In the Footsteps of Heroes – from the Somme to D-Day

The recently formed 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Corps of Drums Band (1914-1919) dressed in replica World War I uniforms are just one of the many artists taking part in the stage performance entitled ‘In the Footsteps of Heroes, From the Somme to D-Day!’ The show currently being performed at numerous venues around the Province is set to run for one night only at the Waterside Theatre, Londonderry on Saturday 9th October 2010 and with all performances to date having sold out, those patrons wishing to secure a seat are advised to get their tickets sooner rather than later.

The show Director, Kenny Porter stated: “It has been a great honour and privilege to be involved in this project which we have been refining over the past year. The show is an amateur musical production acknowledging the many facets of war. It lasts approximately two and a half hours and allows the audience to take a nostalgic yet realistic journey back in time when our country went to war, not once but twice. We have sought to relate some of the experiences of service personnel and civilians alike whilst incorporating the music and songs of those dark days which helped to keep morale high. Our cast all hail from the Omagh and surrounding towns and villages and include Claire and Jackie McElhinney, Nicola Moody and The Moodettes (who portray the “Andrews Sisters), Shirley Hussey, Ross and Derek Hussey, David Moore and Neil Moody (as the Tin Hat Tenors) and Andrew Burnside.

The first half of the show focuses on World War I and concentrates on two main characters, ‘Jimmy Ashfield from Sixmilecross’ and ‘Miss Edith Harkness, Plumbridge’. ‘Jimmy Ashfield’ played by Andrew Burnside from Castlederg leaves his widowed mother and little sister to go off and fight for his country. We follow his footsteps from the initial recruitment drive in Omagh, training in Finner Camp, Donegal, to the Battle of the Somme in 1916 which is re-enacted on stage and then finally to news of his death in 1918 when his mother receives the dreaded Telegram.

The other character Miss Harkness, who was a nurse with the North Tyrone Ulster Volunteer nursing Corps, is played by her Grand daughter local Historian and Genealogist Mrs Claire McElhinney from Omagh. At the outbreak of WWI in 1914 at the age of just 19 years, Miss Edith Harkness was chosen as one of several nursing staff from the area to go to Pau in Southern France to nurse the wounded. Claire said she was delighted to have been asked to tell her maternal Grandmother’s story. “I understand from my research and information gleaned from family members that my Grandmother was specifically chosen because of her understanding of the French language which would have been part of the selection criteria.

“She along with several others from County Tyrone, under the supervision of Miss Rosabelle Sinclair and Miss Ballentine from Strabane, arrived in Pau in early October 1914 and set up their 50-bed hospital in the Villa Beaupre which had been provided by the French authorities. The hospital was first known as “The Co Tyrone Hospital” and later the “Ulster Volunteer Force Hospital”. Claire who is no stranger to the stage adorns a replica WWI nursing uniform similar to that worn by her Grandmother.

Mr Porter stated: “With such an interesting topic as WWI we have had to tailor the show to incorporate historical facts which we think would allow the audience to understand the conditions under which they fought and died and to this end we have incorporated a new sketch which depicts the death of young John Condon from Waterford, who served in the Royal Irish Regiment. John was reportedly the youngest soldier to die in WWI at the tender age of just 14 years. One of our youngest actors who coincidently is also 14 years old plays the part of John Condon. The audience will watch him struggle to find his gas mask during a German gas attack, his harrowing death and then his burial on stage whilst Shirley Hussey sings that very poignant and moving ballad written by local playwright and composer the late Sam Starrett entitled ‘John Condon’.”

The second half of the show focuses on WWII and we commence with one of Winston Churchill’s famous speeches by performer Jackie McElhinney. Whilst the second half is very upbeat with the fabulous “Nicola Moody and The Moodettes” performing those foot-stomping American style numbers it still retains a sense of reverence and remembrance for the men and women who fought and died for their country.

In total over 200,000 men from Ireland fought in the First World War. They would have joined one of three Irish Regiments; 10th Irish Division, who mainly fought in the Middle East and Gallipoli; the 16th Irish Division and the 36th Ulster Division, who fought at the Western Front.

The 36th Ulster Division consisted of three Regiments ie ‘The Royal Irish Fusiliers’ (Armagh, Monaghan and Cavan), ‘The Royal Irish Rifles’ (Antrim, Down and Belfast) and ‘The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers’ (Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry and Donegal). Most of the recruits from the Omagh area would have joined the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with the Derry’s joining the10th Battalion.

Tickets for the show can be purchased from the Waterside Theatre Box Office and early booking to avoid disappointment is recommended.