Billy McFadzean - British WWI Song (The Derry)
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Among the Ulstermen who were awarded the Victoria Cross was William Frederick McFadzean, a member of Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church. He was born 9 October 1895 in Lurgan, the eldest son of William McFadzean, a linen yarn salesman who had been born in Dundalk, Co Louth, and Anne Pedlow Bowden. Baptised in 1st Lurgan Presbyterian Church on 19 Jan 1896, he was the eldest of the family with 3 younger brothers - Jack Bowden, Robert James and Henry Bowden - and a sister, Mary Gordon. The family moved to Jocelyn Gardens, Belfast and then to the Cregagh area of Belfast.
William Frederick McFadzean Following his education at Mountpottinger National School and then Belfast Trade Preparatory School he was successful in obtaining a position as a clerk in the well -known linen firm of Spence, Bryson & Co, Great Victoria Street in Belfast. A tall, athletic figure he was an enthusiastic member of Collegians Rugby Club and the Young Citizen Volunteers set up in 1912 and which soon got caught up with the ant-Home Rule movement and was eventually merged with the Ulster Volunteer Force. With the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 it was perhaps no surprise that William McFadzean enlisted as a Private with the 14th battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles and was despatched to France on 5 October 1915. In a letter home he wrote ‘You people at home make me quite proud when you tell me I am the soldier boy of the McFadzean's. I hope to play the game and if I don't add much lustre to it, I certainly will not tarnish it’. His height and physique marked him out as suitable for a ‘grenadier’ or a ‘bomber’, a role that was to lead to his death early on in the war.
The allied offensive against the German positions on the Somme near Thiepval Wood in which the 36th Ulster Division distinguished itself, began on 1 July 1916. McFadzen was preparing his ammunition which came packed in boxes but as he did so one of the boxes slipped into the trench and two of the grenades fell out and lost their pins. Immediately realising that the grenades would explode within seconds and that his comrades were in grave danger, with heroic courage McFadzean threw himself on top of the bombs. Taking almost the full force of the blast he was blown to pieces but all the men were saved and only one other soldier was injured. Although his comrades laid his body aside in the hope that he would receive a decent burial later, William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Pier and Face 15A and 15 B and his name is inscribed at the Ulster Memorial Tower nearby, a monument commemorating those from Ulster who died on 1July 1916. A memorial tablet dedicated to William McFadzean was unveiled in Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church in 1917 and there is a similar memorial to him in 1st Lurgan Presbyterian Church.
King George V presented Private McFadzean’s Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of enemy action, to his father William at Buckingham Palace on 28 February 1917. The record of his VC citation in the London Gazette reads -‘He well knew his danger, being himself a bomber, but without a moment’s hesitation he gave his life for his comrades’. He was only 20 years of age when he died. His Victoria Cross can be seen on display at the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Belfast.
Lyrics:
Let me tell you a story of honour and glory
Of a young Belfast soldier, McFadzean by name.
For King and for Country, young Billy died bravely
And won the VC on the fields of the Somme.
Chorus:
Gone like the snowflakes that melt on the river,
Gone like the first rays of day’s early dawn,
Like the foam from the fountain or the mist from the mountain
Young Billy McFadzean’s dear life has gone.
Now Billy lies lonely where the red Flanders poppies
In wildest profusion paint the field of the brave,
No piper recalling his deeds all forgotten
For Billy McFadzean has no known grave.
(chorus)
So let us remember that brave Ulster soldier
The VC he won, the young life that he gave
For duty demanding his courage outstanding
Private Billy McFadzean of the U.V.F.
Legend. Made the ultimate sacrifice to save his fellow Ulstermen in the trenches. He left as a boy but died as a man. All gave some..some gave all. 😔💔🤍💙🇬🇧
God Bless the Men of Ulster who died for God, King and Country.🇬🇧
From 🏴.
Superb tribute to A Brave Ulster Soldier.
Brave Irish soldier
in todays age it seems like we need more young men like him here in ulster, infact not just here in ulster... nationalists all over the UK trying to break up our beloved union., the nationalists failed in scotland so now the goal is a united ireland. they know when one country falls the rest will follow. the fight still continues to protect our union.
We will neve forget and always remember 💙🇬🇧
Total respect for the lad.
We will never forget and always remember 🏴 🇬🇧
Never forget always remember
a listened tae this when a was a boy on ma record player . diddny understand some of what it meant .a learned quickly after joining the army at 16 n posted to ulster 1 year from finishin trainin . it was heavy shite most eh the time n doin both rural and urban patrols we were oot there in the country side for weeks at a time . blisters were the norm wae havin constant wet feet n boots but nothin a bit eh iodeen a needle n thread widdny sort when you were back in camp . a wouldve walked bare foot withoot the boots to KEEP ULSTER BRITISH AND IT STILL IS LIKE IT WILL ALWAYS BE .LOYAL ULSTER .
The first time I've seen what he looked like although I've listened to the song for many years. 😥
Heard this in a film with a woman signing it , can't really remember the film but it was years ago , she sung it well too
If only everyone of us had his brave heart . Now we just watch our country decay and there will be non of us left .
For Duty demanding,his courage outstanding private Billy Mcfadzean of the U.V.F🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧♥️
We love our soldiers
Please never forget
THIS SONG JUST CANT BE THIS BRILLIANT IT JUST CANT I LISTEN TO THIS NEARLY EVERY DAY RIP WILLIAM
beyond amazing my man love from nyc usa
14th Royal irish rifle YCV Lest we forget
Hero
R I P billy
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY THE ONLY TRUTH AND THE ONLY LIFE
HE IS THE BRAVEST WARRIOR OF THEM ALL
COME TO HIM TODAY
ROMANS 3:23
That's as may but still keep yer powder dry
This is not a sectarian song
They had better stop making him a mockery 😊,
JOHN 3:3
JOHN 3:16
BRILLIANT LOVE IT