The laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph in the grounds of Belfast City Hall as veterans, troops and dignitaries mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Lord Mayor Geddis and Commodore Shillington of HMS Caroline lead the ceremony.
The band of the 1st King’s Regiment play while a guard of honour is formed by the regiment and 27 ratings from the French destroyer, Duperre.
The Battle of the Somme started on July 1, 1916 and went on until November of that year. Britain lost some 350,000 troops with 5,000 men from Irish regiments included in that total. The Ulster Volunteer Force, the 36th (Ulster) Division alone suffered 5,000 causalities with almost 2,000 deaths.