Orange Order lays wreaths to mark Battle of the Somme, after coronavirus restrictions cancel annual parade

By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jul 2020, 18:48 BST
Updated 1st Jul 2020, 18:50 BST
Members of Ballymacarrett District LOL lay a wreath in east Belfast to mark the 104th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The ceremony was in lieu of an annual parade which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.Members of Ballymacarrett District LOL lay a wreath in east Belfast to mark the 104th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The ceremony was in lieu of an annual parade which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Members of Ballymacarrett District LOL lay a wreath in east Belfast to mark the 104th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The ceremony was in lieu of an annual parade which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Orange Order representatives laid wreaths at five war memorials in east Belfast yesterday in memory of those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme.

The Allied offensive on the Western Front during World War I saw horrific bloodshed on the first day of the battle. More than 60,000 men were casualties and the 20,000 killed in action in the 1916 battle marked the heaviest day’s loss that a British army had ever suffered. Many of those killed were Orangemen.

At 7am yesterday morning members from Orange Lodges in Ballymacarrett District LOL No. 6 held simultaneous Acts of Remembrance at five war memorials in East Belfast.

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The commemorations were in lieu of the Battle of the Somme annual parade, which was cancelled due to Covid-19.

The Orange District Master, Wor. Bro. Sammy Sharkie led the commemorations by laying the wreath at Strandtown, where the parade traditionally stops each year for a short service.

He said: “While it was disappointing, but necessary, that the parade was cancelled, the organisers of the oldest Somme Commemoration parade could not let the occasion pass without marking it.”

He added: “We look forward to 2021 when we will again parade our traditional route to honour all those who served and fell on the 1st July. At the going down of the sun and in the morning – we will Remember them.”

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The Orange Order representatives laid wreaths at Strandtown War Memorial on the Belmont Road, Willowfield War Memorial on the Woodstock Road, Cregagh War Memorial on Picardy Avenue, Workman Clark & Co. Memorial at Titanic Quarter and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland War Memorial at Schomberg House on the Cregagh Road.

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Related topics:Belfast