also those outside this island. The row of war graves makes poignant reading, a memorial to those who lost their lives so far from home and rest in the peace of Eglantine.

On 8th September 1990 a memorial window at the back of Eglantine church was dedicated to all the 21 airmen buried in the graveyard. The last aircraft incident involving major loss of life during the Second world War was on 19th March 1945 when the crew of a Liberator aeroplane, based at RAF Aldergrove, crashed on Colin Mountain, killing eleven airmen. Five of the crew now rest peacefully in Eglantine. A memorial service was held in the Church on 19th March 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the crash.

The crew of Liberator KG 896
(1674 HCU � Aldergrove)
Crashed 19th March 1945

REMEMBRANCE
By Bertie Emerson

Twenty one years have passed
Will mankind ever learn!
Fire bombs raining down from the skies
Our cities in flames
Instant death grief and pain
With resistance, our nations survive.

As a mark of respect
To the cross they go back
V Day_, found them all overjoyed
More names were enscribed
Of the loved ones who fell
Far away in locations world wide.

CORPORAL EDWARD KANE
On 4 December 1943 a reception was held in Newport School to mark the return to Culcavey of Edward Kane, who had distinguished himself in the North African campaigns of the Second World War. The many places he had fought (Adina, Kassala, Massara, Eritrea, El Alemain, Tobruk, Benghazi, Tripoli, Tunis) were, no doubt, simply names on the globe in that schoolroom to most of those present.

By 1943 Edward Kane had served in the army for seven years. On the night of reception back to Culcavey, a poem, composed specially for the occasion by RJ Emerson, was read. This poem runs to twenty verses and extols the virtues of this son of Culcavey, but the last seven are particularly poignant and deserve to be quoted:

SERGEANT BERTIE CAMPBELL
Many local girls married ex-servicemen, some of whom had been stationed at Hillsborough Castle. Agnes Kane of Hillside Terrace had married Sergeant Bertie Campbell of the Inniskilling Fusiliers. His tale reflects the horrors of war, as he received a posting to France in 1939 and spent much of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp.

In 1987, a lifetime after the events of the war, Bertie's family received a letter from the British Legion along with a note and a photograph of Bertie and another prisoner-of �war at a graveside. The photograph shows Bertie standing beside Corporal Jimmy Creggan at the grave of Ronald Story. The British Legion had wanted to discover more about Story and had contacted Bertie Campbell. What was revealed at the time was the bravery and determination of the British soldiers, for the photograph had to be carried during a forced march to be smuggled from the camp. The back of it bears rubber stamp mark � 'Stalag XX A Geuprit 21'. This was a prison camp near the border of Poland.

Bertie Campbell was always reluctant to talk about his wartime experiences, but when asked how the Germans treated him, he would say, "The officers received worse treatment than us".

BERTIE SINGLETON
Bertie was born in the Halftown on 8th September 1922 to Elizabeth Anne and Albert Singleton. He was fourth in a family of six: Kathleen, Victoria, Nancy, Albert, John and Mary. He attended Newport Public Elementary School under the guidance of Miss Baird, Miss Blanche Beattie and Headmaster Mr JJV Boyd. Bertie helped at Leathem's farm on the Blaris Road after school hours and during holidays, and was employed here when he left school. Mr Boyd helped get him a job in JC Patterson's Hardware and Furniture shop, but Bertie preferred the open air and returned to Leathem's after about a week.

When the Second World War broke out Bertie, at the age of 18, joined The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Regtl. No.6984172. Around about the same time his mates, Tommy Martin and Tom Armstrong, also joined. Bertie applied to join the Parachute Regiment and spent some time in the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Ulster Rifles, training and waiting for the full transfer. He spent the rest of his time in the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment and served with the 1st Army in Algiers and Morocco. At the attack on Sicily the tail of his `plane was hit and caught fire, but the pilot would not allow them to jump. This may well have saved his life because about half the troops who dropped fell to their death because there was not enough time for the parachutes to open. The recommended height to drop was 900 ft. and they went in about 600 ft. to avoid flak. Bertie returned to Sicily and went on to fight in the Italian Campaign.

After returning to the UK in 1943 he went into training for the Invasion of Europe. However, he saw no further action until the drop of the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem on 17th September 1944. Fortunately or unfortunately he was taken prisoner next day. The information given about the number and status of German troops was very widely inaccurate and the whole area was covered with them. Many of them had been pulled back from the front to rest and regroup.

