The Road to the Somme: Men of the Ulster Division Tell Their Story

During the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Ulster Division lost over two thousand men and their tragic story has since become iconic in Ulster Protestant tradition and mythology. This book covers the events that led up to the Somme, including the 1912 birth of the Ulster Volunteer Force, the Ulster Division's formation, training, and journey to France, the battle itself, and the aftermath. Based on Philip Orr's interviews with Somme veterans, this is the soldiers' story, told in their eloquent voices, exposing the reality of that bloody summer and its devastating and far-reaching impact on a close-knit community. This updated second edition includes developments in Somme culture over the last twenty years, and over seventy-five new photographs.