Elizabeth Emblem honours 34 Northern Ireland public servants lost in the line of duty
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
Thirty-four families from across Northern Ireland have received the Elizabeth Emblem – a national award recognising the ultimate sacrifice of public servants who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The award, introduced by His Majesty King Charles in March 2024, is presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving their community in roles such as policing, firefighting, and custodial services.
The Elizabeth Emblem is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which honours members of the Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of terrorism. It serves as a poignant national tribute to those who laid down their lives to protect others.
This is only the second time a list of recipients has been published. Among the 106 public servants recognised across the UK, 34 were from Northern Ireland, including 30 police officers, two firefighters, and two other public service personnel.
The families of the late Firefighters John Nichol and Wesley Orr are the first from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to receive the award.
“We will never forget their courage”
Paying tribute, NIFRS Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings said:
“This is a deeply moving day for our Service and for the families of John Nichol and Wesley Orr, as they become the first recipients from NIFRS to receive the Elizabeth Emblem.
“Today we recognise the bravery and sacrifice shown by our late colleagues and we will never forget their courage, dedication and service to the community.”
Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt also offered his condolences and reflections:
“I acknowledge the profound sacrifice of the two late Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service firefighters, whose deaths occurred many years ago but whose courage remains deeply respected.
“As the first from NIFRS to receive the Elizabeth Emblem, this important recognition pays lasting tribute to their service and bravery. I offer my sincere sympathy and gratitude to their families, who have carried this loss for decades.”
The Emblem design incorporates a rosemary wreath – a traditional symbol of remembrance – surrounding the Tudor Crown, with the reverse engraved with the name of the fallen and the words ‘For A Life Given In Service’. It includes a pin for next of kin to wear in memory of their loved one.
Police officers honoured for service during the Troubles
Among the Northern Ireland recipients are 30 police officers, including 28 from the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross (RUC GC) and two from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Many of these officers lost their lives during The Troubles, a period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to the late 1990s.
Included in the list are:
Reserve Constable William Allen, abducted and shot by the IRA in 1980 while collecting milk from farms in South Armagh.
Constable Cyril Wilson, killed in an ambush in 1974 while responding to a call in the Rathmore estate.
Reserve Constable Robert Struthers, shot by members of the Provisional IRA while working in his office in 1978.
“Their sacrifice must never be forgotten”
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher of the PSNI paid heartfelt tribute to the fallen:
“Our officers put their lives on the line every day while on duty – protecting the communities they proudly serve – often without forewarning of the potential dangers they may encounter.
“It is with deep humility and respect that we remember these 30 fallen officers – our colleagues and friends who gave their lives in service. Their sacrifice and the enduring grief carried by their families must never be forgotten.”
He continued:
“The Elizabeth Emblem is a poignant and powerful symbol of national gratitude – a recognition not only of the officers’ ultimate sacrifice, but also of the pain their loved ones have been left behind to process and carry.
“Many of our fallen colleagues included on the list lost their lives during the Troubles in Northern Ireland – a painful and turbulent chapter in our history. We will honour their memory, and I stand alongside their families in quiet reflection, pride and sorrow.”
His Majesty has approved the awarding of the Elizabeth Emblem to the next-of-kin of the public servants listed below.
Const Earnest McAllister, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 20 March 1972.
Const John Doherty, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 28 October 1973.
Const Robert Megaw, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 1 December 1973.
Const Cyril John Wilson, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 17 March 1974.
Const John Harrison Forsythe, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 18 June 1974.
Res Con Andrew Alexander Baird, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 14 October 1975.
Res Con Margaret Cherry Campbell, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 21 November 1975.
Sgt James Hunter, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 15 May 1976.
Ff John Aloysius Nichol, Northern Ireland Fire Brigade. Died 27 August 1976.
Sgt Albert Craig, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 18 September 1976.
Const Patrick Liam McNulty, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 27 January 1977.
Const Kenneth William Sheehan, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 8 April 1977.
Const William Herbert Turbitt, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 17 June 1978.
Sub-O Wesley Orr, Northern Ireland Fire Brigade. Died 16 November 1978.
Const Richard Allen Baird, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 17 April 1979.
Res Con Frederick John Eric Lutton, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 1 May 1979.
Res Con William Wallace Allen, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 31 August 1980.
Res Con Lindsay Gardiner McDougall, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 14 January 1981.
William Edward Ivan Toombs, HM Revenue and Customs. Died 16 January 1981.
Const Gary Desmond Martin, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 27 April 1981.
Const Andrew Alfred Woods, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 2 August 1981.
Res Con Snowden Samuel Richard Corkey, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 16 November 1982.
Sgt William Gordon Wilson, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 21 February 1983.
Res Con James Ferguson, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 6 October 1983.
Res Con Trevor George Elliot, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 18 May 1984.
Insp Patrick Martin Vance, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 31 August 1985.
PC Paul Richard North, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 17 March 1987.
Brian Samuel Armour, Northern Ireland Prison Service. Died 4 October 1988.
Const Gary Carl Meyer, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 30 June 1990.
Insp William David Wesley Murphy, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 10 November 1990.
Const John Spence McGarry, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 6 April 1991.
Const Michael John Ferguson, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 23 January 1993.
Res Con Kenneth Thomas Irvine, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 23 November 2008.
Const Philippa Reyonlds, Royal Ulster Constabulary. Died 9 February 2013.
Families and next of kin of those who have died in public service are encouraged to apply for an Elizabeth Emblem via gov.uk.