Bertie seldom had a hard word for anyone (perhaps because of his Mother's teaching, that if you couldn't say a good word about anyone you don't say anything about them) and had nothing bad to say about how he was treated as a prisoner. He was only 5 stone when he was repatriated but praised the German Sgt. Major in charge of his work party for turning his back while they munched a raw turnip, even intimating that they should eat it all in case the remains were discovered. Anyone caught stealing food had their head put down the toilet, and they were not flush toilets! He said the Germans were no better off than they were. Bertie's brother John could have got leave to go home to see him, but was advised by his Company Commander to wait a couple of weeks to allow him to recuperate, because he wouldn't like what he saw. He comments "In that fortnight Bertie had got up to 8 stone. I was glad I waited".

When Bertie returned home the people of Newport and district had a great night to celebrate his arrival, where the local talent excelled itself in song and poetry etc. He received a wallet with money collected for the occasion and also a watch suitably inscribed on the back and which still goes.

When he returned to the Army Bertie had to do parachute jumps to continue his entitlement to Paratroops pay. During one such operation he fell into a barbed-wire entanglement where he cut his shin. The wound didn't heal readily and he spent some time in hospital in Chichester. John, recently stationed at Singleton Camp near Chichester, went to see him but found Bertie had shifted away just the day before. Bertie left the army shortly after that and returned to live with his mother at Newport.

For those who had the privilege to know the quiet and unassuming man that Bertie was is aptly weighed up by his brother "While the rest of us went off and got married Bertie stayed single, we all believed to look after our Mother. He usually did put others before himself'.

(The above information is supplied from the loving memories of his brother John.)

THE ATC (AIR TRAINING CORPS)
Whilst the Second World War was progressing the next generation were preparing themselves for service. A squadron of the Air Training Corps was formed in Lisburn Technical School in 1941. In 1942 Mr. WA Kirkwood, Principal of Downshire School, Hillsborough, formed a new wing of 817 Squadron. Many of the boys from Culcavey joined and were trained to a very high standard, ready to transfer to the RAF if needed. However, the age groups of most of the boys meant they were too young when the war ended. Some of them did enter the RAF. Corporal Thompson Crossey of the Hillsborough Wing represented Northern Ireland ATC as a member of the football team and as a lightweight boxer against England, Scotland and Wales. The Hillsborough Wing was disbanded in the 1950s.

OUR PEOPLE

It is worth recording some of the people that set out and made a name for themselves in the world outside the small area of Culcavey and Halftown. The younger generation may be unaware that these people had their achievements and careers well documented and were remarkable in their time. So too should be recognised those within the community who contributed so much to it.

REX AND CROMIE McCANDLESS
Many people with an interest in engineering, motorcycles or even aviation will have heard of Rex and Cromie McCandless, natives of Culcavey who lived at Laurelvale House, Puddledock Road.

Rex was born in 1915 and his brother, Cromie, nine years later. The family had long been engaged in farming, but Rex's career in particular was to take him in a very different direction. He admitted that he was no great academic at school, but acknowledged that his aunt's gift to him of a 1923 side valve Raleigh motorcycle was a real turning point which began his passion for all things mechanical. After a spell with the NAAFI at RAF Uxbridge, Rex worked servicing lorries for the Daily Herald newspaper. Before the outbreak of the Second World War he retu^rned to Northern Ireland to work for Short and Harland. The wages from this job were used to fuel Rex's love of motorbikes, and in 1940 he entered the Irish 500 road race championship with his Triumph Tiger 100. He took the lap record at 79.75 mph. Despite highly placed finishes, Rex always saw himself as the engineer, while Cromie was the racer. Indeed, significant among Cromie's wins was his dramatic success in the 1952 Senior Ulster Grand Prix.

In 1943 the brothers set up in business on Belfast's Dublin Road, taking on any kind of engineering work. The standard of workmanship was so high that the Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture awarded them several contracts. Success bred success and expansion followed with a partnership with Artie Bell, resulting in the foundation of Bell and McCandless.

