QUEEN TO UNVEIL QUIGG STATUE

Almost 100 years since King George V presented the Victoria Cross to a Bushmills hero, his granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II will unveil a statue in the north coast village to honour that hero - Robert Quigg VC.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will travel to Bushmills later today (Tuesday) to officially unveil David Annand’s £60,000 bronze sculpture to the local hero who was awarded the VC in January 1917.

On 1 July 1916, Robert Quigg was serving with the 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He was one of thousands of Ulstermen who advanced on the enemy trenches at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.

By nightfall, the 12th Battalion had suffered horrific casualties and Quigg learned that Sir Harry Macnaghten was among the missing.

As a result of his courageous actions on this day, Robert Quigg was awarded the Victoria Cross. His bravery is best described in this medal citation:

“..... He advanced to the assault with his platoon three times.