Saturday 1 July 1916

The 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial

Built as a copy of the tower that the men had trained under near Newtownards in Northern Ireland, the tower marks the site of the Schwaben redoubt against which the men of Ulster advanced on 1 July 1916.

Thiepval Wood opposite the Tower has now been bought by the Trust and it is possible to organise a walk through the woods by contacting Teddy at the Tower.

Never touch anything you find on the ground.

There is a small café and museum to the rear of the tower, where you can watch videos, find a cup of tea and buy souvenirs.

Toilets are available (Others to be found nearby are at the Thiepval Centre, Newfoundland Park, and Beaucourt Station Café).

Inside the tower is a small chapel with a number of paintings and plaques from the various towns and boroughs of Northern Ireland.

One of the paintings shows the men of the Division going over the top wearing their Orange Sashes as a reminder of their Protestant faith.

The Thiepval Wood, opposite the Tower, is now owned by the Somme Centre in Northern Ireland and visits to the trenches within it are only available on guided tours organised by the staff at the Ulster Tower.

The 36th (Ulster) Division's Attack

At the entrance to the tower is a plaque commemorating the names of the nine men of the Division who won the Victoria Cross during the Somme.

Behind the tower and to its right is a small garden. There you will find a memorial commemorating the part played by members of the Orange Order during the battle.

It used to be situated at the front but outside the confines of the tower. Having been damaged by a drunken driver one night it was moved to its current location.

Not far away from the tower a number of the 5 500 fallen are buried in the Connaught Cemetery. Almost opposite and, slightly off the road the Mill Road cemetery has many of its headstones lying flat.

Connaught Cemetery

Not much further away is the Newfoundland Regiment Memorial Park

Newfoundland Regiment Memorial Park