BBC Newsline Special - The Somme: 100 Years

Hello and welcome to this special BBC Newsline to mark the centenary

You join me at the Ulster Tower in northern France -

built to remember the many, many men from Ireland who died -

A special service of remembrance and reflections

Guests are already beginning to arrive.

Among them, the sons and daughters of one of the few who survived. With

me is Seamus McKee and historian Philip Orr. Let's remind ourselves

as to why is many have travelled to this part of rural France to

remember those who lost their lives in the most horrific circumstances.

This morning at 7:30am, the time the battle began,

a private ceremony of remembrance was held at the Connacht cemetery

The 36th Ulster Divisions Trenches were in Thiepval Wood

This morning, three Royal Irish soldiers emerged, led by a piper. No

weapons now. Instead they carried wooden crosses with poppies.

They laid the crosses at the monuments to represent the three

the 107th, the 108th and the 109th - that made up the 36th

Mervyn Jess was given a tour of the trenches

from where they initiated the attack on the German lines.

These are the actual trenches in the crowd were at an awning 1st of July.

-- Thiepval word. Waiting for the order to go over the top. The

soldiers left their trenches here and went across these peels, towards

German lines that they fell in their thousands. The Ulster Tower now

stands on the ground where they died. Today's service will remember

the men of the 36th Ulster Division. More than a million men were wounded

and killed in the Battle of the Somme, one of the worst in the Great

War. They were remembered earlier today in a service the short

distance away at the Thiepval Memorial. Four guns, British and

French, marked the end of the overnight vigil at the Thiepval

Memorial. They had come to remember ordinary stories of men and women

including Billy McFadzean, DC. He was at Thiepval Wood in a narrow

Assembly trench. As he was preparing for the attack, and ammunition box

turned over and spilled two live grenades, primed to explode. Billy

threw himself on top of them. He was killed at once. His actions saved

the lives of many of his comrades. This was a Commonwealth

commemoration. Others had further to travel. Indian curry men, Australian

soldiers who fought fierce battles. -- cavalrymen. The South African

infantry Brigade. Soldiers from across Ireland served in the British

Army. The 16th Irish division fought in one of the fiercest parts of the

battle. The rain swept over Thiepval to the strains of Elgar and the

people of those nations from all sides remembered more than a million

souls, last but not forgotten. -- lost.

It is hard to imagine, on a day like today, what it was like 100 years

ago. Yes, it is a century ago. Such a different scene. There is a crowd

here, modern life. Going back 100 years, the bombardment had just

ceased. Probably the largest sound made by mankind Guptill than on the

planet. Out of the wood we can see behind us, they would have tried to

take the strongest fortification on the German lines. By this stage on

1st of July, this ground where we are now standing would have been

carpeted with the dead was there would have been stretcher bearers

coming out and trying to pick up the dead bodies. Those who were crying

out sometimes for their mothers, when they were lying in a great

state of injury. Also, at the same time, the gunfire still going on

until nightfall. One man told me about being so scared that he laid

down in a crater and he stayed there till the rest of the day was up. And

the nightfall, he crawled back to his own lines. He had been so

terrified he would die. Others have pushed on, perhaps the guts of a

mile into German territory and they were caught up in a hopeless

situation and had to make their way back. At the end of the day, only a

few Ulster Division members surviving in the trenches. A

cataclysmic date was back home in Ulster they would not have known

anything about it, just a few rumours in the newspaper and so on

that big offensive was coming soon was they would soon find out about

it. Within a few days, the news with perky late back home. There would be

obituaries and newspaper columns, items in the columns. Not everyone

could afford a newspaper. Some folk could not read. The could see one or

two folk looking in the windows that someone they knew, perhaps new

Wellcome had actually died. Such a mulch were staying. It is difficult

when you see so many who do not have names on their graves. -- aid to

mulch with Dave. One thing that was so sad about the Somme, is not just

those who died but those who went missing you might have got a letter

after a knock at the door. You opened it up and it said missing in

action. You might think you could hear within days but that was not

the case. Some families were still waiting six months later, writing to

the Red Cross to see if they could find out any news that they were

prisoners. That is why we see on so many of these little graves, a

soldier known unto God because we do not really know who that person was.

Arlene Foster is arriving. We have already seen Theresa Villiers and

other BIP guests who have been invited today. Also lots of

relatives of people who died. -- VIP. You have interviewed many

people who told to terrible stories. In the 1980s I made it my business.

With letters to the paper, trying to locate men who were still around.

Someone said, I suffer for talking to you because it awakens in my mind

all the things I am trying to banish some talked about being chased by

German soldiers with the sound and rumble of the gun is going on

throughout the night. The interviews were gruelling for some of the man.

When they talked to me, I very rarely heard the word, glory. I very

rarely heard the word, hero. Men remembered their comrades, they

remembered losses and sorrows. Just the sheer fact they may be had to

fight on after the Somme. You forget it finished in November 1918 and

many soldiers from that part of the world were still fighting when it

came to an end in 1918. We are just hearing the colour party coming in

to start the initial part of the service. Lots of the soldiers I have

been talking to, and I'm sure you have as well, feel very humbled and

privilege to be in this event. They are very reflective of what their

military forefathers did for them. There is such a long tradition of

soldiering in Ireland. Some of the regiments represented here go way

back, we think, about the ancestral links to regiments such as the

Enniskillen Fusiliers which go back to the Battle of Waterloo, the Irish

usually is, the Rifles. The long tradition is very important. We here

in the tunes that are being played, these tunes stare the heart of

anyone who is connected to the British Army. -- stir. These would

have been played when recruiting in the countryside and on the streets

of the cities. Interesting to see them coming up towards the Ulster

Tower. This part of the service precedes the royal party arriving.

Yes, it is very important that we think of the significance. This

building was put up in 1921, 19 22. It will seem very much as the first

building of its kind on the Western front. -- 1000 922. It is a

remarkable place to come and have our service. It is seen as somewhere

where everyone from the north of Ireland can come and lay a wreath.

Many wreaths will be laid today. They campaign respects to the people

who perished. The 16th Irish division later on in the Battle of

the song were a big part of it. They're not symbolising it today. --

Battle of the Somme. The battle goes on for 141 days. That is a long

period of time. Many nationalists took part and suffered and died.

They will be remembered particularly when it comes to September. On two

particular locations on the line, further south from here, the Irish

division suffered greatly, almost ball to the suffering of the other

36 divisions. -- comparable. It is important to remember everyone.

Keith and keen we all are, no matter our differences. -- kith and kin.

This has to be seen in context. In 1915, the Easter rising happened.

