A brick monument about 3 meters high, in the central square of the village : here is the memorial unveiled this Saturday afternoon in Bertrancourt, near Acheux-en-Amiénois. This village of some 200 inhabitants hosted a field hospital in 1916, in the midst of the Battle of the Somme. This is in tribute to the 15 players and supporters of Northern Irish football club Linfield, located in Belfast, fallen in action in this part of Poppy Country, that this memorial was inaugurated. It had been three years since the project was launched, slowed down by the Covid pandemic.
A parade with soldiers and footballers, to the sound of bagpipes
The ceremony began with a parade, before settling in front of the memorial. We see a marble plaque on which is written a poem; on the top, ornaments “wrought iron, details Alexis, resident of Bertrancourt. A footballer is holding a gun. It’s very original, we’re lucky to have been chosen to host this monument.“.
Northern Irish and French leave crampons, a ball, flowers. In this part of the country of poppies, 15 footballers and supporters of the Linfield Club fell during the Great War, three are buried in Bertrancourt: “I wanted a memorial where they rest, especially since not all of them have a grave. I hope we made them prouddetails, very moved, the president of Linfield FC, Roy McGivern. Our young players made the trip: they are 16/17 years old, like the players who fought here in 1916. Our young people look up to these brave men who died here.”
Marky, a young Linfield midfielder, agrees: “We remember them every game. We remember what they did, what they sacrificed. It makes us very proud to wear the colors of this club“.
“Bertrancourt is on the map”
“Now, ‘Bertrancourt is on the map’smiles Mayor Patrick Schrinke, the Northern Irish people know that our village exists. Already we saw a lot of groups passing through, especially during the construction of the memorial, I think this monument will strengthen our bonds of friendship“. The project was initiated by Linfield FC, and funded by the football club and donations from supporters.