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"THE LIVING MEMORIAL"
to the brave men of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
The story of 977 goes back to Seaford Military Camp in Sussex, England where the 36th (Ulster) Division were completing their training prior to being posted to France and the fateful 'Battle of The Somme'. Military warrant 862 was obtained from the Grand Orange Lodge of England and meetings were regularly held near the camp with many new candidates being initiated into this great order.
In October 1915 the Division moved to France where meetings were held whenever possible, one such meeting being held in a monastery in Belgium. Loyalty to the lodge was as strong as loyalty to the King and when ordered 'over the top' at the Battle of The Somme the then W.M.- Brother John Crumlin - put the lodge warrant in his inside pocket and his collarette in his back pack and took them 'over the top' with him.
When the division was disbanded at the end of The Great War, the military warrant was returned to the Grand Orange Lodge of England. On return to their native Ulster the men of the former military lodge decided to form a memorial Orange Lodge in memory of all those 'Brave Ulster Boys' who gave their all for King and Country. On the 5th May 1919 the warrant 977 was granted to the 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial L.O.L., sitting under the authority of No. 3 District L.O.L. in Belfast.
The lodge grew in strength taking its membership from the forces of the crown. As an act of thanksgiving and in memory of the fallen of both world wars and subsequent conflicts the lodge holds a memorial church service on the Sunday nearest the Ist July each year. On the evening of the 1st July each year at 8.00 p.m. the lodge parades from Belfast Orange Hall to the City Cenotaph in the grounds of the City Hall and holds a short remembrance service and wreath laying ceremony on the anniversary of 'The Battle of The Somme', from which so many of their fellow citizens and brethren never returned.
In June 1937 a new set of colours made by the Royal School of Needlework, London were dedicated to the memory of the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division and are to this day carried with pride by the lodge. The members of 977 believe it is very important to continue being a 'living memorial' as a lasting memory to the bravery of so many Ulster men and women who have sacrificed their all for us.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM !
36th Ulster Division bids farewell to Belfast on 8th May 1915
Acknowledgement to James for the use of the above illustration.
For information on how to become a member of L.O.L. 977,please e-mail the secretary at feedback@36ulsterdivisionlol977.co.uk
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From the website of the English Lodge, Lt. Col R.B. Mayne Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge 1012.
"The
Empty
Chair"
On the 13th of July 2009 at the Orange Hall in Clifton Street Belfast we were treated to a small insight into how LOL977, 36th (Ulster) Division Memorial conducted parts of their meeting. All the visiting Brethren were amazed to see a chair, draped with the Union Standard and a Sword placed across it, in between the Worthy Master and the Worthy Deputy Master. It was explained that because the Lodge was a Memorial Lodge “The Empty Chair” was a representation, a mark of respect, reserved for all those who had fallen, past and present. As LOL 1012 are also a Memorial Lodge it was agreed that we will also adopt this practice. At our very next meeting an “Empty Chair” was positioned in the lodge room.
LEST WE FORGET.
PLEASE NOTE: Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of 36th (Ulster) Division L.O.L. 977. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Updated 2nd
May 2012
The Ulster Covenant Year
GO TO NOTICE BOARD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A SPECIAL EVENT IN MAY!
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"I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world."
