Private Richard Maybin was originally from Broughshane, Co Antrim and had travelled to Canada to find work; he enlisted into the Canadian Army in Manitoba. Richard was killed on the 2nd June 1916 aged 21 years, during a major German assault in The Ypres Salient, where 80% of his regiment became casualties on one day. Private Richard Maybin is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium and at 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church.

After his death, his personal effects and bagpipes were returned to his mother, Mrs Margaret Maybin, Lisnamurrican, Broughshane, Co Antrim, where they remained in a trunk in the attic for more than half a century before being discovered and restored by Mr Harold Bennett of Carricklongfield, Dungannon.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of his passing The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch, (RSPBANI) decided to participate in the Living Memory project, a project which remembers the “forgotten front” – the 300,000 war graves and commemorations in the UK.

To mark the Battle of the Somme Centenary through the Living Memory Project, the RSPBANI Branch held a Slow Air/Lament Pipe Tune Composer’s Competition in July of this year and felt it fitting that the tune should be named in memory of Private Richard Maybin.

The winning tune was composed by Iain Bell from Dumfries, Scotland and was played at 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church on the 2nd of November by RSPBANI Branch Project Manager, Ian Burrows on the pipes that belonged to Private Richard Maybin. A framed copy of the tune was also presented to George McMullan, Clerk of Session, 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church by RSPBANI Branch President Winston Pinkerton. Members of Broughshane and District Pipe Band also attended the commemoration and presentation.

Pictured: RSPBANI Branch President, Winston Pinkerton presents a copy of the tune to Mr George McMullan, Clerk of Session, 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church.

 

Caption for photo:  2016-2:

L-R William Dickey (Broughshane & District Pipe Band), George McMullan (Clerk of Session) Winston Pinkerton (RSPBANI President), Ian Burrows (RSPBANI Project Manager), Colin Cupples, Ryan Taylor and Laura Barr ((Broughshane & District Pipe Band).

 

Caption for photo: 2016-3:

Private Richard Maybin remembered on the Roll of Honour in 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church.