Dervock’s ‘The Mocker’ marks WW1 centenary

To mark the centenary of World War I, Dervock & District Community Association has launched ‘The Mocker’, a newsletter illustrating both the Dervock community’s contribution to World War I and the impact the war had on the Dervock community.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Nov 2014, 14:30 BST
Pictured at the launch are back row: Margaret Doole, Council Development Officer, Frank McLernon, Dervock Community Association, Liz Johnston, Council Head of Development and Peter Thompson, Dervock Community Assocation. Front Row, Mayor Ald Bill Kennedy and Frankie Cunningham, Chair Dervock Community Association. inbm45-14sPictured at the launch are back row: Margaret Doole, Council Development Officer, Frank McLernon, Dervock Community Association, Liz Johnston, Council Head of Development and Peter Thompson, Dervock Community Assocation. Front Row, Mayor Ald Bill Kennedy and Frankie Cunningham, Chair Dervock Community Association. inbm45-14s
Pictured at the launch are back row: Margaret Doole, Council Development Officer, Frank McLernon, Dervock Community Association, Liz Johnston, Council Head of Development and Peter Thompson, Dervock Community Assocation. Front Row, Mayor Ald Bill Kennedy and Frankie Cunningham, Chair Dervock Community Association. inbm45-14s

Commemorating with other communities, Dervock & District Community Association arrived at a unique concept to illustrate the villages’ commitment and sacrifice during the Great War and WWII.

The project name ‘The Mocker’ – The Personal messages of WWI’, originates from a famous pigeon called ‘The Mocker’ who brought back vital information from the trenches and theatres of war.

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The metaphor is consistent with the central theme that through the creation of a magazine/newsletter Dervock & District Community Association will provide vital information – such as letters, satire, poems and images – to evoke the local community’s recollections of the time, and to generate discussions as to what it must have been like in the trenches and theatres of war.

The project also includes the publication of a book (64 pages) which will be an invaluable resource, as it documents Dervock and District’s legacy during and after the Great War.

Launching the first in the series of newsletters, Ballymoney Mayor, Alderman Bill Kennedy congratulated the group on their first publication.

“This is the launch of the first of the legacy projects part funded by Ballymoney Borough Council to commemorate the start of World War I,” he said.

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“This project will enable current and future generations to discover an understanding of what life was like for those in the Dervock community during World War I and the contributions and sacrifice of those who went to war and those who were left behind”.

Chairperson Frankie Cunningham commented: “Already this measure has provoked a huge response from different communities – the recording of personal stories, poems, the recollection of a journey that a community took.

“Hopefully they will help to fashion an image of what conditions must have been like in those said trenches and theatres of war.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Frank McLernon, Peter Thompson and Keith Beattie, whose knowledge, direction and contribution was indeed necessary.

Full story online!

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“I would also like to thank Elizabeth Johnston and Margaret Doole from Ballymoney Borough Council for their help throughout the project”.

This project was supported by Ballymoney Borough Council’s WWI Legacy Programme.

If you have any unique artefacts, letters, poems or old photographs that you would love to see included in the next edition – please contact the ‘Community House’ on 028 2074 2568 or email [email protected]

Related topics:DervockBill Kennedy