Cross Border Ceremony To Recall War Dead

Royal British Legion Standards will be unfurled on the banks of the Boyne this coming weekend as ex British regular army and part-time UDR and RIR soldiers mingle with former troops from the Irish Republic for a pre-Poppy Day service of remembrance.

Political figures from across NI will symbolically cross near the site of the historic Battle of the Boyne - and on Saturday 6th November - will remember those Irishmen who fell in battle serving with the British Army.

It is taking place at the war memorial in Drogehda's Mary Street, with the former servicemen and women from both sides of the Irish border standing shoulder-to-shoulder at a now annual event to honour the World War fallen.

Among the guests in Co Louth will be a coach party from Whiteabbey Royal British Legion in Co Antrim - who helped pioneer the event a decade ago.

They will fall in and come to attention as the Royal Standards are carried to the commemoration at 11am, with around 200 people expected to be attending the interdenominational service of praise and remembrance for those who died or were wounded.

As guests of the Drogheda Mayor, Paul Bell, representatives including the Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Paula Bradley will lay wreaths to recall the men from all over the island of Ireland who were killed or wounded in the British army during WWI.

Also attending will be DUP Alderman Nigel Hamilton and Cllr Brendan Carlin, a recently appointed Independent member and Glengormley businessman.

They will stand-by as traditional Royal British Legion Poppy wreaths are laid side-by-side with the tricolour wreaths of the Organisation of National Ex-servicemen, (ONE) as the traditional two-minute silence is observed.

The symbolism will be completed with the Union Flag - incorporated in the Legion's Royal Standard - dipped in tribute as the Irish Tricolour pays tribute to a fallen generation.

(BMcC/GK)