Post by earl on Jun 30, 2008 15:06:50 GMT
FORMER First Minister Ian Paisley yesterday stood in silent tribute at the graveside of a nationalist MP who died more than 90 years ago.
As the final notes of the Last Post faded away he bowed his head before stepping forward to place a wreath on the last resting place of Willie Redmond.
The brother of John Redmond, leader of the Irish parliamentary party, Willie had joined the Army to fight for the rights of small nations in the war against Germany.
Although in his 50s, he disobeyed orders to advance with the 16th (Irish) Division at the Battle of Messines.
Wounded, he was helped from the battlefield by members of the Ulster Division, treated for his injuries and comforted by a Church of Ireland chaplain.
Despite his wounds not being considered severe, he died a short time later and was buried in the gardens of a nearby hospice run by nuns. Although other soldiers laid to rest beside him were later moved into a British war cemetery, he has remained in his "lonely grave".
"Redmond was a man well before his time," said Mr Paisley last night. "Messines was a brutal battle and he was brutally injured.
"But it was Ulstermen from the 36th (Ulster Division) who found him injured and carried him for first aid.
"The first Ulsterman to pick him up was shot so a second had to take him to safety, where he was cared for in part by a Church of Ireland padre.
"He was an Irishman fighting for liberty against Germany just as many French and British did.
"He was a man ahead of his time because he knew that when liberty is at stake other things must take second place."
Carol Walker, director of the Somme Heritage Centre, said Mr Paisley had asked to lay a wreath at Willie Redmond's grave.
"This was the first time Mr Paisley had visited Redmond's grave and he has great respect for what he believed and fought for," she said.
"Both Willie Redmond and Ian Paisley were British MPs even though one was an Irish nationalist and the other a unionist.
"But the common link between them was their belief in freedom and liberty. Redmond said he knew that if he didn't fight with the British then he would be fighting against Germany later," she said.
Earlier, Mr Paisley had delivered the sermon as people from throughout Ireland gathered at the 16th (Irish) Division cross at Wytschaete, Belgium, for a service of remembrance organised by the Newtownards-based Somme Association.
Around 80 people attended the service, including members of the Royal Irish Regiment and organisations associated with the Connaught Rangers and Royal Dublin Fusiliers, both of which had battalions in the 16th Division.
Mrs Walker said the cross-community service was very emotional and was a significant success in her organisation's mission to improve awareness of mutual heritage enjoyed by both unionists and nationalists.
On Tuesday, the party will be attending services at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and later the Ulster Tower.
As the final notes of the Last Post faded away he bowed his head before stepping forward to place a wreath on the last resting place of Willie Redmond.
The brother of John Redmond, leader of the Irish parliamentary party, Willie had joined the Army to fight for the rights of small nations in the war against Germany.
Although in his 50s, he disobeyed orders to advance with the 16th (Irish) Division at the Battle of Messines.
Wounded, he was helped from the battlefield by members of the Ulster Division, treated for his injuries and comforted by a Church of Ireland chaplain.
Despite his wounds not being considered severe, he died a short time later and was buried in the gardens of a nearby hospice run by nuns. Although other soldiers laid to rest beside him were later moved into a British war cemetery, he has remained in his "lonely grave".
"Redmond was a man well before his time," said Mr Paisley last night. "Messines was a brutal battle and he was brutally injured.
"But it was Ulstermen from the 36th (Ulster Division) who found him injured and carried him for first aid.
"The first Ulsterman to pick him up was shot so a second had to take him to safety, where he was cared for in part by a Church of Ireland padre.
"He was an Irishman fighting for liberty against Germany just as many French and British did.
"He was a man ahead of his time because he knew that when liberty is at stake other things must take second place."
Carol Walker, director of the Somme Heritage Centre, said Mr Paisley had asked to lay a wreath at Willie Redmond's grave.
"This was the first time Mr Paisley had visited Redmond's grave and he has great respect for what he believed and fought for," she said.
"Both Willie Redmond and Ian Paisley were British MPs even though one was an Irish nationalist and the other a unionist.
"But the common link between them was their belief in freedom and liberty. Redmond said he knew that if he didn't fight with the British then he would be fighting against Germany later," she said.
Earlier, Mr Paisley had delivered the sermon as people from throughout Ireland gathered at the 16th (Irish) Division cross at Wytschaete, Belgium, for a service of remembrance organised by the Newtownards-based Somme Association.
Around 80 people attended the service, including members of the Royal Irish Regiment and organisations associated with the Connaught Rangers and Royal Dublin Fusiliers, both of which had battalions in the 16th Division.
Mrs Walker said the cross-community service was very emotional and was a significant success in her organisation's mission to improve awareness of mutual heritage enjoyed by both unionists and nationalists.
On Tuesday, the party will be attending services at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and later the Ulster Tower.