麻豆社

In the County Derry town of Limavady, the soldiers who returned from the war chose to commemorate it with a difference. Instead of a memorial in the form of an obelisk, they set up a War Memorial Institute in the town. It was a place to meet, to play games, to read the books in the Institute鈥檚 lending library.

The building -- known as Bridge Hill House -- had belonged to the Boyle family. On the 4th of March 1922, the Institute building was dedicated by Major General Sir Oliver Nugent 鈥� a former commanding officer of the 36th (Ulster) Division. A plaque to mark the occasion states that the Memorial will 鈥渇orge by the memory of valour and self-devotion, a fresh bond of union and friendship among all who dwell in this district.鈥�

In 1972, the building was badly damaged in a bomb attack on the nearby police station, which left two men dead. It has since been replaced by the United Services Club, which continues to be a meeting place for local people with links to the armed forces. The Club also houses many memorabilia dating back to both world wars, and to more recent years.

Location: Limavady, Co. Londonderry.BT49 9DF
Image: A postcard of the War Memorial Library as it was originally known

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