BYGONE DAYS OF YORE: 1920 - ‘The fallen at the Somme have bequeathed a great legacy’

The service, which was drumhead gathering, and similar nature to those held on the field of battle, aroused extraordinary interest in the city, and enormous crowds lined the streets from the starting point at the City Hall to the rendezvous at Botanic Gardens. Over 2,000 officers and men - members the association who had returned safely from the Great War - formed into procession, and as they passed along, rank after rank, headed by the Grosvenor Brass and Reed Band, indeed the News Letter noted that, “their fine martial appearance was the subject much favourable comment”. A vast congregation, numbering well over 10,000, gathered in the Botanic Gardens Park, and when the large crowd joined in singing the opening hymn, ‘O God, our Help in ages past’, the effect was “impressive and inspiring”. The Reverend J J Daly led the prayer and the lesson was read by the Reverend E J P Elliott.

The Reverend J Redmond, who served as a chaplain in the war, preached the sermon, in the unavoidable absence of Major-General the Reverend T Simms, CB, CMG, preached, taking as his text the 15th chapter of St John, 13th verse ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.’

‘OUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CHAINS OF SLAVERY’

The speaker said they met together in all these thousands to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and in turn their thoughts to: “The mighty heroic deeds which were done by the sons of Ulster on the 1st of July, 1916.”

He remarked: “It was natural and profound instinct which has brought us together to consider these things in the presence of Almighty God. Whose temple is the world and the great canopy of the heavens its roof. The battle of Thiepval will never be forgotten, nor the memory of those who died there. The lapse of time will not dim the lustre of those splendid deeds, and in the centuries to come the boys and girls of Ulster will recount to one another the glorious actions of the men of Ulster at the Battle of the Somme. We think of those those splendid fellows that day with grateful and loving remembrance, and linger with loving care over what they have done.”

Continuing, Mr Redmond gave a brief sketch of the battle, and related the work of the Ulster Division in capturing the first five German trenches in the great offensive, “when no man faltered as he went over the top amidst a hurricane of rifle fire and bombs”.

He remarked: “They fought amidst terrors unspeakable and won their objective in an hour and a half, subsequently returning to the third line German trench with 600 prisoners. Their noblest and best lay sleeping there in the fields of Thiepval, while we were here at home safety.

“It was a tremendous thing. People here are living in safety because these men and others, had died nobly and heroically for us, and if it had not been for that we and our children would have been in the chains of slavery for generations to come.”

Proceeding, Mr Redmond gave some instances of individual gallantry the rank and file in the battalion in which he had himself served. He said: “There was a glory of war which is physical, and all we can see of that was pain and shattered human bodies, but there was also a spiritual glory - the glory of faithfulness even unto death for a great cause which scorned fear.

“The brave men we commemorate this evening were faithful unto death, faithful through hunger and stress, and in the midst of battle and unspeakable terrors, or noise and the screaming of bursting shells. These men had bequeathed to those who were left a memory which is an inspiration and an example, which will never be forgotten in the days to come.”

Before the singing of the concluding hymn, the band played the Dead March in ‘Saul’ most impressively, noted the News Letter, and “all heads were reverently bared” as a detachment of buglers from the Norfolk Regiment sounded ‘The Last Post’. The pronouncing of the Benediction and the singing of the National Anthem concluded the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the News Letter reported that at the City Hall that a trophy of flags, composed Union Jacks, had been erected in the City Hall grounds, near the Queen Victoria statue, and during the morning the Lady Mayoress (Mrs W F Coates) placed on it a wreath, to which was attached a card bearing the following inscription: “In loving memory our dear ones who gave their lives for King and country, 1st July, 1916. From the Lady Mayoress (Elsie M Coates).” In performing this act of homage the Lady Mayoress was accompanied by the the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff (Councillor G Turner), and the City Chamberlain (Sir Frederick Moneypenny). Her Ladyship also placed wreath on the ledge of the memorial window which was unveiled in the City Hall by the Lord Lieutenant. Similar tributes to the heroic dead were presented the High Sheriff.

JULY 1ST TO BE ‘PERMANENT DAY OF REMEMBRANCE’

At the monthly meeting of the Belfast Corporation which was held on July 1, 1920, the Lord Mayor, Councillor W F Coates, JP, said that before they began ordinary business that he wished to move a resolution. He said: “Four years ago that day the Battle of the Somme was fought, and in it the 36th (Ulster) Division played a memorable part.

