Battle of Waterloo Soldier Remembered
10 June 2015
To coincide with the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, which took place on 18 June 1815, a civic ceremony was held on 28 March 2015 at the graveside of a soldier who had fought in this famous battle. Ensign, later Captain, Joseph Dyas, who retired to Ballymena and worked as a local Magistrate, is buried in St Patrick’s Cemetery (Church Street). He served with such distinction in the 51st Light Infantry during the Napoleonic Wars that a special toast ‘To Dyas and the Stormers’ is still offered to his memory.
Special guests at this unique ceremony included the Vice-Lord Lieutenant for Country Antrim, Mr Richard Reid who has a Dyas family connection, the then Mayor of Ballymena Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales, members of the 51st Light Infantry Re-enactment Group and descendants of Joseph Dyas, Mr Tim Dyas who is his great, great, great grandson and Mr Michael Maclaren. After the wreath laying service a Mayor’s reception was held for the group where Tim Dyas regaled those present with stories of his famous ancestor.
The event was organised by Mid-Antrim Museum staff, who also attended the event, and members from the 51st Light Infantry Re-enactment Group.