Honouring the fallen from Battle of the Somme

Honouring the fallen from Battle of the Somme

3 July 2019

A NUMBER of Newry, Mourne and Down councillors were in France on Monday to lay wreaths during the annual Battle of the Somme commemoration.

Rowallane councillors Terry Andrews and Billy Walker laid wreaths to remember soldiers from the 36th Ulster and 16th Irish Divisions who lost their lives in the Great War.

They laid wreaths at the Ulster Memorial Tower and the memorial cross at Guillemont in the Somme on the day that marked the commemoration Battle of the Somme 103 years ago.

Cllrs Henry Reilly and Alan Lewis laid wreaths at the Ulster Memorial Tower and Thiepval Monument on behalf of the people of The Mournes and Slieve Croob respectively.

The Rowallane councillors were appointed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council to represent the local authority in France and said they were “honoured” to be representing the people of the district.

Cllr Andrews said it was a “privilege” to be able to lay wreaths in memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War on the battlefields of France.

“As the council’s vice-chairman I was humbled to be given the honour of laying wreaths accompanied by Cllr Walker,” he said.

“The services we took part in remembered the thousands of men from across Ireland who lost their lives. It is only when you get here and see the memorials and mass graves that the enormity of what happened over 100 years ago becomes acutely apparent.”

Cllr Walker said he was pleased to join his council colleague in France when the two wreaths were laid in a visit organised by the Somme Association.

“It is important that we never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom,” he said. “Taking part in the moving two wreath-laying ceremonies is something that will always stay with me.”

Cllrs Lewis and Reilly said they were “humbled” to lay wreaths on behalf of the many who had lost their lives in the heat of battle and to take part in the Somme commemoration.

Cllr Lewis said there was “poignant reverence” at the various sites in memory of those who died, describing the visit to the location where thousands of young men lost their lives to secure the freedom of Europe as a “truly humbling experience”.

He continued: “It is easy to underestimate the generational impact both world wars had on Northern Ireland, particularly our district, with the immense loss of life significantly changing the demographics of our country.

“Standing amongst the graves you are struck by the many thousands of names, young men who left places like Ballynahinch, Clough, Downpatrick Castlewellan, Newcastle, Annalong and Kilkeel, never to see home again.”

Cllr Lewis said their memory was kept alive by the hundreds who made the annual trip from Northern Ireland to France to participate in the memorials. He said he was honoured to lay wreaths on behalf of the people of Slieve Croob.

Cllr Reilly said he was “honoured and humbled” to represent the people of Mourne at the commemoration of the Battle of the Somme that claimed the young lives of thousands of Ulstermen and so many British troops.

He added: “It was an emotional journey for me as I have had an interest and fascination of what happened on July 1, 1916, since I was a child.

“I have studied and researched the battle and what happened on that day over 100 years ago. It still evokes every emotion from sadness to pride to anguish to respect and admiration.”