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A
visit to the Somme in September 1996 and a
subsequent statement that brought Paddy Harte
and Glen Barr together to discuss the influence
and memories of Flanders and the Somme, which
could greatly influence present day Ireland. To
test these opinions it was agreed that a group
would visit these areas for Armistice Day 1996.
Among
the group was Andrew Coleman T.C. who was then
chairman of the Bandon Committee along with the
Mayor of Theipval joined with them and laid
wreaths and fresh flowers at the Ulster Tower on
the 11th Nov. 1996 to commemorate
those who fought and died from the 36th
Ulster Division. At the Celtic Cross in
Guillemont, honours were rendered to those who
fought and died from the 16th Irish
Division.
The
Mayor joined the wreath laying at the main
monument in Theipval, the walls of which contain
the names of 72,000 soldiers of many nations,
including some from Bandon whose bodies were
never found. The ceremony concluded with the
Last Post and Reveille being sounded and a
pledge read by Paddy Harte and Glenn Barr.
The
group also visited a number of cemeteries
including Tyne Cot, which contain 13,000
headstones, and a list of 34,000 names on its
walls of those whose bodies were never found. It
is one of the largest war cemeteries in the
world. The Menen Gate, Ypres [Ieper] was also
visited where the names of 54,000 dead are
listed who were never found.
Since
1922 except during W.W.2, members of the
town’s Fire Brigade sound The Last Post and
Reveille each night at 8 o’clock, when the
traffic is stopped entering Ypres by the police
to allow the ceremony to take place.
From
this humble beginning, A Journey of
Reconciliation Trust was set up and a site
purchased on Messines Ridge to construct Peace
Park and build a Round Tower. It was in this
part of Flanders where both the 16th
Irish and the 36th Ulster Division
fought as ONE Division, where both Catholic and
Protestant fought together as comrades side by
side. (Click here
for printable version) Back
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