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This year being the 90th Anniversary of the
Battle of the Somme, will be remembered by numerous lodges
on 1st July. In the next few issues of the Orange Standard,
and in the run up to the anniversary date, we will provide
you with information about the movement of the 36th Ulster
Division from Ulster to the battlefield in France.
In September 1914, the Ulster Division was formed from the
Ulster Volunteer Force, which raised thirteen battalions for
the three Irish regiments based in Ulster; the Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Rifles.
In Ireland, a unique situation existed. This
summary is from Ray Westlake's "Kitchener's Army":
"It took several weeks after war was declared that permission
to form an Ulster Division was granted. The Ulster Volunteer
Force, a Protestant organisation created by Sir Edward Carson
as a force to counter the threat of the Home Rule Bill, was
already in existence and its members were as eager as any
to join the war. However, due to the political situation in
Ireland, things were held up. Many volunteers refused to wait
and either crossed to England or Scotland to enlist, or joined
the 10th or 16th Divisions already being formed by the War
Office in Ireland."
With over 80,000 members, it was clear that the UVF was in
a position to make an important contribution to the recruitment
of the New Armies. Lord Kitchener met with Sir Edward Carson
in London who, although eager to help was concerned at how
the situation in Ireland might turn while his force was away
at war.
The Government were not able to give any guarantees that
might put Sir Edward's mind at rest. However, he later agreed
to raise a Division, without any conditions, and within days
had placed an order for 10,000 uniforms with a London firm
of outfitters."
The UVF was not only organised, but trained to some extent
as a military force, and had been armed. It was therefore
considerably more advanced as a formed body of men than the
similar formations of the New Armies now being created elsewhere".
These battalions were clothed and administered by their raisers
in the same way as the locally raised New Army battalions
in Great Britain, although the UVF was at a high state of
readiness in August 1914 as a result of heightened tensions
in connection with the Home Rule debate that had occurred
earlier in the year.
August 1914: Formed in Ireland, as the Ulster Division,
with Brigades numbered 1,2 and 3. On 28 August 1914, the Division
and its Brigades adopted the titles shown here.
In July 1915: the Division moved to Seaford, on the
Sussex coast of England. This was the first time that many
of the men had been outside their native Ireland. Kitchener
inspected the Division there on 27 July 1915, and later remarked
to Carson "your Division of Ulstermen is the finest I
have yet seen". Another inspection took place, by His
Majesty King George V, on 30 September 1915.
3rd to 6th October 1915: moved to France, and served
with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war.
The Divisional Artillery remained in England until November
1915.
The Ulster Division initially concentrated in the area around
Flesselles, some ten miles north of Arras. Gradually, men
were sent in groups for familiarisation with trench warfare
conditions, and were attached to the regular army 4th Division
for the purpose in the (at this time) quiet are north of the
River Ancre near Albert.
On 21 October 1915: the Division was moved away from
the fighting area, towards Abbeville, where it spent most
of the winter of 1915-16 continuing training. One of the Brigades
was attached to 4th Division for several weeks at this time,
and the artillery finally joined in late November.
The whole Division finally took over a complete section of
the front line on 7 February 1916, between the River
Ancre and the Mailly-Maillet to Serre road. Division HQ was
at Acheux. The next six weeks were quiet enough, but punctuated
by mine explosions, sniping, many patrols and similar small-scale
incidents.
In the first week of March, the Division extended
its front, the 109th Brigade taking over the sector south
of the Ancre, known by the name of Thiepval Wood. The Ulstermen
soon discovered that whereas the Hamel sector north of the
river valley was normally quiet, the Thiepval sector was subject
to frequent, sudden enemy bombardment.
Officers of the 19th Battalion Royal
Ulster Rifles - Ulster Division.
Picture reproduced
from the Orange Standard, February, 1916.
The caption read - "We have pleasure in
reproducing the photograph of Bro. Col. Robert H. Wallace,
C.B., and the officers of the 19th (Reserve) Battalion of
the Royal Irish Rifles. Col. Wallace appeals for Orangemen
and Protestants to join his battalion. We recommend members
of the Order in England to rally to the side of the famous
Orange leader. Single young men go at once to the nearest
recruiting office, and enlist into this battalion, which is
stationed at Annesley Barracks, Newcastle, County Down, Ireland.
When you arrive at the Old Town Hall, Belfast, don't forget
to mention that you are a member of an English Orange Lodge."
Reproduced from 41st annual meeting of the Grand Lodge
of England report -
5th and 6th July, 1916.
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