Throughout 1940, thousands of residents of Gibraltar left their home by request of the British Government. Many came to the United Kingdom and following the Blitz on London, several thousand found their way to Northern Ireland.
Aughacully (Camp 10) stood on the Aughacully Road, Broughshane, Co. Antrim. As with other camps, large Nissen huts comprised a kitchen, a school, and a community centre on the camp. Smaller Nissen huts allocated one per family housed the evacuees.
Residents at Aughacully
Some of the evacuees from Gibraltar who lived in the Aughacully Camp, Broughshane, Co. Antrim. If you have any further information on these people, please let us know.
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Rudecindo | Mannia | Lived at 9 Carrera’s Passage, Gibraltar. Left on 28th July 1940 on the City of Evansville (Ship K) as part of contingent 4UK. Performer at concert. |
| Clemencia | Yeo | Lived at 20 Road to the Lines, Gibraltar. Left on 26th July 1940 on the Athlone Castle (Ship D) as part of contingent 4UK. Performer at concert. |
| Mrs C | Bensadon | Performer at concert. |
| Mr G | Iche | Performer at concert. |
| Miss A | Gonzalez | Performer at concert. |
| Mrs L | Gonzalez | Performer at concert. |
| Albert | Calamaro | Lived at 36 Turnbull's Lane, Gibraltar. Left on 28th July 1940 on the Dromore Castle (Ship M) as part of contingent 4UK. Performer at concert. |
| Frances | Calamaro | Lived at 36 Turnbull's Lane, Gibraltar. Left on 28th July 1940 on the Dromore Castle (Ship M) as part of contingent 4UK. Performer at concert. |
| Fernando | Mosquera | Lived at 26 New Passage, Gibraltar. Left on 28th July 1940 on the City of Evansville (Ship K) as part of contingent 4UK. |
Entertainment at The Braid
On 29th September 1944, the Belfast Weekly Telegraph reported on a concert staged at Aughacully over two days.
- On the first day, the cast performed ‘The Dress Rehearsal’, a musical play with songs from Spanish operas.
- On the second day, the cast performed ‘The Spanish Fiesta’ by Mr. Rudecindo Mannia.
- Miss Clemencia Yeo and chorus girls sang ‘Nardos’.
- Mrs. V Adams sang ‘You Never Know’.
- Mrs. C Bensadon and chorus sang a Portuguese song.
- Mr. G Iche performed the ‘Trago Amargo’ tango.
- Miss A Gonzalez performed the ‘Quiero Que Quieras’ tango.
- The general chorus sang ‘Currieto De La Cruz’.
- Mrs. V Adams sang ‘Yours’.
- Mrs. L Gonzalez and chorus sang ‘Fru Fru’.
- Mrs. Bensadon and chorus sang the ‘Los Monteros’ march.
- Mrs. V Adams and Mr. Albert Calamaro sang the folk song ‘Jota Aragonesa’.
- Mrs. Frances Calamaro and Mr. Fernando Mosquera sang a comic duet ‘The Ducks’.
- Mrs. V Adams sang the ‘Scars’ tango.
- The general chorus sang ‘Iamplona’.
The newspaper report commended the colourful costumes and graceful traditional dancing. Those present suggested that a similar show in a larger venue such as Ballymena Town Hall would gather a large audience to support the Red Cross or a similar venture.
Ministry in the Camp
Chaplain to the Broughshane evacuee camps was Father Dominic McHugh. He presided over funerals and weddings as well as ministering to their spiritual needs. He conducted Mass at Aughacully on Sunday afternoons and people from nearby Breckagh Bridge attended. Earlier in the morning, he would say Mass in Dunaird, where the people of Drummuck also worshipped.
In July 1998, Ballymena Borough Council erected a plaque to show where Aughacully Camp once stood. This marked the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the official withdrawal and return to Gibraltar of the evacuees.