That was a game changer as far as nationalism was concerned. Prior to

that, before 1914, events were turning this island apart. I suppose

you could say the 36th division reflects that. Most of the men we

are particularly thinking about today would have been members of the

Ulster volunteer Force. This organisation was set up as a very

Unionist body. It was the heavy hitting of unionism, if you like, in

order to defend the basal with their right to stay wholly and completely

British and not have a home-rule parliament in Dublin. In the months

leading up to 1914 and the start of the war, many men ended up lying

here who died on the fields would have taken part as member of the

Ulster volunteers in what we know as the home-rule crisis. So to the

nationalists and Catholics who fought with the 16th. They were

Irish volunteers. They were there to make sure that home-rule past. They

were mortal enemies before the war. In a strange way, this terrible war

brought together, at least for a while, men who were from very

opposed backgrounds. Ironically, when the Easter Rising was taking

place, a gas attack happened just north of here. Men from the

Fusiliers with a different cultural background probably and a different

demographic background suffered greatly when the Easter Rising was

happening in Dublin. That was one of the many ironies and accommodated

factor when you think about this period in history. It is not a

simple period you can just put in a box. Yet it dictates the matter what

we lived through now. The feelings that people have on both sides of

the community 's date back 100 years. They do. We have to remember

this battle has come to signify something terribly important for

unionism. Many people are here purely because of family reasons. I

think inside unionism there is a feeling this battle was such a

sacrifice, such a loss of life. There was one guaranteed that

written would stand by the North of Ireland make sure that home-rule did

not happen. On the other hand, we see the 16th division, who fought

and died in this horrendous campaign, them and their would

probably have hoped home-rule did not pass at the end of the wall. We

had the Irish Republican Army, Sinn Fein with the Easter rising. A

strong feeling in nationalism that the war had been in vain for that

maybe gone to war in 1914 thinking this would guarantee home-rule would

pass and it did not. I think, from here on income and a sense among

many nationalists that the war service was in vain. I do believe

that what we see here, in terms of the Battle of the Somme is very

important to understand our divided history that we have all lived with

all stop we are trying to come to terms with it and find a way of

living with each other's differences. Yet, it seems we focus

much more on it now and 20, 30 years ago. One fascinating thing, the

Ulster Tower would have been deserted. It was difficult to get a

key in order to get in. I had to go to a local village. The place had

cobwebs on it. One or two groups were beginning to take an interest

in restoring the tower. It is a site of pilgrimage was not only will many

be here today but people are becoming on the second, third and

4th of July. Throughout the summer they will ride, literally tens of

thousands of people. It became a site of pilgrimage. -- they will

arrive. Partly we have become much more aware of history. It is more

easy to access and genealogy. There are many programmes on television to

make us Inc that way. In many ways, we have become or aware of the human

story. 30 years ago, maybe you bought a book on the Somme. There

were maps, arrows and diagrams, about military strategy. Fair

enough. Military people were interested and now we have the human

stories. We have recorded them, looked at them, kept them. We feel

this is something to look Walker. We will hear a lot of those

stories during the ceremony. The Victoria Cross was given to 37

members of the Ulster Division. That shows the bravery. . It would be a

bit invidious for me to pick out one. Opened, you cannot get over the

story of Billy McFadzean. He had been a grenadier. He was responsible

for grenades. Because of an accident in the process of looking after his

grenades on 1st July, he - it was clear one of the grenades was going

to go off. Maybe a whole bunch of grenades. As a result of, that he

decides to protect the other soldiers around him by shielding

them from the impact of the terrible blast. He is blown to fragments and

dies in the process. Well, there is a pretty good, example, I think of

giving your life for others. I think it represents the best in military

traditions, that you do, sometimes, have to set your life on the line

for someone else. Certainly, soldiers would have told me,

veterans would have told me that very often it wasn't patriotism in

your head on the battlefield, although it may have sent you into

the Army. You were there for your friend. They could save your life,

you could save theirs. That's the thing with the 36 Ulster Division,

people were fighting alongside friends, neighbours, sometimes

brothers, we heard awful stories of four brothers in one family, two in

another, all being killed, wiped out and yet there was almost this tribal

feeling amongst people because of those bonds that they already had

before they got here. I think the British Army was keen to get people

in. The German Army was massive. A conscript Army, probably the

strokest in the world. You needed volunteer soldiers to get them

anyway you can. People joined up as brothers, as you say or even as

neighbours. That might be very well, in terms of creating the spirit of

the group. The reality is one well-aimed

machine gun can wipe out a whole family. Or certainly a family of

boys. I was able to visit a family in the Shankill area of Belfast when

I was doing my research in the 1980s. The story there is of one

particular boy who goes missing with the Somme and another boy died at

the Somme and the telegram boy came with a letter, in order to pass it

on to the mother. He realised there were two letters. He could not go in

through the door with two. He left one envelope in and came back a few

days later, hoping top soften the blow. I should imagine maybe it

softened it, maybe it didn't. It was a hard choice to make. But there is

an example of how a family lost two boys. Yet in the Second World War,

in that family, one of the fellows went on to serve in the second war.

So, although that may seem like, and is a really horrendous story, it

didn't ex-sting wish what, I think, that family felt. That they were

doing their duty. -- he is sting wish. And duty is what you have to

stand by. It is difficult. When you spoke to the veterans, was there a

sense that they fought that war, hoping it would be the war that

would end all wars, but of course it didn't? No, and that is a note of

disillusion that you start to see when it comes to veterans. 1920s,

1930s, is a time, all across these islands when there is disillusion

beginning to set N because partly of the poverty soldiers return to. --

set in. They come back and deleerly there may not be a job for them. --

clearly there may not be a job for them. The job may have been taken in

the four years, the girlfriend may be marrying someone else. We'll

leave it there for now. The royal party including the Prince of Wales

and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived and it is time for me to hand over

to my colleague, Seamus McKee, who will take us through the service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury already here. They are being introduced now

to members of the Somme association and to assembled dignitaries. The

First Minister, Arlene Foster, beside her. The French Minister for

Veterans and the Irish minister for responsible for commemorations,

heteder Humphreys and the Secretary of State, Thersea Villiers. --

Heather Humphreys. That's the Chairman of the Somme association,

Alan McFarland and Carole Walker, director of the Somme association,

whose great grandfather, Charles groundy died in 1915 -- Charles

Grundy died from muster gas poisoning. The deep personal

feelings that people have here. Prince Charles there chatting there.

Viscount Alan Brookeborough, Vice-President of the Somme

association. And Ian Adamson, you may have seen him on your screen

earlier. Chairman for 25 years. He recently stepped down to be

succeeded by Alan McFarland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of

Cornwall have come here from Thiepval Memorial where they

attended the joint British and French commemoration earlier today.

This Ulster Tower, a close replica of Helen's Tower which stands on the

Clandeyboy estate in County Down. It was built in 1867. It is in the

shadow of hellen's tower and in its shadow the men of the newly-formed

Ulster Division trained for the Great Wall. For many of the men

training, the tower, rising before the surrounding countryside, a

countryside very similar to where we are today, would have been one of

the abiding memories of home when they left for England and then for

the Western Front. The memorial tower was the idea of Sir James

Craig, later Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister. It is the

first official memorial to be erected on the Western Front by

public subscription, in 1921. The Ulster Memorial Tower, dedicated

as the marble tablet inside says, "To the officers and men of the 36

Ulster division and the sons of Ulster in other force who is laid

down their lives in the Great War and to their comrades in arms, who,

by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds."

