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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Rifleman W F McFadzean VC

    Rifleman William Frederick McFadzean VC

    Source: Copyright Nigel Henderson (History Hub Ulster)

    1/1

    Current Location

    Inside the Church, Presbyterian Church, Ormeau Road, Newtownbreda, Belfast, Antrim, BT7 3HX, Northern Ireland

    OS Grid Reference

    NW 47149 26477

    Denomination

    Presbyterian

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-6331

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    6331
    Description
    Brass shield plaque with etched Celtic knot decorated border incorporating alternate thistles and shamrock with, at the point of the shield, the etched badge of the Young Citizens Volunteers worn by the 14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizens Volunteers). Etched crest of the Royal Irish Rifles at the top. Below central inscription a red and black etched badge of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). On a wooden backboard.
    Inscription
    ROYAL IRISH RIFLES/ QUIS SEPARABIT/ IN MEMORY OF/ RIFLEMAN WILLIAM FREDERICK MCFADZEAN VC/ 14TH BATTALION, ROYAL IRISH RIFLES Y C V/ [ULSTER DIVISION]/ WHO WAS BORN AT LURGAN ON THE 9TH OCTOBER 1895 AND WHO/ TO SAVE THE LIVES OF HIS COMRADES GAVE HIS OWN LIVE ON/ THE 1ST JULY 1916 AT THIEPVAL WOOD, FRANCE/ WHEN IN THE TRENCHES IN WHICH THE MEN OF HIS BATTALION/ WERE MASSED FOR ATTACK THE FUSES OF SOME BOMBS HAVING/ BEEN ACCIDENTALLY IGNITED, HE THREW HIMSELF ON THESE/ BOMBS SO COVERING THEM WITH HIS OWN BODY THAT BY/ THEIR EXPLOSION HE ALONE WAS KILLED./ "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN/ HIS OWN LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS" JOHN XV 13./ "IN SUCH A DEATH THERE IS NO STING. IN SUCH A GRAVE THERE IS/ EVERLASTING VICTORY"/ THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE/ FIRST BATTALION EAST BELFAST REGIMENT, UVF,/ AND BALLYNAFEIGH & NEWTOWNBREDA/ UNIONIST CLUB.
    Number Commemorated
    1
    Died
    1
    Information shown
    Surname, forenames, rank, regiment, date of death, place of death, place of birth, manner of death, decorations
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    1
    Died
    1
    Information shown
    Surname, forenames, rank, regiment, date of death, place of death, place of birth, manner of death, decorations

    Components

    Plaque

    Made from: Brass


    Condition: Good


    Backboard

    Made from: Wood


    Condition: Good


    • http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com/history/william-frederick-mcfadzean-vc-1895-1916/
    • http://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewPerson/1949
    • Northern Whig. 2 July 1917. "Memorial to Belfast VC"
    • Belfast News-Letter - Monday 02 July 1917 -"GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COMRADES."The Late Private W. F. McFadzean, V.C.-MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED.