THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Proposed Comber memorial for victim of Titanic disaster

From the Belfast News Letter, October 1, 1912
Thomas Andrews Memorial Hall, Comber, Picture: Brian Thompson/PressEyeThomas Andrews Memorial Hall, Comber, Picture: Brian Thompson/PressEye
Thomas Andrews Memorial Hall, Comber, Picture: Brian Thompson/PressEye

The disaster in which the White Star Liner Titanic and the bulk of her crew and passengers were lost was very forcibly brought homo to the village of Comber the fact that numbered among the victims was Mr Thomas Andrews, junior, reported the News Letter on this day in 1912.

Indeed the deep feeling of sympathy which had “stirred in the breasts of inhabitants” had been manifested in when the heroic circumstances in which met his fate were known.

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There has been a consensus opinion at the time that steps should taken to “perpetuate the memory” of Mr Andrews in Comber.

Belfast’s Titanic memorial Garden located at the east entrance of City Hall was officially opened in April 2012 to mark the centenary of the disaster, featuring a wall engraved with the names all of those who perished.Belfast’s Titanic memorial Garden located at the east entrance of City Hall was officially opened in April 2012 to mark the centenary of the disaster, featuring a wall engraved with the names all of those who perished.
Belfast’s Titanic memorial Garden located at the east entrance of City Hall was officially opened in April 2012 to mark the centenary of the disaster, featuring a wall engraved with the names all of those who perished.

The News Letter noted: “It has been recognised, more particularly in recent years that Comber has been suffering from the want a suitable public hall which would available for general purposes.

“Any buildings in the town which have been utilised for public meetings are either connected with churches or with the Orange body, and it is felt that the accommodation and arrangements are not adequate meet the requirements the town, and that erection of public hall on neutral grounds would appreciated the inhabitants generally.”

The paper continued: “When those who had been moving in the matter of the proposed memorial late Mr Andrews thought it time to take definite action, a meeting of the principal inhabitants the town and neighbourhood was convened circular.

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“A very satisfactory representation those summoned attended, and after due consideration was unanimously resolved that the memorial should take, the form a ‘Thomas Andrews Memorial Hall’.”

A deputation was then appointed to wait on the Andrews family at Ardara, and “they heartily approved of the form the memorial was taking”, and they had expressed “their deep sense of gratitude to all who were interesting themselves in doing honour to their son’s memory in his native town”.

Thus encouraged, the committee decided take the general inhabitants of the town into their confidence and convene a public meeting to approve their action and consider the question finance.

It had been decided that to build, equip, and endow the hall a sum of £5,000 would required.

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“This, it was felt, was a considerable sum of money raise, but the near relatives of the deceased, recognising want a public hall in Comber, and approving of the desire of those who sympathised with them in their bereavement, have, promised liberal support to the undertaking.”

So heartily had the project been taken up that committee at a general meeting held in October 1912 were in the happy position of being able to report that to the present time the amount promised had reached “the satisfactory” total £5,400.

At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman called on the secretary to read the list of subscriptions which had already been promised by the relatives and committee. This was substantially augmented by those present and arrangements were made canvass the town and district and place collecting cards in the those willing assist.