Glorious deeds to which Prince Charles has already been testifying

in his address at the earlier memorial at Thiepval. Fairly shortly

now, as the royal party and assembled ministers and dignitaries

take their places, we'll hear the royal salute.

Now the Queens and Regiment Colours of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the

Royal Irish Regiment will be marched on. Standard bearers carrying the

colours, displaying the colours going back to the Somme and the Boer

War. The regiment traces its history back to the units which were part of

the Ulster Division, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the royal

Irish fusiliers and the royal Irish rifles. These flags historically the

rallying point for the regiments in battle, to be guarded and defended

at all costs. The Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of

The Royal Irish Regiment The Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of The Royal

Irish The colours are marched on to the

slow march to the tune, the slow march, Alieen Alannah.

Traditionally the only people, soldiers allowed to take the colours

from them, are the chaplains. The drums and flags will look like

an altar. Waiting to receive the colours, the

Reverend Bill Mullally, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. He

has served in the military. That's the Reverend Frank seller, the

Presbyterian moderator, conscious of his family's tradition, rooted in

Aberdeenshire, in the north-east of Scotland.

With the utmost care, the flags, the battle honours the colours, draped

over the drums to form what looks like an altar. It was important that

it was from a distance it looked like this. Centuries ago the drum

ceremony was performed on the battlefield, as soldiers, fallen in

combat, were lowered into the earth. It is still a solemn occasion.

Teed 1st Battalion, deployed on military operations around the

world. Including in Iraq in 2003, when Colonel Tim Collins made that

Eve of battle speech. 2 Royal Irish, a reserve battalion made up of

part-time soldiers, teachers, doctors, lecturers. Based in

Northern Ireland but which has also served overseas.

Now, the official welcome to this commemoration from the Chairman of

the Somme association, Alan McFarland.

Former Ulster Unionist MLA. Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished

guests, Lords, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the centenary

commemoration of the Battle of the Somme at the Ulster Memorial Tower.

We are joined today by the their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales

and the Duchess of Cornwall, their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and

Duchess of Gloucester, His Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the

Right Honourable Thersea Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern

Ireland, minister Heather Humphreys, TD, minister of the Arts Mother Taj

and Gaeltacht in the republic of Northern Ireland. -- Minister of

Arts. 100 years ago at this time, this

hillside was a scene of carnage and devastation. For the past seven days

artillery had been shelling the enemy trenches. The British

frontline was in Thiepval Wood behind you and this site is on the

German frontline. On the hill behind the tower was the Schwaben Redoubt.

The divisions were formed from the county battalions of the Ulster

Volunteer Force, formed to fight against home rule. They were often

known by their county titles. At 7.15 this mornings the troops left

their trenches and lay in no-man's-land. And at 7.30 as the

barrage lifted and moved on to the German second line, the whistles and

bugles sounded to begin the attack. Could the Ulstermen reach the enemy

trenches before the Germans in their bunkers 30 feet down, reach the

surface and brought their machine guns to bear? On the other side of

the river, the attack of the 12th Royal Irish rifles and the ninth

Royal Irish Fusiliers found the enemy, while largely intact and the

gap is covered by machine guns. Despite fierce fighting, both

attacks were stopped with substantial casualties. The 30s

rifles attacked up the slope to your left and were cut down by machine

guns on the other side of the river. The 11th rifles, men from South

Antrim, backed by the 15th rifles attacked up the slope to your

immediate right. Further away from the machine guns, they made good

progress. On the far right, at the ninth and tenth will and skill and

Fusiliers made good progress, despite casualties from machine

guns. -- Enniskillen. They were supported by the 11th, men from

Donegal and the manner and the 14th rifles. -- Fermanagh. They both were

badly hit by machine gun fire and sustained heavy casualties. The

follow-on brigade consisted of the eighth, ninth and tenth Royal Irish

rifles men from east, west and south Belfast. Although taking heavy

casualties as they crossed no man's land, they moved to the German

second line and reached the enemy third line and beyond. At about 10am

this morning, enemy artillery fire, machine guns on both sides and

fierce resistance had effectively prevented any chance of a

breakthrough. For the remainder of today and tonight, there would be

desperate fighting to hold ground gained on counterattacks. Efforts

will be made to help the wounded. By tomorrow night, the division would

have lost 5500 killed, wounded and missing. Of these, over 2000 would

be dead. Many of them lie he is still full stop 18 months ago, the

remains of Sergeant David Blakey of the 11th Enniskillen 's and an

Unknown Soldier from the Royal Irish rifles were recovered, just miles

from our gate. They were buried with military honours last October. The

Ulster Division got four Victoria Cross is. Last night the bombing

section were distributing hand grenades. Seeing that many would

perish, private Billy Macfadyen threw himself on the bombs and died.

Another got a posthumous VC for beating off counterattacks. Over the

River, two more Victoria Cross is awarded for bringing back numbers of

wounded men. A fifth Victoria Cross would be won by Corporal George

Sanders of the Rifles, fighting alongside the Ulster Division on the

Schwaben Redoubt. Today we remember the soldiers who died in the First

World War, particularly the courage and sacrifice of the officers, NCOs

and men of the Ulster Division. This will be followed by the words

of those who went into battle on this Day 100 years ago and their

families. This letter from a grieving mother.

The letter sent from Maggie Stevenson in response to a letter

which was written informing her of the death of her only son.

24th of June 1917. Dear Reverend, sir, just a few lines with a broken

and sad heart. I'm right to thank you for your kindness in writing may

be sad news about the death of my dear son. Also for your kindness in

putting the cross on his little grave. I am ever grateful to you for

doing so. It is so very hard and a heavy blow on me, his mother, a poor

widow woman. Again, I am very glad to know that he has still kept the

one thing needful in view. That was to try to serve the Lord. He was

always a dutiful child. My heart has built up in him. If maybe I loved

him more than I should have, for our dear Sega says, we should love him

above all other things. -- saviour. For it is he alone that gave us all

that we have and he laid down his life that we might save hours. I

trust he will forgive me for loving my dear son to much. The earthly tie

is hard to break. I don't think I will ever get over the trouble of

him in this world. I know I shall meet him in heaven where parting is

no more. Again and keen you for your kindness to my dear boy. Also hoping

the Lord will bring you safely through this cruel war. It seems to

me to be so very inhumane. So now I will say goodbye. With the kindest

regards to you from your humble, brokenhearted servant, Maggie

Stevenson. PS, I hope the war will be over and there will be picked to

read for the Allies. Carole Waugh kerk's parents.

