On Tuesday 21st January 1919, at a meeting of the people of Comber held in the Andrews Memorial Hall, it was unanimously decided to establish a memorial in honour of those soldiers from the district who had lost their lives in the Great War. No decision was made as to what form the memorial should take.
Further discussion took place on 3rd February, at the same venue, with John Miller Andrews in the chair. Several proposals were submitted, but that of Dr Robert Henry was adopted, viz. that the memorial should take the form of a house for the District Nurse, situated on ground sufficient to allow a Cottage Hospital to be attached at a later date. It was estimated that around £2,000 would be needed to secure a site and build the house. A committee was appointed to make the arrangements, with John Miller Andrews as chairman. The joint honorary secretaries were James Niblock and John Murray, while George Gallagher was treasurer.
The idea of the Cottage Hospital was not, however, favoured by the relatives of those who had given their lives. They were unanimous in wanting a monument to be erected in the Square or some other suitable site. And so another meeting took place in the Andrews Hall on 17th March 1919, and it was unanimously agreed to adopt the suggestion of the relatives.
The Committee tried to ensure that no name was omitted from the Memorial. In October 1920 a list of names to be inscribed was drawn up and exhibited in the window of Mr James Niblock, Castle Street. This included not only the deceased, but all those from the town and district who had served. Relatives of the deceased and surviving ex-servicemen were asked to contact Mr Niblock about any omissions.
The unveiling of the Comber & District War Memorial was arranged for Saturday 14th April 1923 at 3 PM, and on that day all businesses in the town closed. Prior to the ceremony, the local ex-servicemen paraded through the streets to the Square, headed by the Comber Amateur Flute Band. A large crowd had gathered round the Memorial, and despite a torrential downpour during the latter part of the ceremony, they remained until the conclusion of proceedings.
A stand had been erected beside the Memorial, which was covered with the Union Jack. Amongst those on the platform were Lord and Lady Londonderry, Viscount Castlereagh, John Miller Andrews, Mrs L A Hind, Mrs T J Andrews, Sir Charles and Lady Wickham, Rev Canon Manning, the clergy of the town, and a number of mothers who had lost their sons in the War. Lord Londonderry chaired the proceedings, which opened with the singing of the hymn “O God Our Help In Ages Past”, led by the North Down Choral Society. After some moving words from the Chairman, the Monument was unveiled by Mrs Hind (sister of John Miller Andrews, whose husband Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence Hind had been killed at the Somme in 1916).
Canon Charles Campbell Manning (former rector of St Mary’s who had served as an army chaplain with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in France) then paid a glowing tribute to all those who fought and to those who fell. The names of the fallen were read out by John Miller Andrews, who also spoke on behalf of his sister, who had that day represented all those who had suffered bereavement during the War. Following the playing of the “Dead March in Saul” by the band, Canon Manning offered the prayer of dedication and “The Last Post” was sounded. Floral tributes were then placed at the foot of the Memorial by relatives of the deceased. The ceremony ended with the playing of the National Anthem and the sounding of “Reveille”.
The statue is the work of Mr L S Merrifield, sculptor. It is a 7 feet high bronze figure of an infantryman, standing “at ease”. The whole structure rests on three granite plinths, being 16 feet over all. On the bronze tablet on the front of the granite pedestal appear the names of those officers and men who gave their lives for King and Country, while the names of those who served are on the back and sides.
A German field gun had also been placed in the Square, presented to the town by the Government in recognition of the heroism of Comber’s VC – Edmund de Wind. It was obtained from the War Office through the good offices of Lord Londonderry. It was removed in August 1940, sold for scrap, with the proceeds given to Comber District War Hospitals Supply Depot to purchase materials.
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