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The 36th Irish Division, whose operational
line extended from the southern edge of Thiepval Wood
to the village of Hamel, was the sole Allied unit to
reach its objective on 1 July 1916. But the unfortunate
Irish were trapped here between the British rolling
artillery barrage and the German machine gunners who
emerged from the underground shelters of the Schwaben
Redoubt. Having lost more than 5,500 men in a few hours,
the division had to be withdrawn the following day.
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| The tower, financed through
public subscription and built in 1921, in romantic Gothic
style, is an exact replica of a tower near the 36th Division's
training ground in Belfast. It is the memorial both to
the Irish of the Battle of the Somme and to all Ulstermen
who died in the Great War. Visitor Centre on site. A plaque
placed in the grounds by the Royal Irish Rangers commemorates
the soldiers of the 36th (Irish) Division and nine winners
of the Victoria Cross. At the far end of the site, a small
gate leads through to a small 1994 memorial commemorating
the Orange Order of Northern Ireland. |
Practical
info
Heritage centre, multimedia centre, shop, cafeteria.
Opening times
Open Tuesday to Sunday : from 01/03 to 30/11, 10am-5pm (10am-6pm
from 01/05 to 30/09).
Admission free.
The Ulster Tower and Heritage
Centre
Somme association
Route de St-Pierre-Divion
80300 Thiepval
Tel : +33 (0)3 22 74 87 14 or +33 (0)3 22 74 81 11
Fax : +33 (0)3 22 74 80 68
E-mail : sommeassociation@dnet.co.uk
Website : www.irishsoldier.org
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