The Somme Association
Order of Divine Service
Ceremony at the Ulster Memorial Tower, Thiepval, France 1st July 2010 at 14.30pm
‘They went with song to the battle, they were young, straight of limb,true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted.
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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 morningwe will remember them’
Congregation to be seated by 1400hrs
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO;
The Right Honourable Peter Robinson MLA, Northern Ireland’s First Minister;
The Right Honourable Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
shall enter the Memorial Chamber of the Ulster Memorial Tower
escorted by Dr Ian Adamson OBE
At 1410hrs The Cenotaph Party will take up position around the Ulster Tower
At 1415hrs The Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of The Royal Irish Regiment
(TA) and Standards will parade on.
The Congregation shall stand when the first stanza of the National Anthem
is played as His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO,
President of The Somme Association is escorted to his seat by
Dr Ian Adamson OBE.
The Congregation shall remain standing as The Queen’s and Regimental
Colour of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment shall be marched in
while the Regimental Slow March is played.
Congregation shall be seated
A welcome to the assembled congregation shall be extended by
Mrs Carol Walker,
Director of the Somme Association
A letter home shall be read: written by Capt William R White, 16th Royal
Irish Rifles on 17th July 1916
to Mrs Marshall, the mother of a soldier.
The Service shall be conducted by The Reverend Canon Alex Cheevers
“Friends, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God to offer unto Him our worship, praise, and thanksgiving, to remember proudly all those soldiers from Ulster who in the great Battle of the Somme, ninety-five years ago , fought a good fight, kept the faith and finished their course in this life. Wherefore, remembering God’s presence with us now, let us praise and thank Him for the gallantry and resolute courage of all those who fought in the Battle of the Somme”
Hymn: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
1. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.
2. Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield;
3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
THE LESSON
John 15 verses 7-14
Read by The Reverend Ian R Gamble MBE, CF (V),
253 Medical Regiment (V)
THE PRAYER
Followed by The Lord’s Prayer
Shall be led by The Reverend Canon Alex Cheevers
THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
THE EXHORTATION
Read by: Lt Col P A J Walker, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
Response: “We Will Remember Them”
Note: During the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille, the congregation should stand to attention. Standards should be dipped.
THE LAST POST
Silence shall be observed for one minute
THE REVEILLE
THE PIPER’S LAMENT
THE PLACING OF OFFICIAL WREATHS
Announced by Dr Ian Adamson OBE, High Sheriff of Belfast, Chairman of The Somme Association
Hymn:
1. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home
2. Under the shadow of thy throne,
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting, thou art God,
to endless years the same.
4. A thousand ages, in thy sight,
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night,
before the rising sun.
5. Time, like an ever- rolling stream,
bears all who breathe away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
6. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come;
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.
During the hymn there will be an opportunity for organizations and individuals to place wreaths led by the representatives of the Local Authorities starting with Belfast as the Capital City and the other Local Authorities in alphabetical
order. The Band will continue to play until the last wreath is laid.
THE BENEDICTION
The Reverend Canon Alex Cheevers
Resolution and Remarks by Dr Ian Adamson OBE, High Sheriff of Belfast, Chairman of the Somme Association.
Reply by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, President of The Somme Association.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEMS
The National Anthems are sung. All stand.
British French
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen!
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L’étendard sanglant est levé!
L’étendard sanglant est levé!
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusqua dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils et nos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens!
Formex vos bataillons!
Marchons! marchons!
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
The Congregation shall remain standing as the Regimental Colours are paraded from the Memorial as the Regimental Quick March is played
Remain Standing while the Dignitaries are escorted from the Memorial.
The Officers of The Somme Association wish to record their sincere appreciation to all who have assisted with, and participated in, these Commemorations, particularly the Officers and other Ranks of The 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Royal Irish Regiment; the Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of The Royal Irish Regiment (TA); 38th (Irish) Brigade and Rossett Platoon, 4th Battalion The Royal Welsh, (CLWYD ACF); Reverend Canon Alex Cheevers and Reverend Ian Gamble.
Special thanks also to the Defence Section of the British Embassy in Paris; the British Consulate-General in Lille and the civil and military authorities of the Department of the Somme.
The Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of The Royal Irish Regiment appear by kind permission of the Lt Col P A J Walker, Commanding Officer 2 R IRISH, Lieutenant General P C C Trousdell KBE CB.
The Band of The Royal Irish Regiment (TA) appears by kind permission of Brigadier E A Smyth-Osbourne, Commander 38th (Irish) Brigade.
The Somme Association
Ulster Memorial Tower
36eme Ulster Division Tower
Route de Saint Pierre Divion
80300 Thiepval BT23 7 PH
The Somme Association
The Somme Heritage Centre
233 Bangor Road
Newtownards.