‘A time to take stock of the pain and horror of war’: Field of Remembrance opens at Belfast City Hall

Belfast’s Field of Remembrance was officially opened during a ceremony on Monday morning, with representatives of the armed forces paying tribute to fallen comrades.

The event began with readings from the Bible and words from members of the Royal British Legion.

A two-minute silence was observed at 11am, followed by a bugler playing The Last Post.

The Field of Remembrance, which is open to the public, contains plots for different regiments and services of the Army, along with space for members of the police.

During the ceremony, a piper played music as representatives of different bodies came forward to salute the memorial, and to plant small crosses in the plots. Some of these crosses carry the names of specific men and women.

The British Legion said the field is open to “anyone who wishes to lay a tribute of any faith to visit and reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave so much for our country”.

Bethany Ferris, public affairs manager for the British Legion in Northern Ireland, added: “The Field of Remembrance is an opportunity for associations and regimental individuals to come together, along with friends and community groups, to recognise the service and sacrifice of those we’ve lost across conflicts.

“It’s especially poignant that we’ll have members of the public come and attend and be able to view what’s happening.

“You are able to get a tribute from one of our poppy appeal stalls across Northern Ireland, and you can lay that at the field if you so wish.

“It gives people a moment to be able to stand back and reflect on the service and sacrifice that was given, and to have the opportunity to take that moment of personal reflection.

“I think that it’s good to come back a time or two across this period until November 12, when it closes, to see how the tributes will build up across the field.”

Colonel Neil Salisbury, president of the Royal British Legion, was in attendance on Monday. He said: “Today was specifically about laying crosses in remembrance of those members of the armed forces who have fallen in previous conflicts.

“We see a lot on television about the Battle of the Somme, 110 years ago, which is incredibly poignant. But, to my mind, it is the more recent conflicts, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, where there were an awful lot of young men and women here in Northern Ireland who served in those conflicts, and I think of them.”

Colonel Salisbury believes it is significant having the war memorial in the centre of the city.

“After the First World War, across the nation and abroad, people wanted to put up a symbol to bring people together to remember those who had fallen.

“By having it in the centre of the city, close to City Hall, it’s a focal point for everyone to come and remember.”

While the focus of this period is on remembrance, Colonel Salisbury said there are other meanings important to this time of year.

“We’re remembering those people who have fallen, and we’re remembering their families who are left behind,” he added.

“But crucially, we’re also remembering what happened and try to avoid that happening again, which is hugely important.

“The whole remembrance bit is tied to the poppy appeal, and last year in the UK we raised £56m. Here in Northern Ireland, we raised an incredible £1.2m.

“From the point of view of the Royal British Legion, this period is very important to raise money to look after those veterans who were injured, as well as their families.”

Belfast City Council was represented at the event by Deputy Lord Mayor Hedley Abernethy of the Alliance Party.

He said: “It’s a time to take stock of the pain and the horror of war. We say frequently, ‘lest we forget’, but, for me, it’s also, ‘let’s not do this again’.

“So many young lives were lost in wars, and the reminder this morning was that these wars are ongoing.

“We need to get better as humankind to make sure that we stop sending our young men and women to war on our behalf.”