CADETS REFLECT ON NORTHERN IRELAND’S WORLD WAR I HEROES

Tales of past heroism are being rediscovered by a new generation, thanks to a fantastic competition organised by the Army Cadet Force (ACF). The competition, open to all cadets from across Northern Ireland, involved a research project and a presentation on a “local hero” who served in the First World War. The teams, consisting of 2 or 3 cadets, were narrowed down to a final 13 who presented to a panel of judges.

The judges were hugely impressed by the amount of work that all of the cadets had put into their projects and the amount of thought and consideration that they had given to the personal stories of their heroes. In an age when there is so much emphasis on celebrity, wealth and even exam results, it is important that our young people should appreciate the importance of qualities such as integrity, self-sacrifice and courage.  The cadets’ enthusiastic response to the research challenge was fantastic; both thoughtful and thought-provoking.  They unearthed some amazing stories of individuals who have truly earned the right to be celebrated as true ‘Local Heroes’.

The overall winners of the competition were the team from Foyle College Combined Cadet Force (CCF), pictured above, whose project was about Laura Marion Gailey, a nurse who served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment of World War 1. In a series of articles to follow, we will commemorate these local heroes who were selected by the cadets for their bravery and selflessness.