Following Arras, the next major British initiative on the Western Front was at Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917. The battle has become central to cross-community initiatives in Northern Ireland and to all-Ireland work on the First World War because at Messines the 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) divisions fought alongside each other.2 Dubliners played a role, especially in the 2nd, 8th and 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Messines was a prelude to the third Battle of Ypres, aiming to deprive the Germans of the view the ridge gave them over the Ypres area. If the allies held the ridge it would aid making covert troop movements in preparation for the attack.