Established in March 1933, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazi government. The number of prisoners incarcerated in Dachau between 1933 and 1945 exceeded 200,000. Scholars believe that at least 40,000 prisoners died there.

Dachau was liberated by U.S. soldiers on the 29th April 1945. One of those who liberated Dachau was Belfast man Teddy Dixon.

Teddy's family emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Teddy was born in New York City in 1920. Five years later, the Dixon family returned to Belfast, and life went on as normal for Teddy until war broke out and he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, aged 24.

During the event, held in the courtyard of Brownlow House, attendees heard from Teddy's son Johnston, and from documentary maker, Dermot Lavery, of DoubleBand Films, who documented Teddy's emotional return to Dachau on the 29th April 2005.

The charity was honoured to have U.S. Consul General James Applegate in attendance at the event. Mr Applegate spoke about the 300,000 troops who passed through Northern Ireland during World War II. He went on to say that Northern Ireland played a key role in U.S. Army training and preparation for World War II, serving as a crucial base for operations in North Africa, Southern Italy, and D-Day. He concluded by expressing gratitude to all those who contribute to preserving the history of that era.

After the event attendees had the opportunity to visit the Brownlow HQ museum. Brownlow House served as the headquarters for the XV Corps of the U.S. Army. It was also one of the first U.S. Army headquarters in the European Theatre of Operations. In addition to this role, it also became the headquarters for the United States 5th Army Corps in mid-1942.

Lt. Col. Ant Maher, Charity Patron, stated, "The events at Dachau and other Nazi concentration camps are difficult to fully grasp; however, we trust that tonight's presentation, recounted from the perspective of a local man, provided attendees with an enhanced understanding."

The Ancre Somme Association Charity would like to take this opportunity to thank Johnston Dixon, Dermot Lavery, Brian Stevenson, the reenactment group, U.S. Consul General James Applegate, and, last but not least, those from across Northern Ireland who attended the event.

We Shall Never Forget

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