In Memorium

Ever since the formation of the Order in 1795 members have played their part in the defence of their country and the great principles of freedom and democracy.

Thousands of Orangemen and women down the years have worn the uniform of their country's forces and many have paid the supreme sacrifice. (Please refer to Orangeism and the Military for details of the Orange Memorial at Thiepval).

Unfortunately it has not only been in the various theatres of war that members of the Order have laid down their lives. Hundreds have been murdered or maimed in successive terrorist campaigns in this island and specifically over the last eighty years in Northern Ireland.

The list of recent atrocities such as Kingsmills, Darkley, La Mon, Enniskillen, may be added to earlier murderous incidents such as Altnaveigh and is tragically lengthened to by the countless individual murders perpetrated by republican terrorists.

Of all the murderous attacks on our community there is one that is particularly poignant for members of the Orange Order in so far as it was a direct attack on people simply because they were Orangemen.

In highlighting the Tullyvallen massacre we do not diminish the loss of our members or any innocent person in other atrocities. We grieve for them all and we cherish their memory.

The pain and suffering of the bereaved is the same whether your loved one was a victim of a multiple murder bid or cruelly cut down in an individual attack.

Tullyvallen Orange Hall    

On the 1st September 1975 the members of Tullyvallen L.O.L.630 were meeting, as they regularly did on the first Friday of each month, in their Orange Hall in rural South Armagh near the border with the Irish Republic.

As always the Lodge had opened their meeting with prayer and had just moved on to a general discussion when gunmen burst into the hall through the kitchen at the back.

They stood just inside the doorway and opened fire on the men sitting in the hall while another gunman fired through a window from outside the hall. Caught in the crossfire three members were killed immediately whilst several others were wounded. One was to die shortly after at the scene and another died two days later in hospital.

Fortunately an off-duty member of the security forces attending his Lodge was able to use his personal protection weapon to fire back wounding one of the assailants. The attackers made off in face of this resistance. There can be no doubt that but for the actions of this man every member of the Lodge would have been murdered that evening.

It is estimated that eight terrorists participated in this orgy of death and destruction but only one (the driver of a get away car) was ever convicted. In 1977 he was sentenced to seven life sentences for these murders and two others in 1976. Of course he was released some years ago.

In remembering those who died we must also remember and care for the victims who continue to feel the pain and despair.

The story of Tullyvallen has to be told as an example of the atrocities inflicted upon the decent law abiding people of Northern Ireland. The voice of the victims must be heard.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

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