While committed to his business, Rex toyed with ideas of improving motorcycle performance and handling. Rex's labours resulted in the construction of the `Benial' frame for motorbikes. This in turn gave the basis for the Norton Featherbed, which along with Rex's development of the rear suspension system, revolutionised motorcycling. This was proved as early as 1946 at Brands Hatch. Rex established a seven-year association with the Norton Company which allowed them to stay ahead of the stiff Italian competition in road racing. By 1950 Rex McCandless became interested in methods of improving four-wheel drive vehicles, and his ideas attracted the attention of the famous Harry Ferguson. So impressed was Ferguson that he funded the work. After extensive work, the four-wheel drive Mule was engineered and was so effective that the British army expressed interest in using it. Rex was offered, and refused, the technical directorship of Harry Ferguson Limited. In the event, Ferguson did not utilise the Mule, thus presenting a lost opportunity.

Rex McCandless also built racing cars, with the chassisless McCandless Trials Car coming third in the 1956 Boxing Day trial. With experimentation in the making of bricks, Rex believed in diversification � even to the extent of going into aviation. In 1959 Rex and Cromie bought a De Havilland Hornet Moth aeroplane. Again, Rex's expert eye could visualise how this could be made more effective and so he built the McCandless Autogyro. It was an indication of his level-headedness that he always tested his machines himself.

The work of Rex McCandless, always supported by Cromie, is recollected at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, where important examples of his work can now be seen. Rex's ability to overcome mechanical hindrances is summed up by a phrase he often used: "When you solve a problem, you haven't got one".

ELSIE KELSEY
Elsie Kelsey (nee McBride) was born and brought up at Demiville House, Halftown. Within the community she is remembered with fondness and pride. Her contribution to and interest in the life of the area was of the highest order. Taking a keen interest in politics she was a staunch Unionist and her efforts and input were finally recognised when she was made Mayor of Lisburn. In this role she was able to display the wealth of experience in public life and the commitment and dedication that was her hallmark. Elsie was committed to her Church and God, and as a lifetime member of All Saints' Eglantine Church she participated in every aspect of Church life. The people of the area were proud of her achievements, this girl from the Halftown - one of our own'!

BRIAN NELSON
Here is one man who can trace his family roots in the area right back to the 1750s. That alone is remarkable, but Brian Nelson's contribution to the world of racing makes a story in itself. He probably inherited his mechanical inclination from his father, Hubert, but in his own words he was "always at speed, should it have been pushing the pram or a bicycle, but it eventually ended up with motorbikes and then racing cars". Brian won the Irish and Scottish Formula Libre Championships as well as establishing the first 100 mph laps of Kirkistown and Bishopscourt, creating the Craigantlet Hill record on three annual occasions and winning his championship race at Sebring, Florida, USA.

Brian was much associated with Crossle cars. The 16F, Crossle's first and highly successful Formula Ford, which started its production run in 1969, was campaigned by Brian in 1970 in the early European races. A one-off Formula 3 car built late 1969 for the 1970 season using a 1000cc Ford Cosworth engine was raced by Brian. A 1970 Formula 2 car, using 1600 Cosworth F.V.A. engine and Hewland FT gearbox was raced very successfully by him in Ireland and Scotland, and in three rounds of the European Formula 2 Championship, and in which he broke the hill record at Craigantlet.

As a change from the fast racing circuit, Brian changed direction to do something different, and of course it had to be cars. He changed to Rally Cars and won the Irish Tarmac Championship before, as he says, "I decided it was time to get married"!

TOMMY McCARTHY
Tommy was born at the lower Maze, lived at Newport, Eglantine Road and Thompson's Row, Culcavey. He attended Newport Public Elementary School and Lisburn Central Primary, with further education at Lisburn Technical College 1939-42.

Whilst serving an Engineering Apprenticeship in Belfast from 1942-48 he gained experience in Workshops and Drawing Office, plus the Jig Tool Drawing Office. Despite the hard work he attended Lisburn Tech. evening classes and Belfast College of Technology, and obtained his National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering. From 1948-51 he was Assistant to the Works Production Engineer.

Embarking into a wider world Tommy joined the Merchant Navy in 951, and his first voyage was with P.S.N.C. to the west coast of South America (Columbia, Peru, Chile, etc.). From late in 1951 until 1959 he joined the Elder Dempster Lines, serving on various ships, including R.M.V. "Aureol", sailing mainly to West Africa, South Africa, Canada and the USA. Still studying, he obtained his 2nd Engineers Certificate (Diesel) in 1954 and his Chief Engineers Certificate (Diesel) in 1958.

