Emotional return to the killing fields

THE letter from Dr Tom Quinn (Irish Examiner, February 12) recalled the ceremonies last year in France commemorating the Irishmen who died in World War I.

At Ginchy, on September 9 last, I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the 16th (Irish) Division as a member of the family of Major-Gen Sir William Bernard Hickie, its commander (1915-1918).

The issues surrounding the involvement of so many men (and the impact on their families) from the nationalist tradition are extremely complex. Despite the progress in the very necessary and often agonised debate last year, these issues still have to be worked through fully by all of us.