On 1 July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, the 36th (Ulster) Division launched one of the most determined attacks of the entire offensive. Advancing through intense machine-gun and artillery fire, Ulster's soldiers pushed deep into German positions and achieved some of the furthest gains made anywhere on the battlefield that day.
Captain Wilfrid Spender was there and witnessed the attack with his own eyes. Although he was not from Ulster himself, he was so impressed by the courage, discipline and sacrifice of the men that he wrote:
"I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world."
He was referring to the extraordinary conduct of the division during the battle. The men came from the Ulster Volunteer Force and had enlisted together. They suffered devastating losses, with thousands killed, wounded or missing, but their actions earned lasting respect throughout the British Army.
Spender's words were a tribute to men he had seen advance into overwhelming danger and continue fighting despite terrible casualties.
NO SURRENDER 🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