Written by Brian Willis
The anniversary of the First World War 1916 Battle of the Somme is on July 1st. I've been to the United Services Club, Limavady to see some of the memorabilia they have there of that terrible battle.
Recruiting began for the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in September 1914 and as the numbers swelled so they were sent for training at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon. There were four Companies - two from Derry city, one from Limavady and one from Coleraine.
This photo was taken in October 1914 and shows the Officers of 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Formerly the 2nd North Derry Regiment U.V.F.)
Standing :- W.Moon, J. Douglas, G. Austen, J. Cooke, M. Robertson, C.N.L.Strong, J.McClure W.Wakely, L. Ritter, J. Drennan, H.McConachie, R. Wilton
Seated :- R.S.Knox, F.C.B.Trench, F.S.H.Macrory, Col.Ross Smyth, R.E.Toker Adjt., R.Waring Smyth, J. Miller, J.Kendall Q'master
Front row :- H. Gaussen, K.McKenzie
By May of 1915 the 10th Battalion was over a thousand strong and they set off to join the other battalions at Randlestown. These were the 9th (Tyrone), the 11th (Donegal and Fermanagh) and the YCVs (Belfast). Together this body made up the 109th Brigade of the Ulster Division. The Division left for France on 15th July 1915.
Drum used at the Battle of the SommeThe Front LineIn February 1916 the Division engaged in its first front line fighting at a section held by the 15th Irish Rifles.
Months later, on 1st of July 1916 the 10th Battalion, along with thousands of their comrades advanced on a 25 mile front across the no-mans land and up the Thiepval Ridge.
At their head a drum. This drum is now in Limavady.
There was something else at their head too. For some of the soldiers had cobbled their shirts together and fashioned this makeshift "Derrys" flag which now hangs in a place of honour in the United Services Club in Limavady. Each individual letter appears to be cut from sacking which had been stitched onto the base. When I first saw this "Flag" many years ago the lettering was much whiter (With Blanco perhaps?) but this colour has now faded and it is very hard to discern the word.
Shirts sewn together to make a 'Derrys' flagThe rest, as they say, is history. On that one day, upwards of 20,000 men died. The greatest loss of life in a single day in the history of the British Army. Twelve of the twenty-two officers in the above photo also died that day.
After the event, Captain Wilfrid Spender of the Ulster Division's HQ staff, was quoted in the press as saying.... "I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world".
Thanks to Richard Rathfield, Manager of Limavady United Services Club, for help in preparing this article.
© MMIX