War memorials

France: 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial, Thiepval

Architect: William Burn
Location: Somme, France

This memorial is a replica of Helen’s Tower at Clandeboye, County Down, a Victorian folly-tower designed in a traditional manner by William Burn for the Marquis of Dufferin & Ava, below which the Ulster Division drilled before being sent out to France. It stands here at Thiepval because the Ulster Division distinguished itself on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the assault on the strongly fortified German lines at Thiepval, overlooking the Ancre. Of the ten thousand Ulstermen who went over the top on July 1st 1916 – which happened to be the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne – over half were killed. Four VCs were won that day by the Ulster Division.

Gavin Stamp