“The years 1914 to 1918 produced an era when one of the most natural forms of expression was to put pen to paper. The result was a wealth of letters, diaries, memoires, prose, songs, fiction, plays, and of course poetry. As we commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of WW1, having researched the newspaper files, we reproduce a small selection before they fade away into the mists of time.” …………..

These are extracts from the foreword to a book of poems and letters launched jointly by County Fermanagh and County Tyrone Grand Orange Lodges as part of a project to commemorate the outbreak of WW1.

The two County Grand Lodges, in conjunction with the STRIPE project, came together to run a series of events culminating in the launch of the book entitled “Words of Comfort Born from Loss and Tears”, containing poems sent back from the battlefields, and written by many of the ordinary soldiers in the trenches.

These were published in the local newspapers of the time in West Ulster including the Tyrone Constitution, the Impartial Reporter and the Fermanagh Times. A number of these poems have been researched by James Emery, a well known historian from Castlederg, and County Grand Master of County Tyrone Grand Orange Lodge. He was assisted in the task by John Hall and David Keys.

The book also contains a number of letters contained in a booklet “Memoirs of a Young Lieutenant” compiled by Sam Carrothers, in remembrance of his Uncle Lt John Samuel Carrothers, who fell at Langemarck, France in August 1917. These are just a small sample of some 53 sent home at the time.

As part of the project, copies of the book will be provided free of charge to all schools, libraries and museums in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

The book launch evening held recently, included music from the era performed by Brookeborough Flute Band, and poem readings by Jemma Walker, Noel Johnston, Richard Dunn, and the Rev Alan Irwin.

The Chairman for the evening was Mr. David Keys. The first copy of the book was presented by James Emery to Stuart Brooker, County Grand Master of Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge.

Copies of the book are now available for purchase at £5.00 each, and are available from; Stuart Brooker 07968738491 stuartbrooker@btinternet.com, or e-mail : fermanaghcountylodge@live.co.uk For more updates, photographs and debate follow The Impartial Reporter on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/impartialreporter And on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/impartialrep