THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, CONVOY LOL 1005
History of Thiepval Memorial, Convoy LOL 1005
Convoy Thiepval Memorial L.O.L 1005 was formed on the 14th of May 1919.
The lodge was formed as a memorial to the brethern in the village who died
in the 1914-18 War. Despite the partition of Ulster and the troubled times
of the 1920s the lodge was determined to carry on. The first banner was
unfurled in 1920 and the following year the lodge took charge of the Convoy
Ulster Unionist Club Pipe Band.
A site was purchased in 1928 and in November 1930 our present day Orange
Hall was built. All works being carried out by the lodge members. The first
Band uniforms were purchased in 1933 and three years later they became a
compitition pipe band. Today our Pipe Band continues to compete, recently
gaining much success in Grade 4B.
During the Second World War 11 lodge members and 2 members of the Band served
in the British Armed Forces. More recently members of our Lodge have seen
service in the R.U.C., U.D.R., 1 Royal Irish and the Territorial Army. One
of our most greatly admired members was the late Bro. Robert Watson. Bro.
watson was an old Convoy U.V.F. veteran who fought with the Ulster Division
in the Great War. His two brothers were killed at the Somme while he himself
was wounded three times, during his service with the old 11th Inniskillings.
At present our lodge is in a healthy position with 68 members. A young eager
leadership took charge in 2000 and, being guided and advised by the older
members, have reaped rewards for the future of Orangism in the area. Membership
has increased and due to the successful demands for government funding and
recognition we have a fully modernised Orange Hall. As 2009 marks our 90th
Anniversary it is our intention to unfurl a new Banner, write a book of
our proud history and visit the Somme Battlefields. Our current Lodge Officers
are; W.M.-Bro. James Mc Knight, D.M.-Bro. Clive Mc Gonigle, Sec.-Bro. Keith
Thompson, Treas BroWesley Wramsey Chap Bro David Baxter Firest Com Bro Alan
Laird.