Saturday 7th of July, 1916, my dear daddy. I suppose by now you have

heard all about the glorious first a week ago today. Evidently, this

division has made a name for itself that I am afraid at an awful loss. I

see Craig is reported as a prisoner but I am afraid it is more likely

that the worst has happened. There were 17 offices, casualties, all the

very best killed. Captain Masters, Marshall and myself were the only

four of the 20 to go over the parapet to get back safe. The

excitement was tremendous so great in fact our mouths and tongues dried

up at once. The worst of it was the water gave out late afternoon and I

had never had such a burst before. I have now seen plenty of Germans,

both alive and dead. Nearly all of them a fine looking lot but only too

glad to put up their hands and shout, comrades. Our men went mad

because of the memories of the Boyne. We had a much worse time

during the bombardment. The men were put in trenches in the wood without

dugouts and were continually and a shellfire. This company alone lost

50 in five days. -- under shellfire. The attack was postponed for two

days. We went in again the night before and then it was, at this

point, my poor platoon was done for. We were glad to get into the open. I

had given my knee a nasty cut and I am now a bed tried to let it heal. I

had a splinter of a shell taken out of my leg today. Uncle Phil went

right across as far as we went. After the attack he got back safely.

I am afraid there will be great distress

I am afraid there will be great coolest and most fearless man I had

ever seen. If you are near your tailors, please tell them to make me

a pair of slacks. They have my measurements. Also tell them to let

me have the bill, which has still not yet arrived. Please thank aunt

Ellen for the cake and also her gingerbread. Excuse my bad

handwriting, I am still in bed. Colin McCracken of the 1st

Battalion, the Royal Irish regiment. Now from the 2nd Battalion. Leslie

Bell served with the tenth Enniskillen. It was a bright morning

and the sun was up in the sky. The big guns were going off like mad. We

have been addressed by one of the big knobs from headquarters telling

us not to run. We got pipes and cigarettes and there would be no

opposition. The first to never got out of their trenches. The trenches

were full of dead. We managed to get out of the trench and advance some

50 yards when Samir big shell came over and practically wiped out my

whole platoon. I was wounded in the legs and back and laid in the field

from 8:30am till 4pm. To tell you that is, I thought I would never see

home again. I was lying there among the dead and wounded and your

thoughts were far dashes I could be thoughts were far from pleasant. A

number had been blown to pieces. What a waste of life. The 16th Irish

division as well as the Ulster Division. I still think we would

have taken Thiepval. The Ulster volunteer Force formed the nucleus

of the division. Now the Methodist president with a call to prayer.

Friends, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God, to

offer unto him our worship, praise and thanksgiving. We remember

proudly all those soldiers of Ulster who, in the great Battle of the

Somme, 100 years ago, fought the good fight, kept the faith, and

finished in this life, let us praise and thank Him

for the gallantry and resolute courage of all those who fought

in the Adapted by John Wesley.

Traditionally sung in times of national distress or remembrance.

# O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come

# Our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home

# Under the shadow of thy throne Still may we dwell secure

# Sufficient is thine arm alone And our defence is sure

# Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,

# From everlasting, thou art God, to endless years the same.

# A thousand ages, in thy sight, are like an evening gone

# Short as the watch that ends the night

# Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all who breathe away

# O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come

# Be thou our guide while life shall last,

Archbishop Eamon Martin Webb the lesson. It is the first time the

head of the Catholic Church has been present at this ceremony. The letter

is taken from the holy Gospel according to John. Chapter 15,

beginning at first seven. Jesus said to his Disciples, if you

abide in my and I abide in you, you will ask for what you will and you

are get it. As the father has loved me, so have

I loved you. Abid in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide

in my love, just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in

His love. I have told you this, so that my own joy may be in you, and

your joy be complete. This is my commandment. Love one another as I

have loved you. A man can have no greater love, than to lay down his

life for his friends. You are my friends. If you do what I command

you. The prayer delivered by Moderator of the Presbyterian Church

of Ireland, the Reverend Frank cellar and then a lone Piper will

play. On this most solemn day of

commemoration and remembrance of terrible human loss, we thank you

for those reassuring and comforting words, of Christ Jesus, that as the

Father Has loved me, so have I love you. We bless you, that you are not

unfeeling, concerning our human condition. But, rather, experienced

yourself the sacrificial death of your only son, to a cruel death upon

the cross, so that we who deserve nothing but loss, might instead

receive the freedom of life everlasting. Remind us, please,

then, not only of our human fragility, but also of your great

redeeming love. So be it, Lord, thy throne shall never, like Earth's

proud empires pass away. Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever. Til all

thy creatures own thy's way. And together we say the prayer Jesus

gave his Disciples. Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name; on earth

as it is in heaven. as we forgive those that trespass

against us. And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power

and the glory, for ever and ever. The strains of Oft in the Stilly

Night will be heard before the pipe will be seen. David Hogg has

returned from the Royal Irish scam regiment. He has links with the

Somme association and is dressed as a First World War Piper.

A soldier from County Meath was killed in July 1917. O poem on the

grave reads, "Then in the lull of midnight, gentle arms lifted him

slowly down the slopes. Lest he should hear again, the mad alarms of

battle. Battle dying moans and painful breath."

Soon the sound will fade again, commemorating the soldiers, the Paps

led into battle and out of life. -- the pipes led into battle.

And as this service continues. The address will be given by the Church

of Ireland Primate, archbishop, Richard Clarke. May the words of my

mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts be now and always acceptable

in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

. There is a wonderful moment in the final scene of Frank McGuinness's

iconic play, Observe the is Sons of Ulster marching towards the Somme.

When a young Ulster soldier is about to go over the top on that morning

of 1st July, 116, start discussing the rival merits of the Rivers of

Ulster, the Lagan, the Foyle, the Bann. Then they suddenly realise

they are standing there, near another river, the River Somme. The

discussion becomes more excited and more excitable. One of the soldiers

calls out that now the Somme is the Lagan, the Foyle, the Bann. This

river, the Somme, is now theirs. The Somme has somehow become a river of

Ulster. Few images could more perfectly encapsulate that

connectedness between the Somme and Ulster. For many people of that

Province, the Somme and Ulster have, for 100 years, belonged together in

the imagination of succeeding generations and this connectiveness

is something we celebrate today. But, we do more. The Somme, the

Lagan, the Bann, the Foyle, all rivers. But however much they belong

together in the imagination of Frank McGuinness' soldier, we need to

recall what a river is and what rivers are. They flow. They change.

For they are no longer rivers but stagnant pools. A Greek philosopher

reminds us that one can never step twice into the same river. It is not

the same river because of the flow of water. Yes, we think of a river

as forever the same and in many respects this may be so, but the

river does not remain entirely the same. And as we recall with

thankfulness, and even awe, those young men who 100 years ago, choose

to join up and come to this place, for what they believed was a

righteous cause, and a place where so many of them died, we do them no

service if we do not relate them to today and to our hopes and our

prayers and our aspirations for the future. One week ago with my friend

and colleague, Eamonn Martin the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh,

we stood here, at this spot, at this Ulster Tower, with a group of young

people from all parts of Ireland and representing both our Christian

traditions, traditions which for so long have seen themselves as apart,

even at enmitiy with one another. We prayed, we kept silence and we we

flected, with those -- and we reflected with those young people,

all in the sombre realisation that many of those who died here at the

Somme were of an age of those young people who were part of our group.

