Portstewart War Memorial, Portstewart, Co. Londonderry

The Portstewart War Memorial stands on the Promenade of the seaside town in Co. Londonderry. Lady Craig, who would later become Viscountess Craigavon, attended the unveiling on 11th November 1924. At the time, the erection of the War Memorial cost almost £800. The local community raised the money by Public Subscription.

During the unveiling ceremony, Colonel H.T. Lyle read the names of fallen from The Great War. The Very Reverend R.G.S. King M.A., Dead of Derry then performed a dedication. A large crowd gathered on what was a warm Autumn day. The Main Street through Portstewart, Co. Londonderry remained closed to traffic for the duration of the event.

On top of the monument stands a life-size bronze statue of a soldier bearing a rifle in the “on guard” position sculpted by Louis Frederick Roslyn. The firm of Messrs. John Robinson and Son constructed the granite and limestone base of the memorial. A plaque on the memorial remembers 30 locals who gave their lives during The Great War:

To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of the men of Portstewart who gave their lives in The Great War 1914-1918. Their name liveth for evermore.

The names of those killed during the Second World War feature beneath another plaque which reads:

This plaque commemorates the following who gave their lives in The World War 1939-1945. We will remember them.

A more modern plaque on the Portstewart War Memorial recalls the time spent in the area by 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army. It reads:

Dedicated to the men of the 508th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army stationed in “Camp Cromore” 9th January – 11th March 1944. World War II Combat Campaigns: Normandy, Holland, Belgium.