There was not an aspect of society in Northern Ireland upon which the Battle of the Somme did not impact. 15 Instonians, former pupils of Belfast city-centre school, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Thomas Haughton, a director in the Frazer & Haughton linen company whose principal mill was in Cullybackey, died leading men from their home village at the Somme. Short accounts of four members of the 36th (Ulster) Division who won the Victoria Cross on this day in 1916. In 1915 James Somers of the Inniskillings won a VC at Gallipoli. Also in today’s Roll, much-decorated Petty Officer John McFarland was killed serving in Ukraine with the Naval Air Service armoured car division. In 1944 Joseph Stevenson from Ballymena died in Italy with the Royal Artillery. and William Gibson from Belfast in Normandy with the Dorsetshire Regiment. Photo – Theipval Memorial to Missing.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 