But we were also aware that the metaphorical river, like every

river, flows on. Yes, those soldiers who died here were now part of us.

But we would do them no honour if we saw their young lives and early

tragic deaths only as sad history or even sacred history. They point us

beyond themselves and they move us beyond ourselves, to a future which

they believed would have been for them, something of infinite hope and

possibility. And we must now believe that in a hope for the future of our

young people, as they must believe in it for themselves. A week ago we

prayed in this place for true peace. God's peace in our lives and for our

world. And this must surely be at the heart of our praying today. Both

the Hebrew and Christian scriptures readily relate the image of the

river to the presence and to the purposes of God, most emphatically

in psalm 46 "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the most high." Close to this place is our

river, the Somme, the Somme representing a connectiveness for

all time of many men and women. Not only in Ulster, and not only of one

Christian tradition. In one sense, this Somme is the same river as it

was 100 years ago, on Saturday, 1st July 1916. In another sense, that

cannot be. And nor is it organically precisely the same river. And so, as

we now remember, with true and gracious recognition, courage,

commitment, service sacrifice, we also allow that river of remembering

to flow and to carry us with it on to a new place to which we are all

summoned by God in Christ. A place of hope. Of peace and even of joy.

Amen. Now we come to the heart of this

commemoration. The Act of Remembrance. The ex-who aretion. --

the Exhortation. Spoken by the Colonel of the regiment.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

Following the Last Post. There will be a minute's Silence, then

And now a lament entitled 100 Years On, compose bid Pipe Major Josh

Bruce, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.

The Hobbs family lived on union Street in Lurgan. There were four

brothers, David Andrew and Robert were killed at the Somme. Herbert

survived. The three Donaldson brothers were aged between 19 and

21. They'd died side by side. John Dixon was a veteran of the Somme.

There was no useful cowards that morning. The cream of Ulster divers

and he dreamt of German soldiers after the war. -- died. I cannot see

what it was for. We will now have the laying of

official wreaths. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett and answering the

laying of wreaths. The wreath presented to Prince Charles by the

Somme Association liaison officer. Prince Charles has spoken in the

past of how no village or town was left untouched. My wife, he says

that the three great ankles in this terrible battle and I lost one

macro. -- uncles. The right Honourable to raise

billions MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. -- Theresa

Villiers. Arlene Foster, First Minister for Ireland. Arlene Foster

has spoken of the huge numbers who lost their lives. Not just people

from my background, she said, but also those from a nationalist

background. Theresa Villiers said laying wreaths on the 1st of July on

behalf of the Government has been one of the most moving duties she

has performed as Northern Ireland Secretary. Remembering soldiers of

the 36th Ulster Division and the 16th Irish Division who fought so

bravely. Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for the arts and a

representative from France. Heather Humphreys has spoken other year of

commemorations that are respectful. Do not seek to be triumphalist or

divisive. The French Minister for remembrance lays a wreath. France

lost 200,000 men at the Somme, Germany 300,000. Britain, 420,000.

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, president of the Somme

Association. Tommy Jordan was a veteran of the Somme. He spoke of

his distress at being asked to remember. I belonged to the

Methodist church, the little church, he said. I think there were 18 names

on the hall table. I knew them everyone. Brigadier J O Sullivan,

Colonel of the Regiment, the Royal Irish Regiment.

In the history of great battles... Commander of the Irish Brigade. The

president of the Somme. British forces in India repelled the

invading Japanese as more nations representing that governments and

people lay wreaths. Card on a British memorial is an epic task to

them. -- carved. When you go home, tell them of us insane, for your

tomorrow, we gave our today. -- in saying.

Soon we hear the hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers. The mayors and

councillors of Northern Ireland. Mr William Hutchinson, leader of the

Progressive Unionist Party. We'll have an opportunity to pay tribute,

beginning with Belfast City Council. The Progressive Unionist Party

councillor has written, the song gives the Protestant working-class

reason to be proud. A viditch to be part of. They rose to the challenge

of the hour. What does that say to those of us not of a Loyalist

tradition? Does the valour and sacrifice of the 16th division fit

into this? Starting with Belfast as the capital city, they will lay

their wreaths. Other local authorities will follow in

alphabetical order. We now seeing, Onward Christian

Soldiers. -- seeing. # Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war, # with the cross of Jesus going on

before # Christ, the royal Master,

leads against the foe # Forward into battle

see his banners go # Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war # With the cross of

Jesus going on before # At the sign of triumph Satan's

host doth flee, on then, # Hell's foundations quiver

at the shout of praise # Brothers, lift your voices,

loud your anthems raise # Like a mighty army moves

the church of God # Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war # With the cross of

Jesus going on before Tom Kettle fought with the Irish

Brigade and was killed in action. He dedicated a poem to his daughter,

Betty, the gift of God. He told her she should know that he and his

comrades died, in Kettle's words, not for flag, or king or empire, but

for a dream. Born in a herdsman's shed and for the secret Scripture of

the poet. # Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war, # with the cross of Jesus going on

before # Crowns and thrones may perish,

kingdoms rise and wane, # but the church of Jesus

constant will remain # Gates of hell can never

gainst that church prevail # We have Christ's own promise,

and that cannot fail # Onward then, ye people,

join our happy throng # Onward, Christian soldiers,

marching as to war, # With the cross of

Jesus going on before Private Tommy Chambers was 17 when

he died fighting with the Ulster Division. He kept a diary in the

days leading up to the battle. A few weeks ago, his great-niece said she

was moved to tears reading the last words of her great uncle who set off

for battle, never to return. She came across the diary recently when

she heard there was to be a display for the Orange Lodge. Tommy Chambers

diaries are in the Fusiliers Museum as part of the Somme exhibition.

# Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

# With the cross of Jesus going on before

As we enter the concluding part of the ceremony, the closing prayer and

blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Maybe power of God

preserve us. May the wisdom of God instructs us. May the hand of God

protect us. May the way of God direct us. May the shield of God

defend us stop made the angels of God guard asks against the snares of

the evil one. -- may be angels. May Christ be with us, make right be

good for us. May Christ be in us. Christ be over all. May thy grace,

Lord, always be ours. This day, oh Lord, and for ever more will stop

Amen. Closing remarks from the vice president of the Somme Association.

Your Royal Highness is, guests, members of the Somme Association.

Your Royal Onward Christian Soldiers, we are very honoured and

privileged by your presence today on this, the 100th anniversary of the

Battle of the Somme. We are delighted to welcome minister

Heather Humphreys from the Irish government and several members of

the Irish Defence Forces. We value your support immensely. We also

value the support of the French state and well: a representative. --

Wellcome. Without your support of infrastructure, security and many

other services, today's events simply would not be happening. We

also appreciate that your commemorative battle from the First

World War is Verdun and this is our Verdun. There was a replica in

County Down which was built in 1921. It overlooked the training ground of

the 36th Ulster Division. Over a long period of time, this tower

deteriorated and the 1988 project, led by Doctor Ian Atkinson who is

here today, raised funds and restored it. It was re-dedicated by

the Duke of Gloucester's mother, Princess Alice, in 1989.

