Mountainview Battlefields Association

06/10/2026

We will remember them

03/10/2026

Today our association had the privilege of attending the Cosy Somme Associations annual parade and commemoration.

Our junior member Ezra had the honour of laying the wreath on behalf of the 36th Ulster Division Memorial Association.

🌺 Remembering the fallen 🌺
🌺 Honouring their sacrifice 🌺
🌺 Educating future generations 🌺

01/10/2026

🎉 GIVEAWAY TIME! 🎉

The Mountainview Battlefields Association is delighted to give you the chance to WIN 2 TICKETS to our fantastic Evening of Culture! 🇬🇧🌺

📅 Friday 23rd October
📍 Mountainview Social Club

Join us for a special evening celebrating music, history, culture and remembrance, with plenty of entertainment and a great atmosphere! 🎶🍻

🎟️ HOW TO ENTER:
👍 LIKE this post
🔄 SHARE this post
👥 TAG 5 PEOPLE in the comments

It's as simple as that!
Get tagging, get sharing and get your friends involved. 🙌

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Mountainview Battlefields Association
Remembering the past… Inspiring the future. 🌺

30/09/2026

New badges now available!

As we continue to fundraise in order to bring our junior members on educational remembrance trips, we have had the pictured badge produced and currently have these available at a price of £3.00 each.

The badge takes inspiration from the 14th Battalion Royal Irish Ri**es cap badge worn during the Great War.

These will be available for sale from today locally at THE PIZZA CABIN or from any member.

For any online orders, postage will be £2.70 for up to 5 badges, £3.50 for up to 10 badges and any orders above 10 badges, we will discuss with the buyer.

To order, please message our page or see any member of our association.

We would like to thank The Loyal Print for his help with the production and Loyalist Ulster Twenty Three for his inspirational design work - visit both of their pages and give them a follow.

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

29/09/2026

Remembering our dear friend Stephen “Finn” Finlay today.

Finn remains deeply loved and missed by every one of us at Mountainview Battlefields Association.

More than a dedicated member—he was a trusted friend who always went the extra mile for everyone around him.

Our thoughts today are with Lesley, Kathy, Jonny, and the family circle ❤️

28/09/2026

Happy Ulster Day 🇬🇧

On 28th September 1912, the Ulster Covenant was signed by just under half a million men and women. Sir Edward Carson was the first person to sign the Covenant at Belfast City Hall with a silver pen, followed by Lord Londonderry (the former viceroy of Ireland), representatives of the Protestant churches, and then by Sir James Craig.

237,368 men signed the Covenant and 234,046 women signed the corresponding women's Declaration, totalling almost half a million signatures. The signatures were made by Ulster Unionists across a strikingly large breadth of society including labourers, professionals, aristocracy and clergy.

It was not only in Ulster the the Covenant was signed. Signatures were collected in major cities in England, Scotland, Wales and in Dublin.

26/09/2026

26/09/2026

Today marks 109 years since the Battle of Polygon Wood began in 1917.

The Battle of Polygon Wood was the fifth major battle by the British Army during the Third Battle of Ypres, later known as Passchendaele. It was a highly significant battle for Australian forces.

Polygon Wood was a significant landmark in the Ypres Salient battlefields. It had been fought over throughout the war and the trees had been all but destroyed by shellfire. The Germans recognised its importance and in 1916/1917 fortified the wood with multiple concrete block houses and thick tangles of barbed wire.

The Battle of Polygon Wood began at approximately 5.50am on 26 September. Seven divisions took part, including the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions, who attacked the German lines from just south of the village of Zonnebeke to Polygon Wood.

At the centre of Polygon Wood was a dominating mound called the ‘Butte’. Built by the Belgian military as a firing range before the war, it had been fortified by the Germans and was used as an observation post. Resistance was heavy but Australian soldiers took the Butte and had successfully secured the wood by the end of the day. Fighting continued until 3rd October 1917, with German forces launching numerous unsuccessful counter-attacks.

An important factor in the success was the clear weather which allowed the Royal Flying Corps to provide support. British fighter aircraft fought with their German counterparts above no-man’s land, providing cover for observation aircraft to direct artillery and support soldiers on the ground.

Although the Battle of Polygon Wood is regarded as a victory for the British Army, both British and Australian divisions suffered heavy casualties.

The Brothers In Arms Memorial, within walking distance of Polygon Wood, commemorates Jim and John Hunter from Australia.

John died at Polygon Wood in 1917 and his body was discovered during roadworks, along with four other Australian soldiers, in 2006. John's body was later identified using DNA. Research led to the family in Australia, who confirmed that the story in the family was that John, or Jack as he was known in the family, had been buried by his younger brother Jim.

John’s remains were eventually buried in Buttes New British Cemetery in 2007.

At Buttes New British Cemetery, more than 650 Australian soldiers are commemorated, the majority unknown. On the Menin Gate Memorial are commemorated more than 950 members of Australian forces who died during the Battle of Polygon Wood and have no known grave.

We will remember them

24/09/2026

Our first two batches of mugs have now completely sold out!!

Another order is being prepared by the folks at Red Hand Merchandise and will update as soon as we have them.

If you would like to preorder, please send us a message or see any member.

Thank you once again for your continued support 🇬🇧

22/09/2026

As we approach the weekend we have made the decision to open the door early again this year as we were taken by surprise last year with how busy the bar was with people waiting to head next door.

All we ask is well you are sat in the bar waiting just please be mindful that the bar staff for the function will more than likely not be in yet so be nice to the day shift as they could be busy 🤣🤣

Blackpool Somme Society