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WW1 Soldiers database
8th Index
WW2 Soldiers database
Street Directories
Living Roll of Honour
these are the names of the remaining (original) men of the 8th Belfast HAA
and then there were none ... (that we
know of)
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Jim Brennan 1920 -
2021
Jim Lennon 1919 - 2020
Herbert Coulter 1916 - 2020
Tommy Dickson 1916 - 2012
Bertie Goodwin
1919 - 2013
Billy Bickerstaff
1920 - 2016 |
there is talk of John Houston being
alive but we have no confirmation or any word, if you know of John could
you please let us know at the above email address ~ thank you xx
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WW1 Soldiers database
8th Index
WW2 Soldiers database
latest news
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the last of the 8th
Belfast H.A.A. men
* Jim Brennan *
Rest in Peace Sir
Jim and my Dad and the last few of the 8th Belfast men often talked
about the dwindling numbers when they met up for various things and who
would outlast the others, my Dad would always say I'll dance on all your
graves (that was their kind of sense of humour) well Jim, you beat them all, I hope you are all sitting round a campfire somewhere,
trading stories and jokes and keeping each other safe, bless all their
hearts, we have so much to thank all these brave men for
and then there was 1
Herbert (Tom) Coulter
1916 ~ 23-08-2020
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and then there were 2
James Lennon
19-10-1919 ~ 6-7-2020
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and then there were 3.....
we have lost another of the 8th Belfast men, William 'Billy' Bickerstaff
sadly passed away suddenly on the 10th April 2016
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and then there were 4.....
another sad loss for the family of the 8th Belfast HAA,
Bertie Goodwin, age 92, passed away on the
17th January 2013,
his daughter Susan told me that although his hearing had gone almost
completely he still had his sense of humour and terrific memory.
He would have been 93 on the 17 February this year, we send our love and
thoughts to Susan and her family at this sad time.
The Service is at
Kingsdown Crematorium Swindon on Friday 1st
February at 1500 hrs
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and then there were 5...
we lost Tommy Dickson on the 1st April 2012, he was 95 and he and my dad
were good friends
(see photo below and go to the link for more)
Tommy always had the happiest smiliest face, he was deaf as a door post and
just smiled and nodded no matter what you said to him, I feel very sad that
he is gone and to his daughter Maureen I send a big hug
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Lots of photos
here of .....the final Burma Star Belfast Parade on the 65th
Anniversary of VJ Day- 15th August 2010
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Photos
now online of the Service and
afterwards at the Lansdowne Court Hotel and it was lovely to meet so many of
the people who have contacted by email over the past couple of years, a
great day weatherwise and wonderful turnout and a good time was had by all,
lots of chatting and standing about, anyone who showed me photographs of
their soldiers, please send them so I can put them on the site, also anyone
who took photos on Sunday, either at St. Anne's or in the Lansdowne I would
love copies of them, they don't have to be professional standard --
Mary
Published Date: 04 October 2010
Burma
veterans mark end of era
By Staff reporter
SECOND World War veterans yesterday gathered for the final time for a poignant
service of remembrance. Up to 20 members of the Belfast branch of the
Burma Star Association were joined by family, friends and dignitaries for a
special ceremony at St Anne’s Cathedral in the city, as the standard of the
organisation was officially laid up for safekeeping. Like many of
their counterparts in the rest of the UK before them, a decision was taken to
bring the curtain down on a proud association, due to a combination of dwindling
numbers and the increase in the average age of members.
The Burma Star Association was formed in 1952, bringing
together local members of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force who fought in the
Far East during the six-year conflict. At its inception, the association
registered a total of 154 members. Its standard was dedicated in St Anne’s
in April the following year. Hymns and lessons used during that event formed
yesterday’s order of service. The service of remembrance and
thanksgiving was officiated by Dean Houston McKelvey.
In his address, he paid tribute to the veterans in attendance as well as those
who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the battlefields of the Far East.
“You, the members of the Burma Star Association and
your comrades from the association who have gone before... You have kept the
faith with those who fell in action, with those who died in captivity, with
those who later suffered for their service,” he said. “So, please do
not leave this place feeling depressed or downhearted by the inevitable passage
of time. “Rather, shoulders back, heads up - You have kept faith
with your comrades, and before God and man, I say - ‘Well done. Mission
accomplished in war and peace. Thank you. God speed.’”
Dignitaries at the special service included Belfast
lord mayor, Pat Convery, alongside the respective mayors of Newtownabbey and
Bangor. The Burma Star Association previously received the freedom of the latter
two council areas. Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan, whose father
Sir Robin served in Burma, read a lesson during the service.
Speaking prior to the service, Brian Rodgers, president of the NI branch of the
Burma Star Association, revealed that people had travelled from as far away as
Canada and the United States to be in attendance. While emphasising
the occasion would mark the “end of an era”, the former serviceman also
maintained the event was memorable. “I happen to be the youngest member
and it is sad because I see the older members, with their disabilities and so
forth, but their interest and allegiance to the association is remarkable,” he
said.
In August, the last Burma Star Association
commemoration parade took place in Belfast to mark the anniversary of Victory
over Japan Day (V.J. day).
Commenting on future
events, Mr. Rodgers said: “Those of us who can will still observe V.J. Day and
will lay a wreath, but there will be no parade.”
Burma campaigners George McFerran, Andy Weir,
Harry Sharkey and Tony Baker before the service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“On October 3rd, 2010 at 3.30 pm, Dean Houston McKelvey will be holding a
service during which the Standard of the
Belfast Branch of the Burma Star Association will be laid up in St. Anne's
Cathedral, Belfast
“We would like as many people as possible with family links to those who
served to be present in the Cathedral.
Please contact us by sending an e-mail to admin@belfastcatheral.org or a SAE
and we will be in touch”.
The close links between the Cathedral and the Burma Campaign are symbolised
by the Association's Memorial in the
North Aisle and the memorial of the 8th (Belfast) Regiment of the Royal
Artillery.
The address of Belfast Cathedral, is Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2HB.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
we went to the Burma Star Luncheon at the Lansdowne Court Hotel in Belfast
on Saturday 26th September 2009
movie
clip and photos
if anyone was there and has some photos they
would like to send me, please contact me at the above email address
photo of Tommy Dickson and his daughter
Maureen
Tommy's wife unfortunately had a bad fall last year and wasn't able to
attend
Tommy Dickson 1916 - 2012
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The Eighth Belfast
to the tune of "The Old Brigade"
We are the boys of the
Eighth Bel-fast
Who fought with you side by side
Gun-team to Gun-team, the dye was cast
Fought til' we damn near died.
Who so rea-dy to fight for right
Who so loy-al and true?
Sure we are the boys who show'd our might
We are the boys you knew.
Chorus
So from Uls-ter and Great
Britain too
"Big Jim-my" was our man
We tried to be a loy-al crew
In the jungles of A-ra-kan.
The stead-il-y win-ning right from wrong
Ready from first to last
Mar-ching a-long sing-ing our song
We're the boys of the Eighth Bel-fast.
Over the sea far away some
lie
Far from the land they love
Their's not to question do or die
Their re-ward is in Heav'n above
Not in an ab-bey laid at last
Find they a place or part
These gal-lant boys of the Eighth Bel-fast
Now sleep in their countries heart.
Chorus
So from Uls-ter and Great
Britain too
"Big Jim-my" was our man
We tried to be a loy-al crew
In the jungles of A-ra-kan.
The stead-il-y win-ning right from wrong
Ready from first to last
Mar-ching a-long sing-ing our song
We're the boys of the Eighth Bel-fast.
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