I have two more local thank yous. An immense debt of gratitude goes to

the Rhyl Irish Regiment, I have done so much more than they were

committed to, and have enabled this event to take place. -- the Royal

Irish Regiment. Lastly, I would like to pay tribute

to Carol Walker of the Somme association. And the custodian of

the Tower, teddy and Phoebe who was done so much in organising this and

making it such a special event. Thank you very much indeed.

APPLAUSE. The reply will come from the Duke of

Gloucester, President of the Association. He succeeded his

mother, Princess Alice in that role. She rededicated the tower on 1st

July, 1989. We have all been commemorating the battle, the

skills, the courage, spirit and indeed the achievements of the Irish

here in the Battle of the Somme. But I think we ought to mention those

who came afterwards, and dedicated this land by building this tower, to

the memory of that event and that achievement. I think part of the

reason that it was so important to commemorate this Irish contribution

was because it coincided with a struggle that some of their

countrymen were achieving with a quite different agenda. And it,

therefore, for many years, became difficult for those from the South

who took part in this battle to feel public recognition for all that they

have achieved. And I think The Somme Association, particularly its

founders, should be congratulated for seeing that need for

spotlighting the huge achievement of the Irish in this battle, and

wishing that succeing ing -- succeeded generations should notice

it and be proud of it. And I think that the reason that we are all here

today and that there is so much to commemorate and celebrate is partly

because of their foresight and their need to guide succeeding generations

in realising there was something here very much to be proud of and I

hope that, as the years pass, yet more generations will be proud of

what was achieved at the Battle of the Somme. Thank you.

APPLAUSE And the recover rift colours will

mark the close -- the recovery of the colours will make the closing

stages of this centenary ceremony. The words of one of the Somme

veterans come to mind at the close of this ceremony. Bob Grange came

back to the Somme on the 60th anners havery. It was an emotional return.

"How different it was. Then it was all trenches barbed wire and shell

holes. Now, it was the most beautiful place you could have been

to." That day he signed the visitor's book at the tower, as no

doubt today's visitors will do but RT Grange had a distinguished

commemoration. He remembered he signed the book at Helen's Tower,

where he trained before going to war. His name was in both towers.

And before these soldiers signal the end of the ceremonial, we will hear

the anthems of Britain and France. Quick march.

# Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrive

# Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve

# Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces feroces soldats

# Aux armes, citoyens Formez vos bataillons

# Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons

# Amour sacre de la Patrie

# Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs

# Combats avec tes defenseurs

# Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire

# Accoure a tes males accents

# Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire

# Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes #.

Soon the regiment march of the Royal Irish will ring out over the French

countryside, as it has done, during many commemorations here, down the

years. And that rousing rendition,

including the famous yell, brings to an end the ceremonial part of these

proceedings. Shortly the royal party will be invited inside the tower.

They'll spend some time in the Memorial Room with its marble

tablet, recording the tower's dedication to the memory of those

who gave their lives. On every wall there are plaques and tributes from

local authorities throughout Northern Ireland and beyond. Those

behind the centenary commemorations say it must not be a means of

finally consigning to history what happened at the Somme, rather, they

say, we should continue to reflect on the past so, it helps us live in

the present and provides wisdom for the future. Those were thoughts

reflected in the address we heard from archbishop Richard Clarke. In

the words of Ian Adamson, former Chairman. Somme association, words

he liked to use, "Sons of Ulster, do not be anxious, for we will never

forget you as long as the sun shines and the wind blows, as it has done

today, and the rainfalls, (as it has done today) and the rivers of Ulster

run to the sea." Tarria. -- Tara.

Well let's hear what Philip Orr made of the service. What did you make? I

was really quite impressed with the readings. There were some beautiful

examples there of the individual families who were affected and how a

mother felt about a son and how a boy felt on the battlefield and just

that little bit of detail like gingerbread, you know. The soldiers'

favourite food, favourite biscuit. I think that's what makes the

storivity First World War so poignant for us. -- the story.

I think also I was interested to seat representation there. We had

the Catholic archbishop present there and taking part in the

service. This is a thing that would have probably been undreamt of maybe

70, 80 years ago. The first time he has done it. A real gesture on his

part reaching out and taking part in the service, not a token presence

but doing a reading and a reading that emphasised I think the need to

love one another. It is a benign and boughtively passage from the

scriptures that he chose there. -- a beautiful. But I think the Primate

of All Ireland also spoke with great interest there about comparing the

Somme river to the river of change that happens all through life. I

suppose I'm thinking at this time, we have reached the 100th

anniversary of the Somme, what happens now? Do we continue to

remember with the same vigour? That seems like, in one sense, the end of

an era. Will that continue? Will crowds still come here in

pilgrimage. A bit of me thinks he will, yet, on the other hand maybe

we are witnessing a change and in the future other things will

dominate. Of course the Ulster division went on and fought in this

war and other battles right through to 1918 but they were changed a

division. The damage that had been done meant the ranks had to be

filled up from all over the UK with conscript soldiers. Very different.

I'm thinking also, in terms of the changes we have seen over the past

week. We have seen a whole raft. Constitutional issues up for stake.

We have seen all kinds of threats, it seems, to the United Kingdom

itself, in terms of the different ways that people have responded to

the Brexit story. So, in those times of change, that river of change, you

know, what qualities are called for now from the Ulster people. What is

required of them, the way in which the ancestors showed, as was seen

today, so much courage in the past. Philip, stay with us, we will come

back to you in a few minutes. First, let's hear from Mervyn Jess.

I thought today's eprevents deeply moving ceremonies. It brought back

the horrors of war and the service that goes on forever, to generations

of those who lost their lives. Impact on the Irish soldiers,

obviously? Irish in particular, lost tens of thousands in the first day

of the Somme and in successive days after that and as the attrition went

on and on, more and more lost their lives. Those lives are engraved in

this tower behind me but also in the bigger memorial over there at think

value. Do you think that sacrifice is still remembered by the wider

community in the island of Great Britain and the UK? I think it is,

considerably because the commemoration of the First World War

has brought a reality to it, to many people, because we showed the very

early film on the Somme, which was shown on the very large scene before

the -- screen before the big ceremony started. It was incredibly

realistic. Most was shot in the trenches. Very eooe voktive and

moving. Generations need to understand all the thousands who

lost their lives in the mud. Some seconds after going over the top in

the trenches gunned down straight away I'm ginned by Arlene Foster.

What does today mean to you? -- I'm joined So much to so many in

Northern Ireland. That was why it was important to be here it lay a

wreath at the Ulster Tower which encompasses all the memories for the

36 Ulster Division. I found the services moving and emotional and

proud to have been a part of them. What was going through your mind

when you laid the wreath? How people at home when thinking when a gang

sons, Young husband is where here in such terrible, terrible conditions,

fighting for freedom. -- Young fans. When you look at the footage, it

really is very difficult for us today to comprehend the conditions

they had to live in. It is so different today. So many memories

when you say about letters from mothers and wives. It brings home

the sacrifices. The sacrifice they made, many of them volunteers.

