Cosy Somme Association East Belfast

CARSON'S VOLUNTEERS
We Will Not Have Home Rule

Below this, the mural contains additional details:

Willowfield Unionist Hall
28th Sept 1912
3,242
Sign The Ulster Covenant
There is a poppy with the text:
Road to the Somme begins

The imagery includes:
A depiction of Edward Carson (a leader in the Unionist movement) with his arm raised.
A group of uniformed men, likely referencing the Ulster Volunteer Force.
A map at the bottom referencing locations like Thiepval and Guillemont, significant to the Somme battlefield in World War I.

The text on the board reads:
"I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday the First of July,
as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather
be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world.
My pen cannot describe adequately the hundreds of heroic
acts I witnessed, the Ulster Volunteer Force, from which
the Division was made, has won a name that equals any in history.
Their devotion deserves the gratitude of The British Empire."

Captain Wilfred Spender - The Somme 1916

This Mural is dedicated to
THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE
36th ULSTER DIVISION

In 1912 Ulster was under the threat of Home Rule, Sir Edward Carson called upon the people of Ulster to resist and almost half a million men and women signed a covenant to pledge their support.

The U.V.F. was formed, militarily trained and armed with thousands of guns that were smuggled into ports on board ships such as the SS. Clyde Valley.
Disciplined units of armed volunteers would soon be seen on the streets of Ulster, sending out a stark warning to those who would seek to force the Home Rule Bill through.

1914 saw the outbreak of WW1 and when Britain called, Sir Edward Carson put aside his differences and offered the services of the U.V.F.

His offer was accepted and 13 Battalions of the U.V.F. were amalgamated with 3 existing Ulster-based Irish Regiments to form the 36th Ulster Division.

On the 1st July 1916 the Ulster Division played their part at the Battle of the Somme and although they achieved their objectives they had suffered over 5,000 casualties.

As the war raged on the Ulster Division fought nobly and bravely and on many occasions side by side with Irishmen who would once have been their bitter enemies, but faced with battle they were brothers in arms.

The Ulster Tower now stands beside Thiepval Wood in France as a fitting monument in recognition of the sacrifice made by these brave Ulstermen...

"Pass not this spot in sorrow but in pride that
you may live as nobly as they died"

FOR GOD AND ULSTER