WITH the Great War approaching, a young William Allen of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers turned to his brother Christie in their home town of Kesh and said: “Goodbye, I’ll never see you again”.

Christie replied: “Willie, we live in hope that you’ll be back”. But as he prepared to leave Fermanagh for the last time, Private Allen looked at his brother and said: “Oh no, Christie, I’ll never be back”.

And, true to his word, William didn’t return having been killed in the First World War in France.

Heart-rending stories like this are what many families, such as Private Allen’s nephew, also called William, have held close to their hearts over the years.

Mr. Allen, 82 and from Kesh, has spoken of his pride for the uncle he never knew, recalling how his late father had spoken about his “heroic brother” in glowing terms for many decades.

“My father lived to 93 and he would have talked about his brother Willie a lot. My father brought William back here on the horse and trap for a funeral. His last words were that he would never be back, and right enough he never returned,” explained Mr. Allen.

Private Allen is one of 41 men from the North Fermanagh area whose lives were lost 100 years ago and have been remembered in a poignant exhibition compiled by author and historian David Keys.

Speaking at the launch of the exhibition in Kesh on Friday night, Mr. Allen praised the efforts of the Lack man in remembering all those who died in the Great War.

“If my father had known this was going to be on today he would have been over the moon; to think that all these people would be remembered like that is a wonderful occasion, and very special. David Keys has put so much into it,” he said.

The event at the Mayfly Inn was attended by a large number of people, including many families of the fallen soldiers from Kesh, Pettigo and Ederney, and featured a moving service of remembrance.

The ceremony was conducted by Canon Glenn West and included the laying of a wreath. It began with the family members reading out the names of their loved ones from the roll of honour.

A minute’s silence was followed by a rendition of ‘The Flowers of the Forest’ by Pipe Major Howard Marshall and ‘The Lad’, written by W.F Marshall, was read by Paddy Montague.

‘The Green Fields of France’ was performed by Jemma Walker whose family were in attendance to remember their relative, too, and James Emery read ‘The Menin Gate’.

After the final prayer by the Rev. Alan Irwin, the exhibition charting the courageous stories of the 41 men in photographs and words was opened by the families, including Myrtle McFarland.

Mrs. McFarland from Ederney explained that she was there to remember her relative Private Alexander Balfour who was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and her husband’s relative, Private John James McFarland, who was also a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

“I didn’t know a terrible amount about their stories but I have been able to find out more tonight because of this exhibition. I think it is lovely idea, and it was a nice service, and a lot of work has been put into it. Young people should take time to learn more about the past, or these men will be forgotten and we don’t want to see that happening,” she said.

Remembering Private William John Walmsley at the event were June McBrien, Romey Walmsley and Edel Black.

“He was our uncle and left home when he was 19,” explained Mr. Walmsley, “He went to work in the railways in Canada and then he joined the war. He was killed on August 8, 1918, and was 26.” “We would have been told stories about him and how my grandmother coped with it. His sister put a memorial in the paper for him, and his whole details are in this exhibition,” said Mrs. McBrien.

She added: “David Keys has been fantastic; he really has done a superb job throughout.” “It is very important for everyone to remember these men, especially us. They gave their lives for us, really,” said Mrs. Black.

Susan McVeagh recalled the life of Private Charles McBride of the New Zealand Forces.

“I was born in the same house as him. He died very young, long before I was born. My mother said he went out to New Zealand and from there he was in the army.

“This exhibition is important to us and David deserves a medal. He has been brilliant. It is something that I would never have even dreamed of,” she said.

Mr. Keys described compiling the exhibition, which started out as a project researching the war dead from his own area of Lack, as “an emotional experience”.

“It was emotional because you get into the personal details of who these men were and their family backgrounds, what they did before they left,” he told The Impartial Reporter, admitting his delight that the finished product is now “part of history”.

“I feel I have made a contribution, a lasting contribution, that now a younger generation are aware of the men who did not return,” said Mr. Keys.

He said it is “absolutely vital” that young people, many of whom attended the event, are made aware of the Great War and all those men from North Fermanagh who were killed.

“If we don’t do that then the memory of those men will die and the business ‘we will remember them’ will ring hollow, it won’t have any meaning and World War One be forgotten eventually.” The exhibition, which includes 41 pull up banners dedicated to the memorials of the men located in North Fermanagh, France and Belgium, and an exhibition board with more personal details, newspapers cuttings and photographs, can be viewed in the Young Farmer’s Hall in Kesh, 2-8pm weekdays and Saturday 1pm-6pm, and during the Kesh Carnival.