Yesterday was the 98th anniversery of the start of the battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest in our nation's history. The most succesful part of the battle was that carried out by the 36th (Ulster) Division. They advanced further than any other allied unit, capturing the German trenches. Unable to be reinforced, and attacked on three sides, they were forced to withdraw.
This seemed like a total defeat, but their bravery ensured that when Ireland gained independence, most of the North remained in the UK.
Two quotes of interest -=
Philip,Gibbs, the well known war correspondent, was to write that day:-
“Their attack was one of the finest displays of human courage in the world “
Captain, later Lieutenant Colonel Wilfred Spender, who observed this glorious action, also paid his tribute to the Ulster troops,
“I am not an Ulsterman, but yesterday, the 1st July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world. Then I saw them attack, beginning at a slow walk over No Man’s Land, and then suddenly let loose, as they charged over the font two lines of enemy trenches shouting “No surrender boys!”
This seemed like a total defeat, but their bravery ensured that when Ireland gained independence, most of the North remained in the UK.
Two quotes of interest -=
Philip,Gibbs, the well known war correspondent, was to write that day:-
“Their attack was one of the finest displays of human courage in the world “
Captain, later Lieutenant Colonel Wilfred Spender, who observed this glorious action, also paid his tribute to the Ulster troops,
“I am not an Ulsterman, but yesterday, the 1st July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world. Then I saw them attack, beginning at a slow walk over No Man’s Land, and then suddenly let loose, as they charged over the font two lines of enemy trenches shouting “No surrender boys!”