Newspaper clipping photo courtesy of Carrick Times

Jul 14, 2021 15:14 BST

Can you help solve the mystery of thecarved dragon?

When Jana Matheson, 21, from Whitehead decided to get involved with Midand East Antrim Borough Council’s NI100 Community Research project, shedidn’t realise what would lie ahead.

Jana became intrigued with a newspaper story about a dramatic carving ofthe mythical beast carved by her great-grandfather, while she wasresearching his service history.

The carving once lay across from the old Lodge Building at Prospect House inCarrickfergus and after uncovering an article from the early 1990s, Jana hasbecome determined to find out more.

Leonard John Matheson was stationed at Prospect House (known then asProspect Camp) with the Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Second WorldWar. It was during his time here that he carved the regiment’s emblem on astone slab.

Born in Oxford, Leonard’s family moved to Cholsey, Berkshire, when he wasyoung.

A plumber by trade, by the time war broke out, Leonard was already in theTerritorial Army, subsequently signing up to the Royal Berkshire Regiment,where he was part of the 4th Battalion.

Leonard was stationed first at Redhall, Ballycarry, where he met his futurewife, Georgina Peoples, before moving to Prospect House.

When the war ended, he was demobbed in Belfast and moved to Ballycarrywith his wife, went back to his plumbing trade and re-joined the TerritorialArmy in Larne.

After signing up to the ‘NI100 Looking Back to Look Forward’ project, Janasaid:

“I chose this as my topic because it is personal to me and I am passionateabout it. I am most interested in finding out as much information as I can andam hoping this will become a more well-known piece of history.”

Since discovering the newspaper clipping from 1991, which tells the story ofthe carving, Jana has been on a mission to discover what happened to thecarved stone slab.

She has been assisted by another project volunteer and Lead the Way TourGuide, Adrian Hack, who specialises in WWII tours of Carrickfergus.

So far, they have discovered that the 5ft slab seems to have disappeared

around the time of the development of Prospect Loanen in the mid-1990s.

Was it salvaged? Perhaps someone has it in their back garden as anornament?

If you have any information that could shed light on this fascinating piece oflocal history, contact Carrickfergus Museum by phoning 028 93358241 oremailing carrickfergusmuseums@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Throughout 2021, Council is hosting a programme of events under the NI 100umbrella to celebrate 100 years since the formation of Northern Ireland.

These events, exhibitions and community initiatives are all aimed at showcasingand championing culture, heritage, education, history, and future prosperitythroughout the Mid and East Antrim Borough. For the latest on the NI 100celebrations in Mid and East Antrim, visit midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ni100

Notes to editors:

• For Mid and East Antrim Borough Council media enquiries E:communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

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Contacts

Press OfficePress ContactCommunications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk 028 2563 5037

Chris KilpatrickPress ContactHead of Communicationschris.kilpatrick@midandeastantrim.gov.uk07721 302 568

Annamay McNallyPress ContactPress Officerannamay.mcnally@midandeastantrim.gov.uk07721 305 586

Claire TennysonPress ContactMedia Relations Officerclaire.tennyson@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Deborah CummingsPress ContactPress Officerdeborah.cummings@midandeastantrim.gov.uk07920 544 094

Megan MackayPress ContactPress Officermegan.mackay@midandeastantrim.gov.uk07827 802 643