London & Home Counties Group

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Following normal practice, every year veterans', of the armed forces', and members' of various organisations' make the pilgrimage in the last week in June to the battlefields' of the Great War, normally concluding their trips at the Somme on the 1st July. The members' of these groups' are normally familure to one another, and the journey taken confirms' to the participant often long held positions'. However this year members' from the London and Home Counties Group of the Regimental Association of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC and the Connaught Rangers Association choose to challenge these set positions' and enter into a joint journey of re-discovery.

Having made the move from the province to the mainland, those members' of the fledgling London and Home Counties Group are fortunate enough to be close enough to the battlefields' to make an annual tour feasible, and far enough away from the province to deviate from the norm.

As a member of the thin blue line I have always' had an enquisitive nature, and at an early age, after pestering my Grandmother, I was made aware of all her cousins who had volunteered in 1914. In particular the McNally brothers' from Randalstown. A little bit of research and I found out that Charles McNally a foreman in one of the Belfast Linen Mills' had choosen to enlist with his co-workers in the 6th Btn Connaught Rangers, dying of his wounds on 18th July 1916 in the Loos sector.

One night then last October I decided to phone the Northern (Ireland) Representative of the Connaught Rangers Association Mr Francis (Frank) Higgins. Initially after introductions', I put forward the idea of a small party of London and home Counties Group UDR Association members' and Connaughts' attending the Ulster Tower for the 92nd Anniversary Commemorations' together. However a good idea never stays small and as the months' progressed the tour developed on the theme of the three Rs' respect, recognition and reconciliation.

One of the most poignant visits' made by the group was to the Museum and battlefield of Loos in North West France in 28th June 2008. Run by the Association "Sur Les Traces De La Grande Guerre", The group were hosted by Payen Gilles who gave a guided tour of both the museum and the battlefield, from the infamous 'Double Crassier'. This offered the group the oportunity to mark the battles, and events of personal significance to group members'. Such as visiting the graves of Pte Charles McNally of 6th Btn Connaught Rangers, who's buried at Bethune Cemetery, and Connaught Rangers Association Chairman Brendan Whites', grandfather Pte John White of 6th Btn Connaught Rangers, who is buried at Dud Corner Cemetery.

The next day 29th June 2008 saw the group also comemorate the joint sacrifice of the 16th Irish and 36th Ulster Divisions at Wijtschate in a Special service attended by the representatives of the Belgian, French and British Governments including the former First Minister of Northern Ireland Dr Ian Paisley. Dr Paisley, who commented to the group“I congratulate both your organisations on what you are trying to achieve and I wish you luck in your endeavours.”

In another very special ceremony at Langemark German cemetery the group met with the German military attaché Lieutenant Colonel Volker Eden and Dame Patricia Hawkins-Windsor and continuing on the theme of the three Rs', paid tribute to the German dead of the Great War. Lieutenant Colonel Eden commented, “On behalf of the German Government and people I want to thank both organizations for marking and remembering the dead of Germany in such a unique way.” He went onto say “We would hope this ceremony can be repeated next year and I will contact our embassy in Dublin and London to begin this process.”

That evening the small group continued to break new ground when for the first time in 90years members' from both communities paraded through the Menen Gate, with a Colour Party of the Connaught Rangers flanking those laying wreathes alongside the London and Home Counties Group of the UDR Association under the command of the organiser of the London and Home Counties Group acting as the Warrant Officer. Dame Patricia Hawkins-Windsor who was in attendance said “The work your organizations are doing is a credit to all the people of Ireland and your presence here will be felt for many years to come,” she went onto comment “We would welcome your presence at any time and along with the Last Post Association we will assist you in whatever way we can to promote your valuable work.”

In addition a presentation was made to the Connaught Rangers Museum of a 'Connaught Rangers Sweetheart Broach' from the great war by JP. This valuable artifact is now on permanent loan to the museum for future generations'.

On the 30th June 2008 the group took a break from any ceremonial duties' with a day in jeans touring the southern Somme area concentrating on the town of Albert and the museum there, and the areas fought for by the 16th Irish Division (Guillemont), South African and Australian Divisions.

On the 1st July 2008 then we attended the 92nd Aniversary of the Somme initially at the Thiepval Memorial, before attending the Newfoundlanders Memorial Park and finally the Comemoration at the Ulster Tower, where the group made a presentation of a new sign to the staff at the Tower. On receiving the sign Teddy Collingham told the group ' thankyou, obviously a lot of thought has gone into this, I see the writing is the same as our old sign. It is really appreciated, and I will take it out to the road every day!'

That evening we retired to Albert where more presentations were made to the Connaught Rangers Museum included in these were a Rosscommon Militia Capbadge circa 1871, a Queen Victoria Issue Connaught Rangers Capbadge 1881-1902, a World War 1 invalided soldiers lapel badge and a lapel badge from the 'Regimental Association of The Connaught Rangers'. In return presentations were made by the Connaughts' to all members' of the London and Home Counties Group including a plaque to the organiser of the Group. In addition the London and Home Counties piper was asked to join the Albert Pipers and perform on the balcony of the Basilica to the public, another honour for our small group

So on reflection what did our collaboration gain us. I could say it highlighted the professionalism of the Irish soldier, discipline, dedication and decorum, and I wouldn't be wrong. However I believe that through the three Rs' we managed to develop the most important of all things' amongst all, and that is lasting friendship. I know that in the former garrison town of Boyle County Roscommon, in the Museum of the Connaught Rangers, plans are afoot for a small section dedicated to the Ulster Defence Regiment and this newfound friendship.

I found that William Bernie (secretary of the Connaught Rangers Association) and I shared more in common than some would be prepared to admitt. We both had family members' who served and died in the famous 'Devils Own', branches of our families died in the trenches of the great war, and we come from communities where the impact of the great war was to nearly destroy those communities'.

There are those who we will never reconcile ourselves with in Irish society, and there are those who we can, and should offer the hand of friendship too. When my colleagues here in London joke about my military experience I point out that I may not have served with the best trained soldiers in the British army, but I served with some of the bravest to ever wear the uniform. The collective bravery that made us so distinct was displayed for five short days' when a small group defied convention and formed a distinct friendship. I called Teddy Collingham at the Ulster Tower on my return to the Home Counties to ask if the sign was okay. He informed me that the sign was bringing coachload of visitors to the Tower, and then he sprung a shock on me. He told me that the first person to take the sign to the gate at the Tower wasn't a Northerner, but a retired Garda officer and member of the Dublin Fusiliers Association, who made a point that he would take the sign out. Keeping to the three Rs' not only brought us friendships' with the Connaughts', but with everyone we met, what better example could we set.

     

                                                  ALBERT PIPERS                                                                                                                       BETHUNE CEMETARY

 

 

                  

                                                 BETHUNE                                                                                                                  BRENDAN WHITE                                                                                   CHARLES Mc NALLYS' GRAVE

 

 

 

      

                                                               DUD CORNER CEMETERY                                                                                                                                                                               GROUP LOOS

 

 

                  

                        LANGEMARK CEMETERY                                                                                                  MENEN PIPERS                                                                                                    LOOS TOWN CENTRE                     

 

                                                       

           

                                                    GROUP MENEN                                                                                                                                                                                  GROUP AT THIEPVAL

 

 

            

                                    GROUP AT POSIERIES                                                                                                                                                                                    LANGEMARK PRESENTATION

 

                        

                                     PATRICIA AND IRENE                                                                      PIPER RENEGOTIATES ENTRANCE FEE                                    SWEETHEART BROOCH PRESENTATION

 

                           

 

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