One of the first groups to make a pilgrimage back to the Western Front was the Young Citizen Volunteers Old Comrades (14^th Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles).

The album records:

“Y.C.V Battlefield Tour through Belgium and France 8^th to 17^th July 1927.

The party numbering about 60 landed at Ostend and motored along the battleline through Ypres, Arras and Albert, visiting all the places of interest to the battalion.

Leaving the battle zone, they travelled to Paris where two days were spent sightseeing.”

This image is taken from Hamel trenches, showing the wood on the horizon to the right where the Ulster’s left on the first of July. Then the never to be forgotten Sunken Road. Next the memorial built on the German Front line and further back the German second line.

Then the very poignant words:

‘IT WAS ON THIS GROUND ULSTERS NOBLE VOLUNTEERS LAID DOWN THEIR LIFE THEIR MORTAL BODIES LIE ALL AROUND BUT THEIR SPIRITS SEEM IN VERY TRUTH TO BE HOVERING ROUND.’