Paying solemn tribute to fallen in Great War

Paying solemn tribute to fallen in Great War

9 July 2025

THREE local councillors were in northern France recently representing Newry, Mourne and Down Council at the annual Battle of the Somme Commemorations at the Ulster Memorial Tower and Guillemont in Thiepval.

Slieve Croob councillor Alan Lewis was joined by his Rowallane counterparts Terry Andrews and Jonny Jackson and Stormont communities minister Gordon Lyons for services mark the first day of the bloody First World War attack and subsequent actions of the 36th (Ulster) and 16th Divisions.  

The trio also attended the 97th anniversary of the Last Post ceremony at Ypres in Belgium.

The first day of the trip began at 7.30am – at the exact time the whistles were blown when the soldiers went into battle – when a poignant service was held at Lochnagar Crater, the site of a huge mine explosion.

Cllr Lewis said that at 7.28am, two minutes before zero hour, a unit from the Royal Engineers detonated an enormous mine it had taken them seven months to tunnel under the German lines and lay the cables.

“Soil was thrown up to a mile in the air and a British plane flying over no man’s land recorded being knocked off course,” he said.

“The effect was a huge crater at Lochnagar but, unfortunately, it didn’t really do much to stop the German army which used the crater for protection and met the British soldiers as they charged towards them. Sadly as a result, many lives were lost,” he said.

Cllr Lewis continued: “As the sun rose over the fields of the Somme, silence fell at Lochnagar Crater – a powerful and poignant site of remembrance. 

“At dawn, we gathered to pay tribute to those who gave their lives on July 1, 1916, the first and bloodiest day of the Battle of the Somme, with the memorial service beginning in quiet reflection, with readings, prayers and the laying of wreaths within the vast crater – a symbol of the destructive force of war.”

Cllr Lewis said the annual gathering is a reminder of the bravery, sacrifice and loss experienced during one of the most devastating battles of the First World War. 

“As we gather, we also recommit ourselves to honouring their legacy through remembrance and understanding,” he said.

The councillors then moved on to Thiepval and The Ulster Memorial Tower.

There, Cllr Jackson said poignant ceremonies brought together descendants, veterans’ organisations, military representatives and the public to honour the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during one of the most devastating battles of the First World War.

He said at the Thiepval Memorial, which bears the names of over 72,000 British and South African servicemen who have no known grave, a service of remembrance included wreath-laying, readings, and a moment of silence. 

“The ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the scale of loss and the enduring importance of remembrance,” said Cllr Jackson.

At the Ulster Tower, the first official memorial erected on the Western Front after the war, special tribute was paid to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, whose courage and sacrifice on the opening day of the Somme remains deeply respected. 

The moving service included readings, prayers and music, highlighting the strong historical and cultural ties between Northern Ireland and the Somme region, with the annual services ensure the bravery, resilience, and sacrifice of all who served.

Reflecting on the service at Guillemont, Cllr Andrews said the local delegation gathered to honour and remember the men of the 16th (Irish) Division who fought and fell during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. 

“This sacred ground bears witness to their courage, sacrifice and the deep scars of war that shaped a generation and a nation,” he said.

“The men of the 16th Irish came from all walks of life – north and south, Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist – united not by politics, but by duty, loyalty and a shared humanity in the face of unimaginable hardship.”

The local councillors said in August 1916, the 16th Irish played a decisive role in the capture of Guillemont, a turning point in the Somme offensive, but it was achieved at a terrible cost.

They added: “As we lay wreaths and bow our heads in silence, we do so not only in remembrance but in a spirit of reconciliation. Their legacy reminds us that unity can be forged in the most unlikely of places and that peace is a responsibility we all share.

“May their memory endure – not as a relic of conflict, but as a beacon of courage, sacrifice, and the hope for a better future.”

In Belgium, the councillors were the guests of Cllr Dimitry Soenen (Ypres City Council) alongside Deputy Mayor Peter De Groote and Xavier Puppinck (France Area Director of the Commonwealth Graves association).

Cllr Lewis, who was accompanied by his daughter Olivia, said the Menin ceremony has taken place every evening since 1928, with few interruptions. 

“This enduring act of remembrance pays tribute to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the British Empire and Commonwealth who fought and fell in the Ypres Salient during the First World War and whose names are etched on the walls of the Menin Gate, many with no known grave,” he said.

“This daily ritual stands as a powerful symbol of international remembrance, unity and gratitude.

We remember the fallen – not as distant figures from history, but as sons, brothers, fathers, and friends whose courage shaped the world we know today. 

“We also reaffirm our shared responsibility to keep their legacy alive and to ensure that the lessons of the past continue to guide us toward a more peaceful future.”

Cllr Lewis continued: “On this significant anniversary, we pay tribute to all who served and fell, and we thank those who continue to uphold the memory of the fallen through the Last Post – now and always.”

The Slieve Croob councillor said it was an honour and privilege to attend events alongside his eight year old daughter.

He added: “I’m conscious that this is an experience which should be shared and passed to future generations.

“Olivia has taken a keen interest in the topic at school. She was inquisitive, knowledgeable and had a wonderful experience visiting the places she had read about and studied.

“As a father it was uniquely special for me to share these experiences with Olivia, take part in the memorial services and hear of the many acts of bravery on these battlefields.”