Indeed the awfulness of war and the determination that surely we must

stay away from that and we must make sure we have peace in our world. For

us in Northern Ireland, that is very important, coming through the

troubles. This is part of the centenary. Indeed. We will have more

centenary is, coming up to the centenary of the founding of

Northern Ireland. They continue. I am glad to have been part of this

centenary. I'm sure there are many people at home thinking of their

great-grandfathers, they're great uncles, people related to them

today. Was family connection in your family? My husband's great uncle was

in Carson 's volunteers. He joined up in the 36th Ulster Division. He

came to the Somme, was injured and was sent home. He went back out to

France and died in 1918 a couple of months before the Armistice. His

name is on a headstone in County Fermanagh. Unfortunately his body is

in France. You must be very proud to come and visit the graves and see

courage and bravery shown, particularly on the first day.

Absolutely. When you try to come to hand the number of people injured,

20,000 casualties with many dying immediately or later on, it really

does bring home the scale and enormity of war. Interesting that

the Catholic archbishop was here today, reflecting on everyone who

fought, not just the Loyalist and Unionist community. It is important

that we do recognise everyone's to be. I am delighted that Heather

Humphreys is here today, the Irish Minister for that she is a very

close neighbour of mine, in County Monaghan. I am pleased that she is

here. We are living in very fluid times with a lot of change going on

at the minute. One of the most touching parts of today, when I was

at Thiepval, was the sight of young children laying wreaths. It sent a

very strong message. Here are very young people remembering what went

on. I have been reflecting on the fact that soldiers were able to keep

going, even though all around them such death and destruction. That is

what people are saying today is is about the courage and bravery. Even

though there were arguments about the military strategy that still

being able to fight on. A lot of them, particularly in the 36th

Ulster Division were friends, colleagues from back home. Many

joined and knew each other socially. Perhaps they went to the same

church. They came out here and stuck with each other. When you listen to

stories of bravery, I was in Bushmills recently. It is the no way

in which a man went back onto the battlefield and saved seven lives,

it really was tremendous in terms of bravery. Thank you for joining us on

the programme. Events have been happening at home as well. Michael

Fitzpatrick has more on how it is being remembered in Northern Ireland

and the republic. At Belfast City Hall, people gathered for a wreath

laying ceremony, remembering men from the 36th Ulster Division and

Irish Division who lost their lives at the Somme. Among those paying

tribute was the Lord Mayor, Brian Kingston, and the Irish government

minister. 100 years ago, tens of thousands of Irish people, from both

parts of the country, left to fight. Many died in the First World War.

Some folk in a country at other for the freedom of small nations. It is

appropriate 100 years later that the come together and remember the

sacrifice. Soldiers from the 38th Irish Brigade met for an ecumenical

commemoration service. They record the incompatible gallantry shown by

officers and men that day. In Fermanagh, the service was held at

Enniskillen Castle. Full. -- Stephen Humphreys played the same instrument

which Jack Downes of the tenth Enniskillen Derry volunteers used in

the Ulster Division on the morning of 1st of July, 1916, when they left

Thiepval would. He was killed in action. In the Republic, a

commemoration was held at the Irish National warmer Morrill Gardens at

Irish Bridge in Dublin. -- War Memorial. Commemorations began at

7:30am, exactly the time the battle started 100 years ago. I am pleased

to have a family join me now, three generations of one family. Just

explain to me than your father was a very iconic figure in the war. He

was iconic. Particularly poignant today. They read out one of his

letters at the service. That was Frank Thornley led by lieutenant

McCracken. It makes me feel solemn to think this very day 100 years ago

he left Thiepval Wood. I happen to know from history was the most

heavily defended part of the German lines in terms of machine guns. His

platoon succeeded in capturing that. The sad thing was the rest of the

assault was not a success and it was all a waste of time. He had to go

back. The other particularly poignant thing which came out in the

lead, writing home calmly six days later, out of 20 officers, only four

survives. Only four survives from Irish rifles out of 20, is that

right? In the assault. 20 took part in the assault and only four

survives. Some are captured and wounded but they were not standing

up the next day. He was your father, did he talk about the Battle of the

Somme? It has all come back today. Feeling the power of 100 years ago.

Such an enormous amount of time in one person's life. To think, here I

am, 100 years later, listening to someone read out a letter my father

actually wrote home. It was a very emotional moment. You are another

direct descendants. You are Frank's daughter. How did you feel in the

service to be here and be part of it? I felt he was here as well. Very

emotional will stop just keeping them in control brings me down to

earth. It has been a wonderful day. Even though I am soaked. Amazingly,

the rain stopped just in time for the service to begin. We're all

quite stoic. What sort of man was he? Did he talk to you about the

war? He did. He wanted us to remember. 11/11 was very important

in his life. Probably the biggest thing that ever happened. What I

love about the painting is that he is that ever rallying his troops. He

is featured in the very famous painting that hangs in the City Hall

in Belfast. It is frozen in time. He loved his men, the round of it all

but it just went so terribly wrong. -- comradery. His uncle describes

how Frank took over one of the German trenches. They were dug in

extremely deeply and have not been affected. When they took over some

of the trenches, they found they had comfortable beds, wood panelled

walls, chimneys, and all kinds of comforts. A little bit later in the

war, Frank took over one of these and he described it as being very

comfortable in there. You are a grandson, the second generation. You

have done a lot of research. This centenary has sparked an interest

for me. I was always aware that Frank would be on the front in the

First World War. As children we came across a trunk containing a belt and

a paper containing cartoons with a humorous angle on the First World

War. On this occasion I was prompted to look more deeply into what

happened. I read the letters and was reading histories on the first day

of the Somme. The hair stood up on the back of my neck when I came

across names he mentions in his letters. The two came together. You

have been putting all the pieces of the jigsaw together. His generation

were modest in the extreme and did not talk about the war. He did not

talk about what really happened on the first day, except in those

letters that were written immediately after. I have now

realised he was in this extraordinary advance by the Ulster

's, who did achieve their objectives and got through to the second German

lines which was not achieved anywhere out on the front. They

achieved more than any other unit. The reason was, they were quite

canny. They did not just go over the top and face machine guns. They

crouched down at the edge of Thiepval Wood. They were unseen by

the Germans am able to brush the trenches. The Germans had not got up

from their bunkers and were not ready with machine guns. They did a

tactic that clearly would have worked better had it been used more

widely on the Front. This picture is very significant. Only two survived

out of this. Of the men in this picture, only four were not

casualties on the first day of the Somme put up the rest were

casualties, either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. That gives you an

idea... This is a relatively successful battalion manoeuvre on

the Thursday of the Somme. That gives you an idea of what the

casualties were like. -- the first day. This is all the officers of the

battalion. You have come all the way from Colorado. You are a great

granddaughter. What did you think of it? I thought it was pretty amazing

just to be here because I have come from a long way. My father had his

dad and, I am, Frank was his dad. I thought it was pretty amazing how,

if one man could have shot somewhere else, could have hit Frank, then

none of us would be here today. A very mature way of looking at it

that you realise your big family, your big, happy family is really

hear down to luck, I suppose, and delivery, of course. Is it important

for you to hear these stories? Yes, I like hearing about my family's

history and how far we have, I guess, travelled from century to

century to get here. Do you think you will carry it on and tell your

children all about it? I will tell all my children about Frank and how

I came here. Just a quick word from you. What did you think of today?

