Roll of Honour Memorial on the south wall of St Mary’s Church, Comber County Down Northern Ireland
In memory of
Captain William CHETWYND. killed in action at the battle of Saintfield aged 44 years.
He was a captain in the army but serving as a paymaster of a York Fencible Regiment commanded by his cousin Granville Anson Chetwynd-Stapleton
Born 1754 to Reverend Hon John, Precentor of Cork and Judith Chetwynd, nee Pigott. Grandson of the 3rd Viscount Chetwynd. Husband of Penelope Carleton who he married at Cork on 30 May 1783.
Lieutenant William Haw UNITE.
Baptised at Saint Phillips, Birmingham, Warwickshire 4 November 1778 to Richard and Elizabeth Unite, nee Haw.
Ensign James SPARKS.
Late of the York Fencible (Regiment of ) Infantry who fell bravely fighting for their King and Glorious Constitution in an engagement near Saintfield (Ireland) with the rebels on the 9th day of June 1798.
Their Brother Officers imprefse (old English) with deepest Sorrow and with the highest sense of their courage and manly virtues have erected the Monument.
Newspaper extract taken from Bell’s Weekly Messenger dated 12 July 1798.
Belfast, June 12. The King’s troops after routing the insurgents at Saintfield, marched to Comber, where they rested during the night and the next morning arrived in Belfast. It is with regret we mention the loss of three brave Officers in this action, viz. Captain Chetwynd, Lieutenant Unite and Ensign James Sparks, who were killed: Lieut, Edensor was wounded. The total return of the King’s troops are 16 killed, 22 wounded and three missing.
It appears the bodies of the three officers of the York Fencibles killed, Captain William Chetwynd, Lieutenant William Haw, Unite and Ensign James Sparks, were presumably dumped together with their comrades in a pit at Saintfield. (Mass grave)
