Representatives of the community of Killead met to remember Private Charles McCurry who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Crimean War in 1855. Private McCurry selflessly picked up a live shell and threw it over the parapet, saving the lives of all those in the trench, at extreme danger to himself.
McCurry, at the time of the award, was serving in Malta, and arrangements were made to post his medal to the island so that it could be presented to him by Lieutenant General J L Pennefather, the GOC of Malta.
Sadly, before the medal could be presented, McCurry died aged just 27 on April 8 1857. The medal was duly returned to the War Office in London.
McCurry’s medal was installed at the Middlesex Regiment Museum - now closed - while a replica was presented to the Royal British Legion in Antrim in recent years.
At a ceremony in Killead village in 2019, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim, the late Joan Christie, Councillor Paul Michael and John Taylor, Chairman of Crumlin British Legion, were joined by McCurry’s second cousins Wallace and Edmund, who had travelled from Limavady, to unveil a VC memorial stone, surrounded by new flower beds and summer seats outside Killead Presbyterian Church.
A large number of Killead residents also turned out to pay their respects.
1. A wreath was laid in memory of Charles McCurry
A wreath was laid in memory of Charles McCurry | Supplied Photo: Supplied
2. Young people joined a bugler to mark Remembrance Sunday in Killead
Young people joined a bugler to mark Remembrance Sunday in Killead | Supplied Photo: Supplied
3. A flag was raised at Charles McCurry's memorial stone
A flag was raised at Charles McCurry's memorial stone | Supplied Photo: Supplied
4. There was a good turnout to remember Charles McCurry VC in Killead
There was a good turnout to remember Charles McCurry VC in Killead | Supplied Photo: Supplied