Londonderry's Dads Army Stands Down

I recently came across a press cutting from the Londonderry Sentinel of Tuesday 5th December 1944 which was reporting on the stand down parade of the Londonderry Home Guard. This had occurred on 3rd December. A drumhead service was held at Ebrington Barracks conducted by Rev. Professor R. L. Marshall and Rev. W. B. Evans after which the two City Area Batallions received their final, "dismiss," in Harbour Square. They were thanked for their service by the Attorney General of Northern Ireland and local M.P. W. Lowry K.C. M.P. It is reported that upwards of twelve hundred men paraded. The parade was drawn up under Lieutenant- Colonel R. M. Boyle, M.C. Staff Officer along with the commanders of the first and second Battalions, Lieutenant Colonel R. B. M. Irwin M.C. and Lieutenant Colonel W. J. I. McLaughlin. I came to know Joe McLaughlin quite well during the 1960's and early 1970's. I might write about him in the future. He and his colleagues still seem so real to me.