REMEMBERING THE SOMME 1/7/1916

Ulster Memorial Tower

Theipval, France
Inscription on the Tablet in the Memorial Chamber of the Tower at Thiepval:

This Tower is dedicated to the Glory of God in grateful memory of the Officers, non-commissioned Officers and Men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in The Great War, and of all their comrades-in-arms, who by divine grace were spared to testify to their glorious deeds.

ENGLISHMAN’S BETRAYAL
Come gather round my comrades this 1rst of July morn
when Ulstermen are rightly proud of the land where they were born.
I’ll tell you of our volunteers and how it came to pass
as they went to fight for England’s cause far away from old Belfast.

It was in dark uncertain days of early world war one
when England’s shores were threatened by the Jackel of the Hun.
When England’s cry for help was heard, we bid her not no fear
for across to Flanders Fields we will send our volunteers.

It was at a place they call The Somme on the 1rst Day of July,
when 20,000 Ulstermen prepared to fight and die.
Sure they bravely charged through no-mans-land with the red hand flying high,
With a cry of “No Surrender Boys” old Ulster’s battle cries.

Now those Germans in their trenches deep could scarce believe their eyes,
When up and charged those Ulstermen and heard their battle cries.
What kind of men are those they said who would leave their native land,
just to die upon this battlefield and what is that strange red hand?

Now on and on they fought that day where others feared to tread,
and on the wire and in the mud they left behind their dead.
But the only flag to fly that day behind those German lines,
was the old red hand of Ulster with the shamrock shrewd our nine.

Now those who lived came home again, what changes did they find?
For the counties that made Ulster up, no longer numbered nine.
Three counties had been sold away by those they fought to save.
Yes, this was England’s gratitude for the sacrifice they made.

So gather round my comrades on this 1rst of July morn,
when Ulstermen are rightly proud of the land where they were born.
For they will never more be led away to fight in foreign lands,
or dies for someone else’s cause and an Englishman’s command
or dies for someone else’s cause and an Englishman’s command