Remembering those lost at The Somme

Orkney’s losses at the Battle of the Somme, during World War One, were remembered this morning at a ceremonial wreath laying, held at the Kirkwall War Memorial.

Just before 11am on a clear autumn morning, members of the Kirkwall branch of The Royal British Legion and the local army reserves and others gathered in the front of the war memorial, next to St Magnus Cathedral, on Broad Street.

Brian Findlay, from the Kirkwall City Pipe Band, played The Battle Of The Somme before Kirkwall British Legion chairman, Eddy Ross, gave a reading detailing Orkney’s losses, and the wider losses, at the battle, which lasted from June 1 to November 18, 1916.

Of over a million people killed at the battle, there were 59 Orcadian casualties. Today’s date is notable as being the centenary of 12 Orkney men being killed, ten of those being lost in the disastrous attack by 7th Seaforths on the Butte de Walencourt. The other two, died in the South African Scottish and 2nd Royal Scots fusiliers attacking on either side of the Seaforths.

A reading and a prayer were also given by the legion branch Chaplin, David Dawson, before branch president Bryan Taylor, laid the wreath at the foot of the memorial, with the legion branch’s colour party lower their flags in respect and Mr Findlay played Flowers of the forest.

Finally, Mr Ross gave a reading of Binyon’s For the Fallen.