War dead to be remembered

Portadown Ulster Unionist Councillor Julie Flaherty has welcomed the support of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council for her motion to have the names of nearly 50 local people, who lost their lives in the Great War, added to Portadown War memorial.
Julie Flaherty.Julie Flaherty.
Julie Flaherty.

Councillor Flaherty said; “I welcome the support of my fellow Councillors in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, not least from my Party colleague Councillor Glenn Barr, who seconded the motion.

“Given that we are fast approaching the centenary of the end of the Great War, I felt it was both necessary and fitting to take steps to ensure the nearly 50 Portadown people who lost their lives in that war, but who are absent from the town’s war memorial, are recognised.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added: “One story in particular struck a chord with me, that of Dr Isabel Addy Tate.

“She was an extraordinary woman, born in the same town as myself, a Methodist like myself, a graduate of Queens University like myself but who served her whole career as a medic only to die at the same age as myself.

“She was born on 1st May 1875 into a large family living in 19 High Street Portadown. Isabel worked hard, and excelled herself at Alexandra School in Portadown and entered Queens University Belfast in 1893. She graduated with a degree in Medicine in 1899 and spent most of her distinguished medical career in England. At the beginning of the war Isabel volunteered for work and service in the Military Hospital, Valletta, and in Serbia as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps. She worked tirelessly there until her untimely death during service in Malta on 28th January 1917.

“Dr Isabel Tate was an extraordinary lady. Her grave can be found in Malta, she is remembered with honour at Pieta Military Cemetery and even more significantly, she is the only woman included on the Queen’s University Belfast Roll of Honour and on their War memorial. Yet, in spite of her inspiring story, Dr Isabel Addy Tate is not included on the War memorial in her home town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My motion will ensure that a century after the end of the Great War, the names of all these forgotten people, and Isabel, will finally be recognised and remembered with respect and dignity in their home town.”