The Battle of the Somme in 1916 has been celebrated by Ulster Protestants as an essential part of their heritage.  Yet the sacrifice of young lives in the battlefields of France during the First World War were in reality a uniquely intercommunity one with Protestants, and Catholics, Northerners and Southerners, fighting and dying side by side. There are memorials to the young men from Donegal in churches throughout the county. Furthermore the famous Finner Camp has had a very special place in the commercial, social and historic fabric of south Donegal since it was established in l890.

The valour displayed by the 36^th Ulster Division is legendary but the price paid was high.  They had lost over 5,500 officers and men. The Inniskillings lost more than any British Regiment of the line has ever lost in a single day.  Of the 15^th Royal Irish Rifles only 70 men answered their names on that night of the 1^st July.  The dead accounted for half of the casualties. And Ulster, in this Divisional  context included Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan.

The battle dragged on until November. In September it was the turn of the 16^th Irish Division to show their gallantry.  This division included 5 Ulster battalions and also the 6^th Battalion, the Connaught Rangers, which included 600 Ulster men recruited mainly from West Belfast.  The 16^th Irish Division is most predominately identified the assaults on the villages of Guillemont and Guinchy.  Lieutenant- Colonel W Shooter wrote: “The conditions in which the Irishmen had to advance were appalling.  The whole of this area was the scene of complete desolation and odious mud.  Movement over the ground in such conditions required a supreme effort, apart altogether from the fierce hurricane of machine gun and artillery fire which the enemy brought to fear in the advancing troops.  Nevertheless the advancing Fusiliers and Riflemen hacked their way forward with great determination and traditional Irish dash.  In spite of the most severe casualties they drove the Germans from their positions inflicting heavy loss on the defenders and taking many prisoners.”

The Great War saw the sacrifice of a whole generation of Europe’s young men led like lambs to the slaughter by politicians and generals.  Nevertheless the War provided proof that Ulster men of all persuasions could unite in the face of adversity.  One veteran of the Ulster division Tommy Jordan witnessed such mutual aid even while in the trenches. 

“I remember too we were in a village close to the men of the 16^th Irish Division and a lot of Australians.  This Australian, a great fellow but very overbearing,… anyway something happened.  There was a row between some of our people and these Australians.   HHow the Irish brigade got word of it nobody knew but down they came and beat up the Australians.  Now I saw fellows arm- in- arm afterwards.  Fellows of the 11^thEnniskillings with their orange and purple badges and the other fellas with their great big green badges on their arm.”

We are a very fortunate people in Ulster. And especially here in Donegal. The marvellous diversity of both Irish and British culture has been accorded to us.  We should all be proud of what we are.

Concluded