Really good. I loved listening to the letters. Frank writing to his

mum and dad. Are you very proud of your great-grandfather? Yes. You

should be. Let's hear from Mervyn. I am down in amongst the crowds at the

front of the town. First of all, we saw you earlier on the big screen.

You are dabbing a tear away from your eye. You were touched by what

you saw. I am representing my counsel. My father was in both world

wars. I appreciate what the soldiers have done over the years. Because of

the centenary, do think there has been more interest in the Somme, or

has it always been there? There are more young people this time, not

just my generation. Is it important for young people to know what

happened and to learn about it? Very much so. It is from both parts of

Northern Ireland, coming together with something in common. We should

be celebrating the fact that we have come to do that now. Not just

Northern Ireland, but the whole of Ireland. Lessons to be learned

through that, do you think? Very much so. What today got to you?

Think of the young boys who joined up and who were under-age. Some I

can madget 16-year-olds now, some hadn't left school and they were

joining up to fate for their country. -- and didn't come back.

Adidn't come back. To fight for their country. And Phoebe, you help

to run this tower your husband, teddy. This has been a big day and

the build-up has been going on for sometime. How do you feel? Very

emotional. I feel very proud to wear my grandfather's medals today. It is

a pleasure to be here today. Very moving. Especially when they read

the letters out. It was very moving. Written by the soldiers themselves.

Even when you stand here and the stories you have heard over the

years and visitors coming to the tower, you still get moved by events

like this. If you didn't get moved, you wouldn't be human. It does move

you. Now it is over, as such, is there any relief? Do you feel relief

or disappointment, perhaps? No, we will be back again to normal,

probably tomorrow, a lot of people but it is lovely today. I wouldn't

have missed today for anything, with all the crowds here. Thank

you-for-speaking to you. Back to you, Tara. The Catholic amp Bishop

of Armagh is with me, Ian Martin. Thank you for joining us. Your fist

time at a Somme commemoration. Why did you decide to come? I think this

year was very special for many people as they were commemorating

the centenary year of the Battle of the Somme. Along with archbishop

Richard Clarke, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Oar marks I had

been thinking what can I do in a symbolic way, in saying to people -

look, we are conscious of the tremendous sacrifice and bravery of

people who went to war. We are anxious to promote a message of

peace, healing and reckonciation. My presence today here is part of that

wish. -- reconciliation. It is part of our history. Yes, part of our

shared history. I think it is sad that down through the decades our

histories have moved apart and we told separate stories of what

happened here and yet the stories I'm hearing here is that really

Protestants and Catholics stood side-by-side, fought side-by-side

for freedom and peace. I really hope that we have taken a small step

forward to recovering the complexity of the narrative and the fact that

we do have something, very, very much in common, when we think back

to the bravery of those men. Of course that brave rift 16th Irish

Division will be remembered a little bit later in the year. -- that

bravery of the 16th Irish. Yes, the 16th Irish and 36 Ulster foughting

together and there were other regiments from Dublin who fought and

died here who were decimated during this awful, horrific battle. Do you

think we can now remember it together move on? We still have some

way to go, because perhaps of our present and more recent conflict.

But I think we are taking a step forward where there is a more

generous narrative going on now and as our younger people begin to

uncover history and ask questions for themselves, I think we are

seeing a way forward and today I must say I've been welcomed by so

many people, people coming up to me saying - we are glad you are here. I

think it is important for me but it is also important, I think for those

who have traditionally come here, to open up a little bit and let's have

much more in common as we remember the sacrifice that took place, 100

years ago. Archbishop, thank you very much indeed. Enjoy the rest of

the day. Back to you, Mervyn. Thank you. Jonathan Buckley is with me now

from Portadown. You have a particular story to tell, you laid a

wreath at a Griff on your advice the to the Somme today. -- to a grave.

This morning I laid a wreath at my great-great-grandfather's grave,

private Robert Warden who served in the 9th battalion of the Royal Irish

Fusiliers who died here close to the Ulster Tower on 1st July. So

extremely poignant moment for myself to come out here and remember the

sacrifice of not only him but his comrades and so many that gave their

lives here at the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. You are a

much more recent generation, obviously, but do young people of

your age really appreciate, do you feel what was done that day and does

it resonate with them in the way it does with your parents and

grandparents? Yes, absolutely. Anybody who has a history to hear of

our forefathers across the towns and villages of the Northern Ireland and

the Republic, it gives rows sons to dome crass sane here at the Somme.

-- it gives resonance here at the Somme. The sermony and the kofrnl

across the country has been befitting of the sacrifice the men

made. Thank you very much. Tara. As we approach the end of the

programme, Philip, reflect on the sort of day it has been? Well, we

struggled and worried about the weather but it turned out

beautifully in the end. I suppose the prayers of the bishops and

archbishops who were with us maybe helped with that. More seriously, I

think a positive day. . I have seen so many people I worked w not just

friends and neighbours but groups I have worked with, community groups

who have worked hard to tell their story about their particular corner

of Ulster. Here today I'm here as historian but there could have been

100 people today because there are so many people out here in that

crowd you see who have written books and articles and people, as we have

seen, the last family who came on who have travelled a long distance

to be here. Incredible stories about the bravery and courage that people

have shown but also the massive loss, the wiping out of a

generation. Yes, very much so. I went over, the other day, down to

the river and across to the accept train a part of the Ulster

Division's advance, which was really -- and across to a part of the

Ulster Division's France and there was a man, who worked on the factory

floor, where he was a senior operative, and it is right beside

where I live. And to see where all those soldiers went missing.

Carrickfergus for me and I'm sure there are people here from every

part of Ulster and beyond, linking that to somewhere in France. I'm

interested in the way people here are enjoying the hospitality of

France, visiting, people in France have been warm and helpful. There

has been such a good relationship there. I'm delighted to see that

connection and we, of course, have had the French National Anthem, as

well as the beautiful music we are hearing now from the band. And this

has been the part of your life for 30 years Yes I remember thinking

when I went to interview by first person, Hue James Adams. I probably

never thought then, relatively little of the personal soldiers'

stories but standing here with the representatives of church and state

and all the folk here, it is a very moving thing to measure that passage

of time. Thank you for joining us today. That brings us to the end of

this special BBC Newsline. More on the programme tonight at 6.30pm. For

now, we'll leave you with some of the images of today.