Moira played its part in both World Wars. The War Memorial
lists 9 residents of Moira Parish who fell in the service
of King and Country in1914-18 and 5 who died in the 1939-45
conflict.
During
the last War, troops were billeted in Moira and in Waringfield.
In June 1942, the Americans opened a 900-bed convalescent
hospital at Waringfield.
The
buildings were nissen huts in the grounds of the large Waringfield
mansion. The next year it grew to 1000 beds. Many wounded
soldiers from all parts of the world were treated at this
hospital. Ambulances brought wounded soldiers from the nearby
airfield Maghaberry
When the Ulster Military Hospital was transferred to Musgrave
Park Hospital, the Royal Army Medical Corps presented their
flag to Moira Parish.
Waringfield
was also the `home' of a company of French soldiers for a
time. (Like An Evening Gone. by Mrs Eileen
Cousins, B.A.) A
great many soldiers also camped in the Demesne. In fact some
of the old trees in the demesne were removed by the military.
Also
during the second World War, Harry Ferguson operated two small
production units in the village manufacturing parts for his
world famous tractor and for Bofors guns.
US soldiers arrive
The
headquarters of 8th USAAF Composite Command was just outside
Moira at Kircassock House. A number of prominent visitors
stayed at Kircassock. Winston Churchill and Eisenhower are
both thought to have stayed a night at Kircassock, when they
visited troops in the Province. Other visitors included Bob
Hope and Dorothy Lamour.
Soon
after their military training and preparation in the area,
thousands of young men left the peace of the area to fight
at the D-Day landings. Many did not survive.
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