EXPLOITS OF THE ULSTER DIVISION
BELFAST'S TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD
"I am not an Ulsterman, but as I followed the amazing
attack of the Ulster Division on July 1, I felt that I
would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the
world. With shouts of 'Remember the Boyne' and 'No
Surrender, boys,' they threw themselves at the Germans,
and before they could be restrained had penetrated to the
enemy fifth line. The attack was one of the greatest
revelations of human courage and endurance known in
history."--A British officer on the exploits of the
Ulster Division, July 1, 1916.
One of the most striking and impressive tributes ever paid to the
heroic dead was that of Belfast on the 12th of July, 1916, in memory
of the men of the Ulster Division who fell on the opening day of that
month in the great British offensive on the Somme. For five minutes
following the hour of noon all work and movement, business and
household, were entirely suspended. In the flax mills, the linen
factories, the ship yards, the munition workshops, men and women
paused in their labours. All machinery was stopped, and the huge
hammers became silent. In shop and office business ceased; at home the
housewife interrupted her round of duties; in the streets traffic was
brought to a halt, on the local railways the running trains pulled up.
The whole population stood still, and in deep silence, with bowed
heads but with uplifted hearts, turned their thoughts to the valleys
and slopes of Picardy, where on July 1 the young men of Ulster, the
pride and flower of the province, gave their lives for the
preservation of the British Empire, the existence of separate and
independent States, and the rule of law and justice in their
international relations.
"The Twelfth" is the great festival of Belfast. On that day is
celebrated the Williamite victories of the Boyne, July 1, and Aughrim,
July 12, 1690, in which the cause of the Stuarts went down for ever.
It is kept as a general holiday of rejoicing and merrymaking. The
members of the Orange lodges turn out with their dazzling banners and
their no less gorgeous yellow, crimson and blue regalia; and the
streets resound with the lilt of fifes, the piercing notes of cornets,
the boom and rattle of many drums, the tramp of marching feet and the
cheers of innumerable spectators. There was no such demonstration on
July 12, 1916. For the first time in the history of the Orange
Institution the observance of the anniversary was voluntarily
abandoned, so that there might be no stoppage of war work in the ship
yards and munition factories. But at the happy suggestion of the Lord
Mayor (Sir Crawford McCullagh), five minutes of the day were given
reverently to lofty sorrow for the dead, who, by adding "The Ancre,"
"Beaumont Hamel" and "Thiepval Wood" to "Derry," "Enniskillen," "The
Boyne" and "Aughrim" on the banners of Ulster, have given a new
meaning and glory to the celebration of "The Twelfth" in which all
Ireland can share. Major-General O.S.W. Nugent, D.S.O., commanding the
Ulster Division, in a special Order of the Day, issued after the
advance, wrote--
"Nothing finer has been done in the War.
"The Division has been highly tried and has emerged from the
ordeal with unstained honour, having fulfilled in every part the
great expectations formed of it.
"None but troops of the best quality could have faced the fire
which was brought to bear on them, and the losses suffered
during the advance.
"A magnificent example of sublime courage and discipline."
This glory was gained at a heavy cost. There was cause for bitter
grief as well as the thrill of pride in Ulster. Nothing has brought
home more poignantly to the inhabitants of a small area of the kingdom
the grim sacrifices and the unutterable pathos of the war than the
many pages of names and addresses of the dead and wounded--relatives,
friends and acquaintances--which appeared in the Belfast newspapers
for days before "The Twelfth" and after. So blinds were drawn in
business and private houses; flags were flown at half-mast; and bells
were mournfully tolling for Ulster's irremediable losses when, at the
stroke of twelve o'clock, traffic came instantaneously to a
standstill, and for five minutes the citizens solemnly stood with
bared heads in the teeming rain thinking of the gallant dead, the
darkened homes and the inconsolable mothers and wives.
