Council Delegation Marks 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

A civic delegation from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, led by The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Brian Higginson, has concluded a visit to the Western Front to mark the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and honour those who served and fell during the First World War.

The delegation, which included elected members Councillors Jessica Bamford, Nicola Parker and Ross McLernon, along with Chief Executive David Burns, took part in a programme of remembrance.

During the visit, the delegation paid tribute at a number of significant memorial sites connected to the Battle of the Somme and the wider First World War. These included Martinsart Cemetery, where ten men from Hillsborough who lost their lives in June 1916 are remembered, as well as the Thiepval Memorial, where a wreath was laid by The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Brian Higginson; the Ulster Memorial Tower, where Councillor Ross McLernon paid tribute on behalf of the council; and the 16th (Irish) Division Memorial in Guillemont, where Councillor Jessica Bamford laid a wreath in remembrance of those who served and fell.

Councillor Nicola Parker also laid a wreath at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, where the delegation attended the Last Post Ceremony in tribute to Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave.

The visit also included time at Thiepval Wood, where preserved trenches provided a powerful reminder of the conditions endured by soldiers on the front line, and at the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, a site dedicated to shared remembrance, reconciliation and peace.

Reflecting on the visit, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Brian Higginson, said: “It was a profound honour to represent the people of Lisburn and Castlereagh at these deeply moving commemorations, particularly in this 110th anniversary year of the Battle of the Somme. The visit was a powerful reminder of the immense sacrifice made by so many during the First World War, including men from our own communities who never returned home. As we stood at these memorials, we remembered all those who served and fell with dignity and gratitude. It is important that we continue to pass on their stories to future generations and reflect on the value of peace, reconciliation and shared remembrance.”