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The United Services Institute in Limavady, County Londonderry, houses many memorabilia. Among them is a flag made by soldiers from their shirts. Its colour is faded, but the word ‘Derrys’ has been stitched on to it and can still be clearly read. Originally, it is thought that the flag was dyed in the regimental colours.

The ‘Derrys’ was the nickname for the 10th Battalion the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. After landing in France in October 1915, the Battalion took part in some of the First World War’s most well-known battles, such as Thiepval and Messines. The ‘Derrys’ flag is believed to have been carried at the Battle of the Somme.

The flag is likely to have travelled to Limavady with Hugh Thomas Graham, a company sergeant major in the 10th Battalion, who came back to the town after the war. He became the caretaker of the War Memorial Institute, on whose site the United Services Club now stands.

Ernie Norris is the president of the USC in Limavady. He and local historian Alistair Harper explore the history of this unusual flag. Both men had relatives who died at the Somme.

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