In Foreign Fields : Soldiers of Down in The Great War "We were told it was only a matter of going over the top, but the Germans were well dug in and they mowed us down." Downpatrick man Samuel Craig was one of only 87 men from the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles left alive after the Battle of the Somme. Photographs and artefacts belonging to other Down men who fought during World War I can be found at Down County Museum in Downpatrick. When World War I broke out Samuel Craig enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, which drew men from the Shankill Road and Down District. His initial training was at Ballykinler, then he was moved to Sussex and onto France. Samuel trained as a Lewis machine gunner and was promoted to Lance Sergeant in command of the machine gun corp.  | | Military Medal, Mons Star, Defence Medal and Victory Medal. Awarded to Samuel Craig. |
The 9th Battalion was decimated during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the 87 men remaining were divided up between the 12th and 13th Battalions. Samuel was moved to the 12th Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal, a rare distinction in the First World War, for his bravery in the subsequent action at Messines. He was also awarded 3 other medals - the Mons Star, the Defence Medal and the Victory Medal. | It was at Messines in 1918 that Samuel Craig was eventually taken prisoner, along with another Downpatrick man Connely Pepper. So Samuel spent the last 9 months of the war inside a POW camp, where he said he was reasonably well treated. He was put to work in a mill and the hours were long and hard. It was quite a long time before his family found out what had happened to him. On his return home Samuel was very proud to receive a letter from King George V welcoming his release from "the cruelties of captivity". When he returned home Samuel talked little of his experiences either in the trenches or in the POW camp. He did however talk occasionally about fellow Northern Ireland soldiers who had been wounded next to him in battle. He spoke about Gordon Martin who took a hit in the hip and suffered a great deal of agony. Also William Cooke (who worked in the Belfast Telegraph and was from Stockman's Lane), who was shot in the mouth, the bullet entering one cheek and passing out through the other. |
| | |  | Michael McNamee with Samuel Craig's son
(also called Samuel) | |
The family have quite a tradition of military service. Three generations of Samuel Craigs have fought for their country in the Boer War, World War I and World War II successively. Samuel Craig's son (also Samuel) spoke to Michael McNamee about his father's wartime experiences .... Click Here to listen to Samuel Craig talking to Michael McNamee. First of all Michael gets a tour of a Down County Museum World War I exhibition with Lesley Simpson.
(broadcast on Your Place and Mine 24.01.2004) |
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 | Medals awarded to Sergeant Robert McClurg (1895-1976) of Crossgar.
Second from right is the Croix de Guerre
From Down County Museum collection.
Gift of Mr Oliver Priestley, Killyleagh. |
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Perhaps the most poignant object is a wooden cross, which had been placed on the grave of Sapper John Malone, who was killed in Flanders in 1916. When they were replaced by stone grave markers, these temporary crosses were given to families of the deceased. Together with the photograph of John Malone, it is a reminder of the 23 million people who died in the First World War. Another photograph shows the Love Family from Downpatrick whose eight sons all fought in the First World War, while a roll of honour from Drumaness Mill lists employees who served in the war. Also on display are the medals which were awarded to Robert McClurg and James Roulston. Bob McClurg joined the Royal Irish Rifles in 1914 and fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French and the Military Medal by the British for his bravery during this battle. Bob served in the Home Guard durnig World War II. Sergeant James Roulston had already fought in India and South Africa. He also went on to serve in the Home Guard in World War II. Other items in the Museum’s collection include some uniform, weapons, postcards and documents but the Museum would always welcome more, especially those with interesting local stories attached. You can contact the Down County Museum at The Mall, Downpatrick, phone 028 44 615218 or visit the museum website at www.downcountymuseum.com. You can also share World War I stories here at Your Place and Mine. Post your comments by filling in the form at the bottom of the page. |
| | |  | World War I cigarette cards showing recruitment posters.
From Down County Museum collection
James Seeds collection, gift of Miss Jane Seeds of Killough | |
View below further items belonging to the Down County Museum's collection of World War I memorabilia.
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 |  | Postcard of the period
Gift of Mrs Florence Coffey, Cluntagh, Crossgar | Replica of 'Lusitania' medal
Gift of Mrs M C Douglas, Bryansford |
The original 'Lusitania' medals were struck in Germany. They were reproduced in England as a propaganda measure, as many civilians were killed when the boat was torpedoed. However, it was being used to carry weapons at the time, despite assertions to the contrary. |
 |  | CAP This belonged to the donor's father,
James McBride of Downpatrick.
Gift of Mr J D McBride, Downpatrick. | The Love Family of Scotch Street, Downpatrick.
All eight sons served in the army in the First World War. |
 | Peace Day Parade, New Bridge Street, Downpatrick 19 July 1919
The Museum also has a programme of events for this day on display. |
 | Cigarette cards illustrating military vehicles.
From the James Seeds Collection, gift of Miss Jane Seeds, Killough. |
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Mike King, Curator of Down County Museum, came across Samuel Craig's story when putting together an exhibition on World War I in 2003.
See also: Somme hero: Robert Quigg VC 1885 - 1955 Battle of the Somme Battle of the Somme - Memorabilia The Larne Fallen An Enniskillen VC Lurgan Men in the Great War World War I: Soldiers of Down The Peake Brothers at War 1914-18 |
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