QUEEN'S VISIT: Bushmills welcomes Royal couple

Queen Elizabet II unveils the Robert Quigg VC statue (28 February 1885 Ã¢Â¬ 14 May 1955) was a Northern Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. The award was made for his service during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.
Robert Quigg was awarded the Victoria Cross for his "Most Conspicuous Bravery" at the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. Prior to the major offensive, his unit had been placed in the French village of Hamel, located on the north bank of the River Ancre. On 1st July, the Mid-Antrim Volunteers were ordered to advance through the defences towards the heavily defended German lines. During the advance, they encountered fierce resistance from heavy machine-gun and shell fire. Quigg's platoon made three advances during the day, only to be beaten back on each occasion by German fire. The final evening assault left many hundreds of the 12th Battalion lying de — Queen Elizabet II unveils the Robert Quigg VC statue (28 February 1885 Ã¢Â¬ 14 May 1955) was a Northern Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. The award was made for his service during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War. Robert Quigg was awarded the Victoria Cross for his "Most Conspicuous Bravery" at the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. Prior to the major offensive, his unit had been placed in the French village of Hamel, located on the north bank of the River Ancre. On 1st July, the Mid-Antrim Volunteers were ordered to advance through the defences towards the heavily defended German lines. During the advance, they encountered fierce resistance from heavy machine-gun and shell fire. Quigg's platoon made three advances during the day, only to be beaten back on each occasion by German fire. The final evening assault left many hundreds of the 12th Battalion lying de

The Royal party travelled to Bushmills Village where they attended an Act of Remembrance and heard a short address by Leonard Quigg, great nephew of Robert Quigg.

The Queen unveiled a bronze statue of Robert Quigg, VC and a short time later the Duke of Edinburgh unveiled a Victoria Cross commemorative stone.

The Robert Quigg VC Commemoration Society was established by Robert Thompson in October 2014 to raise funds by public subscription to erect a sculpture of Robert Quigg VC in Bushmills. The project has cost almost £60,000 and the majority of the money has been contributed by the local community.

The bronze sculpture was made by the Scottish sculptor, David Annand who has worked on several high profile public sculptures of famous people, including the motorcycle rider Robert Dunlop in Ballymoney, and Thomas ‘Todger’ Jones VC in Runcorn, Cheshire. During the ceremony the Queen met descendants of the men Robert Quigg rescued on the Somme in 1916.