“Each year since then the corporation paused it works to record its appreciation of the gallantry of the Ulster Division on that occasion and its respect for the memory of the men who made the supreme sacrifice.

“During the last few days the memorial window erected by the corporation has been unveiled in the City Hall, and that day, following the custom of the past three years, wreaths had been placed in the City Hall grounds, as a tribute to the fallen.”

The Lord Mayor then moved: “That we, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and citizens of the City of Belfast, on this, the fourth anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, desire again to record our feelings of gratitude to the brave men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who by their glorious conduct on that day made an imperishable name for themselves and the province they belonged to which will never be forgotten so long as the British Empire lasts.”

Councillor Sir James Johnston, seconding the motion, said that he thought it was only right that they should record, “year after year”, their appreciation of the work that was done in the war “by the gallant men of Ulster”.

He added: “I hope that the 1st of July will be a permanent day of remembrance for those who fell in the service of their King and country.”

After some discussion the motion raised by the Lord Mayor was voted on, the members of the council then stood as a mark of respect for the fallen.

DUTY OF EMPLOYERS TO EX-SERVICEMEN

Councillor Baird then moved a resolution that read: “That we very much regret that the general public, the Government, and all public bodies have so far forgotten their duty that many of the survivors of the Battle of the Somme and their relatives have been neglected, and are in great want.”

Councillor Campbell, in supporting the motion, said that he thought it was “about time” that “pious expressions of opinion” with regards to the men who had fought and suffered in the Great War should give way to “something practical”.

He said: “I sent no man to the war and kept no man out of it, but I am prepared to do my utmost to see that the promises made by other people were duly honoured.”

He added: “Many of the men who on joining the army were given a promise that they would have their employments on their return are now out of work, and their jobs have been given to others. I know one man who was claimed out of the army three times by a linen firm which had previously employed him, and he is now unable to get work.”

Alderman Duff said that he was glad to see that “at long last” the welfare of the men was receiving “attention from the representatives of Labour”. He said that he wished the council to be unanimous on the motion which was passed.

The News Letter also reported a number of other commemorations had been held around Northern Ireland at Coleraine the Somme anniversary was observed by the placing of wreaths on the old Russian gun at the Diamond.

The News Letter’s correspondent noted: “Over the wreaths floated a large Union Jack. Last evening there was parade bands through the town, and it was noticeable that a large percentage those taking part had been in the historic charge of the 1st July, 1916.

At Ballymoney a wreath of flowers was attached the roll of honour front the town clock. It bore following inscription: “To the sacred memory of those heroes now almost forgotten, and the eternal shame of those who have forgot.”

Meanwhile at Ballymena Mr Huston Lancashire, JP, chairman of the urban council, on behalf of the people of the town and district placed a beautiful wreath on the entrance gates of the new Memorial Park on the Galgorm Road with a card bearing “a suitable inscription”.

‘WE ARE UNDER A DEEP OBLIGATION TO THOSE MEN’

The fallen of the Battle of the Somme were also remembered by the Bangor Urban Council which met on July 6, 1920. Before proceeding with normal business the chairman of the council, Mr T S Wilson, said that as it was the first meeting since “the memorable July 1” and as it was now “their custom” to “remember with reverence, and with greatest possible kindness of heart, those noble men who gave their lives on that great day in 1916”. Mr Wilson then proposed: “That we, the Bangor Urban District Council, on this, the fourth anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, again desire to record a renewal of our feelings of gratitude to the brave men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, who, by their glorious conduct on that day, made an imperishable name for themselves and the province they belong to, which will never be forgotten as long as the British Empire lasts.”

Mr Davidson said he had great pleasure, without any premeditation, in seconding the resolution so sympathetically proposed by the chairman.

He added: “If I may not appear too bold, I would say that more than kindly words are needed for those of our fellowmen who did their bit. While those men are deserving of our very best, it is a painful fact that there were 47,000 discharged men running about some of whom are living on a miserable pittance allowed to them by the government .

Mr Davidson concluded: “I do not want to detract the sympathy with the resolution but I would like the members of the public to keep before their minds that they are really under a deep obligation to those men - an obligation, which extended further than the mere expression in words of nice things concerning them and their families.

“I have the greatest sympathy with the resolution and I trust it will not only represent an expression of sympathy from the council but that it will hold out a hope that the council will do all they possibly can do for the returned soldiers.”

The motion was passed in silence with all members standing.