History
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Orange Order History The Loyal Orange Institution was founded after the Battle of the Diamond on September 21, 1795. The "skirmish" was between the Roman Catholic Defenders and the Protestants of the area. When it ended the Protestants formed a circle, joined hands and declared their brotherhood in loyalty to the Crown, the country and the Reformed religion. The first shots at the Diamond were fired by the Defenders on Monday September 21, 1795. The "armies" faced each other across the valley, the Protestants on Cranagill Hill and the Roman Catholics on Faughart Hill. The Protestants routed their enemies without suffering any casualties. The Defenders who were killed have been estimated at figures between 16 and 50. An eye witness put the number at 30. It had been the intention of the Roman Catholics to drive the Protestants out of the country. Sterritt Memorial History Sterritt Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge No257 is based in the Co. Down town of Banbridge. The lodge is one of 14 lodges that make up Banbridge District L.O.L. No7. The earliest lodge warrant in possesion is dated 1825. Although the lodge was dormant for a number of years the warrant was revived on Saturday 8th January 2000 when 11 brethren took the positive step to make L.O.L. 257 a working lodge once again, and also to make sure the memory of William John Sterritt is never forgotten.
The lodge was originally named Gideons Chosen Few but the title was changed to Sterritt Memorial following the shooting of William John Sterritt in Scarva Street Banbridge on 22nd July 1920, William John Sterritt died from his wounds on 23rd July 1920.
The fatal shooting of William John Sterritt arose from the murder of Lt Col Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth on 17th July 1920 by the IRA in Cork. On the night of his murder Lt Col Smyth was in the smoking room of a Cork club when six IRA men entered the premises and shot him dead. At the time of his murder Lt Col Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth was Divisional Police Commissioner for Munster in the Royal Irish Constabulary, he had also served during the First World War.
Following his funeral serious rioting took place in Banbridge as people vented their anger at the brutal murder of a fine gentleman. Regarding the shooting of William John Sterritt, research tells us that a witness to the shooting on the night of 22nd July 1920 was standing on a window sill of premises in Scarva Street and that William Sterritt was standing beside her. The witness said a crowd had approached a house on the opposite side of the street from were she was standing. The witness noticed a man passing behind one of the upper windows of the house, the witness then heard a shot and then saw William John Sterritt falling against the side of the window where she was standing. Since the lodge has been active again the members remember William John Sterritt by holding a short act of remembrance every 12th July morning.
The lodge had in years gone by been a (lambeg) drumming lodge and on Saturday 1st May 2004 the lodge dedicated a new lambeg drum bearing the portrait of William Sterritt. The lodge dedicated two new lambeg drums on Friday 26th May 2006, one drum has the portrait of Lt Col Gerald Brice Ferguson Smyth and the third drum shows the 36th (Ulster) Division going over the top on 1st July 1916. This drum was painted to commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
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© Sterritt Memorial 2012