BRIGADIER GENERAL'S RESIDENCE SCENE OF COMMEMORATION CEREMONY 50 YEARS AGO
Nicholson plaque unveiled at Seymour Street
A PLAQUE commemorating the residence of Brigadier General John Nicholson was unveiled at a ceremony in Seymour Street, Lisburn, 50 years ago this month by Miss S. O. Ffennell, Tonagh Lodge, Lisburn.
The plaque had on it the words: "Here lived General John Nicholson who led the assault of Delhi but fell in the hour of victory mortally wounded and died 23rd September 1857 aged 34 years."
ERECTED
The plaque was erected over the doorway of the house where General Nicholson, the hero of the indian mutiny, lived before becoming a soldier.
His residence at Seymour Street was occupied by Dr. Joseph G. Johnston.
General Nicholson served throughout four wars, Afghanistan 1839-1842, Sutlej 1845-1846, Punjab . 1848-1849 and India 1857.
He was born in Dublin on December 11, 1822 and, by a curious error, his statue in Market Square, Lisburn, describes Lisburn as the place of his birth.
CHANCE
It was only by mere chance that he was born in Dublin, the event taking place while his mother was on a short visit to that city..
A monument erected in Lisburn Cathedral by his mother states that Nicholson "most mournfully, most gloriously in the moment of victory, fell, mortally wounded on he 14th and died on the 23rd September 1857."
The Seymour Street proceedings opened at 4 pm with Captain Alex Woods stating the purpose of the meeting, following which Dr. Johnston proposed that he Right Honourable J. Milne Barbour, DL, MP, Minister of Commerce, take the chair.
Mr. Barbour then called on Miss Ffennell to unveil the plaque.
An interesting historical account of the Nicholson family was given by Miss Ffennell and others who spoke in that connection were Mr. Barbour, Mr. Joseph Allen and Canon J. S. Taylor, rector of Lisburn Cathedral Parish.
THANKS
Mr. Allen proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Barbour for presiding and Mr. James Duff seconded.
Other guests who attended included the Misses Hodson, Mrs. J. G. Johnston, Miss Norah Richardson, Mrs. Johnson Smyth, Messrs Ezekiel Bullick, W. P. Bullick and William Cassidy junior.
Dr. Johnston and Mrs. Johnston were hosts at tea afterwards.
Captain Woods was thanked for organising the scheme.