The Ulster Division possesses an individuality all its own. It has no
like or equal among the units of the British Army on account of its
family character; the close and intimate blood relationship of its
members; its singleness of purpose; the common appeal of racial,
political and religious ideals that binds it together by stronger
links than steel. The United Kingdom, as a whole, may be said to have
been totally unready when war broke out. But it happened that one
small section of this industrial and peace-loving community was
prepared, to some extent, for the mighty emergency. That was Ulster.
It was immersed in business at the time, just as much as Manchester or
Sheffield, and in making money out of its flourishing prosperity. But,
unlike those English industrial centres, Ulster had in its history and
traditions an influence which bred a combative disposition, and ever
kept burning a martial flame, even in its marts and workshops. The
community was convinced that in defence of all they hold dearest in
religious beliefs and political principles they might have some day,
not, as in England when opinions are at stake, to flock to the polling
stations at a General Election, but take to the field and fight. The
very pick of the manhood of the province joined the Ulster Volunteer
Force, and armed and trained themselves as soldiers. So it was that in
the years immediately preceding the war it seemed almost certain they
would have to follow the example of their forefathers centuries before
and raise the Orange flag at Enniskillen and Derry. Then came the
challenge of Germany to British ideals. The aim and purpose of the
Ulster Volunteer Force remained the same, as the members conceived it,
but it was turned into a wholly unexpected channel. By an astounding
transformation of events they were to bleed and give their lives for
all they revere and cherish, not in Ulster but on the hills and in the
woods of Picardy.
The Ulster Division is entirely Protestant and Unionist; or was, until
it was decimated on the Somme. It was formed out of the men who had
previously bound themselves together by a solemn covenant, signed on
"Ulster Day," Saturday, September 28, 1912, to stand by one another in
defending, for themselves and their children, their cherished civil
and religious heritage, should Home Rule be established. Thus the
Division is unparalleled for its kind since Cromwell's "Ironsides" in
enlisting stern religious fervour and political enthusiasm in a
fighting phalanx. It consists of twelve battalions forming three
brigades. It is wholly Irish. Nine of the battalions have the
regimental title of Royal Irish Rifles. The other battalions have the
titles of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish
Fusiliers, the two other regiments of the Line associated with
Ulster. The battalions have also territorial classifications denoting
their origin from the Ulster Volunteer Force, such as "North Belfast
Volunteers"; "East Belfast Volunteers"; "Young Citizen Volunteers";
"South Belfast Volunteers"; "West Belfast Volunteers"; "South Antrim
Volunteers"; "Down Volunteers"; "County Armagh Volunteers"; "Central
Antrim Volunteers"; "Tyrone Volunteers"; "Donegal and Fermanagh
Volunteers"; "Derry Volunteers." It has its own Engineers, Army
Service Corps, Army Medical Corps and a complete Ambulance equipment.
There are also reserve battalions. In the pleasant surroundings of the
Botanic Gardens, Belfast, a splendid hospital was established for the
care of the wounded, and the provision of artificial limbs to those
who might need them; and as evidence of the characteristic
thoroughness with which everything was attended to, a fund has been
raised to assist members of the Division who may be left maimed and
broken in health, and to support the dependents of the fallen, outside
any aid that may be derived from the State. The Commander,
Major-General Nugent, is a county Cavan man, a Deputy Lieutenant for
the county, and a kinsman of the Earl of Westmeath. He served in the
King's Royal Rifles for seventeen years, and was wounded in both the
Chitral and South African campaigns.
The Division completed its training at Seaford, in Sussex. On visiting
the district I was amused to find that the advent of "the wild Irish"
had been anticipated by the inhabitants with much misgiving. They were
apprehensive of their ancient peace being disturbed by the hilarity
and commotion that spring from high and undisciplined spirits. What
did happen agreeably surprised the Sussex folk. The Ulstermen quickly
earned the esteem of every one for their affable qualities and
good-humour. What was particularly remarkable was that they were found
to be most pliant and tractable--qualities which, by common tradition,
are supposed not to be looked for in any body of Irishmen; and as for
their moral behaviour, what was more astonishing still was that the
church or the chapel was to them infinitely more attractive than the
inn.
