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Somme: President Higgins lays wreath at anniversary event

Michael D Higgins, Sir Tim Laurence, former German President Horst Kohler and David Cameron. Picture by Yui Mok/PA Wire
Michael D Higgins, Sir Tim Laurence, former German President Horst Kohler and David Cameron. Picture by Yui Mok/PA Wire Michael D Higgins, Sir Tim Laurence, former German President Horst Kohler and David Cameron. Picture by Yui Mok/PA Wire

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins yesterday laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland at the Thiepval Memorial in northern France.

Thousands of Irish troops serving in the British army were among the casualties during the five-month Battle of the Somme.

The president was greeted by French leader Francois Hollande and members of the British royal family including Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The village of Thiepval is close to where the 36th Ulster Division began their attack on German lines on July 1 1916.

It is now the site of the Ulster Memorial Tower, which commemorates their sacrifice.

The Ulster Tower lies amid the poppy fields, graveyards and preserved trenches where First World War artillery exchanges were fiercest and where lines of infantry walked to their deaths towards German defenders.

It was built on land gifted by the grateful French for the ill-fated attack which British troops, from places such as east Belfast, made against overwhelming defensive lines.

Almost 20,000 died during the first day of a battle which generals hoped would produce a pivotal victory for Britain and France over Germany.

With massive amounts of blood spilt by soldiers from across Ireland, the dead have been memorialised as martyrs for their country by unionists who forged the new Northern Ireland some five years later and increasingly their sacrifice has also been recognised by the Republic of Ireland.

The 36th Ulster Division's initial attack near the Somme village of Thiepval was a success but the force could not hold territory gained.

The commemoration at the Ulster Tower yesterday was attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and First Minister Arlene Foster.

Ms Villiers laid a wreath at the Ulster Tower on behalf of the British Government along with the First Minister.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt and PUP leader Billy Hutchinson also laid wreaths.

Deputy first minister Martin McGuinness did not attend, having laid a wreath at the site last month.

Mr McGuinness visited Flanders and the site of the Battle of Messines, where he laid a wreath, during a two-day trip to World War One battlefields.

He said he could never have envisaged that "I would've been (at the Somme) as deputy first minister and a proud Irish republican".

Yesterday, the band, bugles, pipes and drums of the Royal Irish Regiment and military standards paraded amid rain and mud reminiscent of conditions in July 1916.

Retired Major Alan McFarland, chairman of Northern Ireland's Somme Association, said: "Today we remember the soldiers from all nations who died here during the First World War, but particularly the courage and sacrifice of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 36th Ulster Division."

Commemorations were also held in towns and cities north and south, including Belfast City Hall, Dublin's War Memorial Gardens and the Mall in Cork to mark the anniversary.

The Dublin event, involving members of the Defence Forces and the Royal British Legion, began shortly before 7.30am - the time the battle itself started 100 years ago.

The 36th Ulster Division Flag and the 16th Irish Division Flag were both piped in.