BLUE PLAQUE COMMEMORATION FOR EDMUND DE WIND VC.

Victoria Cross recipient Edmund de Wind will officially remembered in Comber on Friday (14 September), through the unveiling of an Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque in his honour, by Ards Borough Council and the Ulster History Circle.

As the Comber's only recipient of the Victoria Cross, the decision to commemorate Edmund de Wind VC was taken by Ards Borough Council in 2006, having been proposed by Councillor Jim McBriar. At that time Councillor McBriar pointed out that Edmund de Wind VC had lived in Bridge Street in Comber, but that the house had since been demolished.

Second Lieutenant De Wind, 107th Infantry Brigade, 15th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross - 'For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice at the Racecourse Redoubt, near Grugies, 21st March 1918'.

His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother by King George V. It was one of three gained by his regiment during the Great War. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing.

Commenting on the unveiling, Councillor Robin Drysdale, Mayor of Ards said "I am delighted to represent the Borough, along with the family of Edmund De Wind, on this great occasion. I would like to thank Councillor Mc Briar along with Chris Ryder, Pat Devlin and Dr Jimmy Hawthorn, who is sadly no longer with us, all from the Ulster History Circle, for their sterling work in finding the most appropriate site in Comber to commemorate one of its greatest sons."

The joint unveiling will be carried out by Councillor Robin Drysdale and Johanna Flynn, the grand niece of Edmund De Wind. Other commemorations include a street named after him, in Comber and a tablet to his memory in Comber Parish Church. There is also a mountain named 'Mount de Wind' in Alberta, Canada.

Commenting on this Blue Plaque, Doreen Corcoran, Chair of the Ulster History Circle said, "It is a privilege to erect a blue plaque to a brave soldier. He is one of many brave men who gave their life so that others might live in peace. "The Ulster History Circle has erected 82 blue plaques since it was established over 20 years ago and we are very happy to be involved in the Commemoration of Second Lieutenant, Edmund De Wind," she added.