From 1959-61 Tommy was with the Cunard White Star Line, sailing on R.M.S. "Queen Mary" and "Britannic" to the USA. In 1961 he added to his qualifications with the Combined Chief Engineers Certificate (Steam & Diesel).

British Rail Sealink Ferries, Larne-Stranraer Service gained his services in 1961, where as Chief Engineer Officer he stayed until his early retirement in 1989. During his time with them he served on S.S. "Princess Margaret", S.S. "Caledonian Princess", M.V. "Antrim Princess", M.V. "Ailsa Princess", M.V. "Galloway Princess".

Many local people who travelled on these vessels would have been surprised that the `Chief' was a wee boy from Culcavey!

HARRY FINN
Even after World War Two many of the local lads still considered a career in the Services. Harry Finn, who lived at Harry's Road and then Newport, left the area in 1952 to work as a steel-erector in the construction industry in North-east England. In 1954 he joined the Parachute Regiment, and after selection and training was posted to 1 Para. He saw active service in Malaya during the communist incursions, spending six years in the jungles of Malaya, Borneo and in the deserts and mountains of the Persian Gulf area. In 1961 he was detached to serve with the Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces patrolling with a Bedouin unit against the communist dissidents. 1963 saw him joining 1 East Anglian (now Royal Anglian) for active service in the Radfan and Aden campaigns, later serving in Germany and his homeland. On promotion to Warrant Officer Class I (RSM) in 1972 he took up appointment of Garrison Sergeant Major of Gibraltar. 1972 saw a return to England where he carried out the duties of Inspector of T.A. Centres and Recruiting Offices in the East of England. After a 22 year career in the army he joined a large public school to train the Cadet Force and run adventurous training trips, mainly in the mountains. In 1986 he started his own business in Norfolk.

In Harry's varied career he met and rubbed shoulder with many well-known people, as his large montage of photographs would show. However, he is well remembered in Culcavey for his strong man act at `the corner' of lifting his friends and holding them above his head!

JOHNNY PALMER
Everyone in the area knew Johnny Palmer, travelling round in his van bringing groceries etc. to the people of the area. Born of a farming family in the Halftown Johnny knew the area and its people well. in September 1962 the Ulster Star did an article on Johnny starting with the quotation "Palmer in the middle ages was an itinerant monk - one who wandered from place to place. This is a story of a modern day Palmer. A man who moved from place to place - but not of his own choosing". It outlined a story of Johnny and his family from 1941 to 1962.

The family farm was situated on what became Long Kesh aerodrome, the land being requisitioned in 1941 for this construction. Johnny had to move and he settled at Sprucefield and opened a general store and then a petrol filling station. With his wife Agnes helping him the business grew and so did his family of four children. 21 years later he found himself in much the same position, this time the land which his shop occupied was required for the building of a road - the South Approach. So the family were again forced to up and go, in the name of modernisation. But Johnny was not beat when it came to facing up to a situation. The derelict Hillsborough Railway Station was about to become the next family home. Johnny, Agnes and family moved there and converted part of the premises into a shop, driving his van to the homes of his old customers four days a week. A far-sighted man, Johnny purchased land near the old Blaris School with the intention of building a new house and shop in the future. And this was exactly what he did, the house, shop and filling station came into being and here Johnny saw out his remaining days. Johnny served the community well, and although his business, now run by his family, is known as the M1 Filling Station, the local people still call it 'Johnny Palmer's Shop'.

THE PORTER FAMILY
At the beginning of the twentieth century the Porter family lived at number 2 Shop Row. All the members of this family were able to play various musical instruments, such as the flute, the melodeon, the accordion and drums. They were in fact a small local band, and played for family occasions. One member of the Porter family made his mark in the field of poetry, as detailed below.

Oliver Porter and Rabbie John Emerson were gifted poets and this bonded them as great friends and they often exchanged poems. Oliver emigrated to San Pedro, Los Angeles in USA as a young man. He wrote many poems and published a book of some of them; they are all inspirational and intellectual, great poems.

He returned to Culcavey in 1965, that is two years after the death of Rabbie John. In Culcavey Stores he made himself known to Bertie, Rabbie John's son, and had a chat about "old times". He said that when he went to San Pedro, Los Angeles was 25 miles from his home, now it was 25 miles past it and still sprawling. Oliver then went outside and stood at the corner of Shop Row, looking across the Lagan Valley towards the Antrim Hills. He was refreshing his memory, by reliving his youth. In fact, some of his poetry did recall the `old country'.