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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Republican for Messines memorial | Republican for Messines memorial |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson is expected to travel to Messines in Belgium next month as part of a cross-community peace initiative. | Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson is expected to travel to Messines in Belgium next month as part of a cross-community peace initiative. |
| The assembly member and her party colleague Willie Clarke will take part in a series of events marking the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Messines. | The assembly member and her party colleague Willie Clarke will take part in a series of events marking the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Messines. |
| The 16th Irish and 36th Ulster divisions fought together for the first time during the WWI battle. | The 16th Irish and 36th Ulster divisions fought together for the first time during the WWI battle. |
| Representatives of the Irish government and some unionists will take part. | Representatives of the Irish government and some unionists will take part. |
| Ms Anderson said she was looking forward to the visit and acknowledged the importance of the event to "others in the community". | Ms Anderson said she was looking forward to the visit and acknowledged the importance of the event to "others in the community". |
| She said that one of her mother's uncles had fought at the battle and that she was approaching the service with an open mind. | She said that one of her mother's uncles had fought at the battle and that she was approaching the service with an open mind. |
| "People fought for a multiple of reasons - and from the nationalist community too for home rule and others to put bread on the table," she said. | "People fought for a multiple of reasons - and from the nationalist community too for home rule and others to put bread on the table," she said. |
| "But others believed it was the right thing to do." | "But others believed it was the right thing to do." |
| She also said her party would be launching a "charter for unionist engagement" in Stormont on Tuesday as part of trying "to learn and understand where each other is coming from". | |
| The attack on the Messines Ridge on 7 June began with the detonation of 19 underground mines underneath German lines. | The attack on the Messines Ridge on 7 June began with the detonation of 19 underground mines underneath German lines. |
| Martina Anderson is Sinn Fein's director of engagement with unionists | |
| The mines blew the crest off the Messines-Wytschaete ridge and was reputedly audible in Dublin and heard by Lloyd George in his Downing Street study. | The mines blew the crest off the Messines-Wytschaete ridge and was reputedly audible in Dublin and heard by Lloyd George in his Downing Street study. |
| Addressing his staff before the battle General Herbert Plumer said: "Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography." | Addressing his staff before the battle General Herbert Plumer said: "Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography." |
| It was later argued that the battle was the most successful local operation on the Western Front. | It was later argued that the battle was the most successful local operation on the Western Front. |
| For the first time in the war defensive casualties actually exceeded attacking losses: 25,000 against 17,000. | For the first time in the war defensive casualties actually exceeded attacking losses: 25,000 against 17,000. |
| At Messines, nationalist leader John Redmond's younger brother, Willie, was killed. | At Messines, nationalist leader John Redmond's younger brother, Willie, was killed. |
| Although over 50 years old, he had insisted both on joining up and on serving in the front line. | Although over 50 years old, he had insisted both on joining up and on serving in the front line. |
| "I can't stand asking fellows to go and not offer myself," he wrote. | "I can't stand asking fellows to go and not offer myself," he wrote. |
| An Irish Peace Tower was unveiled at the battle site in 1998. | An Irish Peace Tower was unveiled at the battle site in 1998. |