NEWTOWNCUNNINGHAM TRUE BLUES L.O.L 1063
Newtowncunningham True Blues received the Warrant LOL 1063 in June 1911. The Warrant had originally been in operation in Bandon, Co Cork before being issued to Newtowncunningham.
Most of the original members transferred from the local lodges of St Johnston LOL 992 and Carrigans LOL 1897. The Officers in the first year were Wor Master Thomas A Sproule, Dep Master Samuel Walker, Sec Thomas Payne, Treas John Allen and Chaplain Tom Anderson. The Orange Hall was originally a tannery but was given to the local Orangemen by the owner. At the end of the first year in operation LOL 1063 had 72 members.
With the coming of the First World War many of our members went to fight. Some of them never to return. A memorial plaque in the Orange Hall commemorates those who fought in the Great War.
In 1918 LOL 1063 returned 64 members to Raphoe District No 3 with Samual Walker now as WM, Thomes Sproule having been killed in the Great War.
In 1929 Albert Sproule took over as secretary. Bro Sproule is still an
Honorary Member of LOL 1063 having joined the lodge in 1925. Bro Sproule
served as Wor District Master in 1946 - 1948.
Up to the Second World War the number of members remained around 50. After
the War Bro G McClean was elected as WM, with Bro R Roulston as DM, Bro
Rev LHL Abercrombie as Chaplain, Bro JJ Logan as Sec and Bro A Sproule as
Treas. In this year the lodge returned 59 members.
For the 50th anniversary in 1961, it was agreed to renovate the Hall. In
March 1961, the hall was reopened and dedicated by the Rev J Brown. Also
the lodge held a special anniversary service at which the Rev Brown was
the special preacher. A report of this service appeared in the Belfast Telegraph
of the day together with a photograph of the Rev Brown and the principle
Officers.
The Lodge has continued to flourish although sadly the pipe band, which
the lodge had from before the Second World War, has ceased to operate. The
pipe band had replaced a flute band which the lodge had originally formed.
In the Bicentenary year, the lodge decided to refurbish Newtowncunningham Orange Hall. The Hall was painted inside and outside with heating added and all the work being done by the members voluntarily. In October 1990 the lodge held a harvest supper to celebrate the Tercentenary of the Battle of the Boyne.
The lodge has a very active ladies committee which continually raises funds for the hall in order to help meet the expense of a small lodge keeping its own hall.
New and old members are always made very welcome and should you need further
information on joining the Orange Institution, please use the Contact Us
link on the left.
At the outbreak of the First World War thirty-seven members - over fifty
percent of the lodges membership - responded to the call of King and Country.
Of course at that time Ireland was all one and under rule from Westminster.
Many of the members joined the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers (Donegal and Fermanagh Volunteers). Due to high casualties the
11th Btn ceased on 1st Feb 1918 to exist and those still alive were transferred
to 9th Btn RIF. Four were decorated for valour. No less than seven members
of the lodge made the supreme sacrifice and did not return. Their names
are commemorated on the halls truly magnificent War Memorial, of which the
lodge is rightly and justly proud;
The memorial reads
In Honour of the following members of 2nd Donegal Batt, Ulster Volunteer Force and members of LOL1063 who fell in the Great War -
Lieut Robert R. Gallaugher, Cpl. Thomas A Sproule, LCpl. Charles Wray (MM), Pte. William Donaghy, Pte John Donaghy, Pte James Me Knight, Pte Alexander Roulston,.
And in gratitude to the following who also served -
Capt John Knowles, James A. Glen, John J Glenn, Sgt. William Gallaugher,
Robert Porter, Robert Roulston MM, Cpl. Samuel Donnell MM, Samuel Walker,
LCpl David Glenn C de G, James Payne, Trp Archibald C. Boal, Alexander Carson,
Pte Thomas J Campbell, William Chambers, Robert Donaghy, Thomas Ewing, William
Ewing, Joseph Law, James McClintock, David McConnell, William McElhinney,
Herbert McFarland, William McKeever,
Samuel Patterson, William Robb, William Taylor, Samuel Walker, George Wallace,
William Watson and Joseph Wray.
Cpl. Thomas A. Sproule was of course our first Wor. Mas. and a veteran of the Boer War. He left behind a wife and five children. L.Cpl. Chas. Wray was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at the Somme on the First July 1916. He received his medal posthumously as he was killed on Sept. 15th in a raid on German Position at Dranoutre. Lieut. Robert R. Gallaugher was a cousin of the famous Capt. Henry Gallaugher MC. Bros Robt. Roulston and Sam Donnell both received the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery. Bro. David Glenn received the Croix de Guerre, he emigrated to Australia after the war. The lodge holds a Service each year on Remembrance Sunday to honour the seven lodge members who made the supreme sacrifice and those members who returned from the conflict.
Lieut. Robert R. Gallaugher (4th Btn Worcestershire Reg.) Died 23rd February
1917.
Cpl. Thomas A Sproule (2nd Btn RIF) Died 15th May 1915.
L.Cpl. Charles Wray (MM) (11th Btn RIF) Died 15th September 1916.
Pte. William Donaghv (11th Btn RIF) Died 1st July 1916.
Pte John Donaghy (9th Btn RIF) Died 29th March 1918.
Pte James Me Knight (9th Btn RIF) Died 29th March 1918.
Pte Alexander Roulston (9th Btn RIF) Died 13th May 1918.