“‘We bravely charged through no-man’s land/With the red hand flying high/Our cry was ‘No surrender’/Old Ulster’s battle cry.’ 1st July 1916 – Battle Of The Somme. Faugh a ballagh.”
“No surrender” was the cry against the forces of James II as they marched on Derry on December 7th, 1688, a moment celebrated by members of the Orange Order, Royal Black Institution, and Apprentice Boys, and from there, possibly shouted on July 1st as the 36th Division, formed from the Ulster Volunteers, attacked Schwaben Redoubt from Thiepval Wood (Irish Times | History Ireland).
The red hand is the emblem of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the shamrock stands for the 16th (Irish) Division, which was not in action on July 1st (the Battle Of Albert) but at the Battle Of Ginchy and Battle Of Guillemont in early September (Long Long Trail). (See also various Messines 1917 murals: Killed Wounded Missing | Comrades In Arms | We Are The dead | Brothers In Arms | Messines 1917
“Faugh a ballagh” is also included; of the regiments who supplied battalions for the 36th Division, only one – the Royal Irish Fusiliers – used that motto, the 9th battalion of the RIF was raised from the Armagh, Monaghan, and Cavan Volunteers. The motto of the Royal Irish Rifles (who supplied 8 of the 12 battalions of the 36th), and later of the UDR, was “Quis separabit”. “Faugh a ballagh” was the motto of the Royal Irish Rangers and is the motto of the current Royal Irish Regiment.
The military boards are flanked by boards for two local flute bands: “Ballycraigy Sons Of Ulster est. 1971” (tw) and “Ladyhill flute band est. 1998” (Fb).
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Click and click again to enlarge (to 1000 x 750)
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
Camera Settings: f4, 1/500, ISO 100, full size 2049 x 1537
Click and click again to enlarge (to 1000 x 750)
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
Camera Settings: f4, 1/500, ISO 100, full size 2049 x 1537
Click and click again to enlarge (to 1000 x 750)
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
Camera Settings: f4, 1/500, ISO 100, full size 2049 x 1537
Click and click again to enlarge (to 1000 x 750)
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
Camera Settings: f4, 1/500, ISO 100, full size 2049 x 1537
T01990 T01989 T01988 T01992 [T01991] T01987 limetree close
Extramural Activity 