So the Division prepared themselves for taking the field against the
enemy. They were reviewed by the King shortly before leaving for the
Front. "Your prompt patriotic answer to the nation's call to arms will
never be forgotten," said his Majesty. "The keen exertions of all
ranks during the period of training have brought you to a state of
efficiency not unworthy of any Regular Army. I am confident that in
the field you will nobly uphold the traditions of the fine regiments
whose names you bear. Ever since your enrolment I have closely watched
the growth and steady progress of all units. I shall continue to
follow with interest the fortunes of your Division. In bidding you
farewell I pray God may bless you in all your undertakings." In the
autumn of 1915 they went to France, determined to uphold the highest
traditions of the fighting qualities of the Irish race, and burning
for a chance of distinction.
During the winter months of 1915-16 the Division took its turns in the
firing-line. Every battalion experienced the hardships and dangers of
the front trenches, when the weather was at its worst for chills,
bronchitis, pneumonia and frost-bite, and when the Germans were most
active at sniping and bombarding. Names of men in the Division began
to appear in the lists of casualties within ten days of the landing in
France. The battalions passed through these preliminary stages with
courage, endurance and splendid determination. They quickly earned a
fine reputation among the highest military commanders for such
soldierly qualities as willingness and cheerfulness in doing any sort
of work, however unpleasant, that fell to them in the trenches, and
their coolness and alertness on such dangerous missions as going out
at night to the listening posts in No Man's Land and repairing the
wire entanglements. Eager to snatch their share of peril and glory,
they were also among the foremost in volunteering for such wild
adventures as bombing raids on the German trenches under cover of
darkness. One such daring exploit by the Tyrone Volunteers was the
subject of a special order of the day issued by Major-General Nugent,
commanding the Division. It was as follows--
"A raid on the German trenches was carried out at midnight on
---- by the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The raiding party
consisted of Major W.J. Peacocke, Captain J. Weir, Lieutenant
W.S. Furness, Second-lieutenant L.W.H. Stevenson,
Second-Lieutenant R.W. M'Kinley, Second-Lieutenant J. Taylor,
and eighty-four other ranks. The raid was completely successful,
and was carried out exactly as planned. Six German dugouts, in
which it is certain there were a considerable number of men,
were thoroughly bombed, and a machine-gun was blown up, while a
lively bombing fight took place between the blocking detachments
of the raiding party and the Germans. Having accomplished the
purpose of the raid, the party was withdrawn, with the loss of
one man killed and two wounded. The raid was ably organised by
Major Peacocke, and was carried out by the officers and men of
the party exactly in accordance with the plan, and the
discipline and determination of the party was all that could be
desired. The Divisional Commander desires that his
congratulations should be extended to all who took part in it.
"Brigadier-General Hickman, in a special brigade order, says the
arrangements and plans reflect the greatest credit on Colonel A.
St. Q. Ricardo, D.S.O., commanding the battalion, Major
Peacocke, and the other officers concerned. The whole scheme was
executed with great dash and determination, cool judgment and
nerve."
Such was the fame of the raid and its success that the
Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, visited the battalion and
personally congratulated them.
Dr. Crozier, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, visited
the Division in January 1916; and after a week spent with the
battalions, brought home a deep impression of their spirit and
devotion. "A more capable, energetic and cheerful body of men I have
never come across," he writes. "I have seen them at rifle practice,
bomb-throwing, route marching, road-mending, and in the trenches, and
everywhere my experience was the same--officers and men working in
splendid harmony, and taking the keenest interest in any and every job
they were given to do. One night I met a couple of hundred men coming
back from eight days' weary work in water-logged trenches, and they
were singing so lustily that I really thought at first they were
coming from a concert. And yet the war is to them a terrible reality,
and they have already experienced some of its horror. I could not help
noticing that this has produced a deep sense of responsibility, and
has intensified their belief in the reality of duty; and whether at
Sunday services or at weekday informal addresses, there were no
restless or inattentive men, but they seemed to welcome every word
that spoke of God's presence and guidance in all life's difficulties
and dangers."