Royal Artillery Commemoration Day

The 4th December marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of St Barbara, Patron Saint of Artillerymen. To commemorate this event, cadets from Cambridge House detachment laid a wreath yesterday at the Knockagh Monument, then were treated to a fascinating guided tour of the Memorial Garden at Palace barracks. After a customary stop at McDonalds for lunch, we headed to the Somme Heritage Centre just outside Newtownards for their special “Christmas in the Trenches” tour. The tour started with decorating gingerbread men and everyone was given a Christingle. Cadets and adults alike were shocked to learn that the youngest person who fought in the great war was later found to be 8 years old. The sweeties in the Christingles were demolished by the half-way point and the ginger bread men were so popular the cadets made a bee-line to decorate more when the tour of the trenches was finished! A great day out was had by all learning about the rich history of those who served and lost their lives for our country.