How did a

 small island with such a small population make such an inpact on World History and events ?

That moulded the British Empire into what it is , that produced men who fought in every part of the globe and produced Fighting Regiments with qualities that were the envy of the world. A small island that produced famous Generals and Field Marshalls who moulded the foundations for the British Army of today. The fighting reputation of the Irish soldier has been known right back through history, and like their famous brave Scottish counterparts have often been referred to as ' Devils ' and ' Demons' by their foes. Queen Victoria created a Regiment of Foot Guards ( The Irish Guards ) to commemerate the bravery of Irish Soldiers during the Boer War. It is estimated that a third of the Duke of Marlborogh's men were Irish. Forty percent of Wellington's Army was made up of Irish, the same with the British Army in the Crimean War. In 1830 when the Irish represented only about one third of the United Kingdom population, more Irish than English were in the British Army. I once read that an Irish Soldier on Campaign without any boots or shelter felt at home, compared to the misery of everyone else around him. If he had boots to wear, Food in his belly and shelter he was a ' King ' and if there was a fight at the end of it all you had better get out of his way!!

It is hard to think of an American or Western European military engagement of the last 300 years which has not had at least one Irishman present. They have fought for every King and Queen of England, France and Spain, soldiered under George Washington, Simon Bolivar, and the Duke of Wellington ( himself a Dubliner ), founded the navies of the USA ( John Barry ), Argentina ( William Brown ) and Austria (John Forbes ), they have come under fire at Fort Sumter, Balaclava, Waterloo, Gettysburg, The Alamo, The Little Bighorn, Mafeking, Jarama and filled the ranks of Lord Kitchener's New Army for the slaughter on the Somme ( Kitchener was also an Irishman ) Dunkirk, Anzio, Normandy, Korea and Vietnam. The list is endless. Few if any of them were forced, coerced or compelled to be in any of those dangerous, desease-ridden places. This Website will hopefully explain why they were such fearsome fighters, why in the face of despair when there was no hope, Irish humour and Comradship prevailed, where friends were brothers , where strangers were instantly turned into Irishmen...all were equal.

lastly this website is about ww2 living history. It is also a website about the fighting men of Ireland, their history and how they gave so much so that others could live in freedom. It is indeed a proud thing to be " Irish "

in Ballina County Mayo, on the rugged West Coast of Ireland. My Great Grandfather fought with the

British Army and that Great Irish Regiment the Connaught Rangers in the Indian Mutiny, and my mother would tell me about a picture of him, of a handsome young gentleman, in khaki uniform with a handle bar moustache, which used to hang in her fathers house. My mother would tell me a story of how one day my Great Grandfather whilst serving in India, stopped at a river with other men to wash himself and his clothes, when an enemy patrol approached. He escaped capture and possible death by submerging himself in the river and breathing through water reeds until the patrol had passed by.. Private Ned Murtagh my Great Uncle on my fathers side joined the Leinsters on the 17th October 1902. He was stationed at Birr in County Offaly. He was discharged from the Leinsters on the 18th october 1915.

My Great Uncle John Jo Devers won the MM with the 10th Battalion Highland Light Infantry during ww1and also served with The Connaught Rangers in the Great War.My Great Uncle Jimmy Devers (John Jo's Brother) was in the Irish Army. My second cousin ' Paddy ' saw active service with the Royal Ulster Rifles, and was at Dunkirk. My Other second cousin Fred ( Paddy's step brother) was with the Anzacs.Then there was my cousin Kevin who served with the Irish Army and the United Nations in a place called the Congo, where stories of shrunken heads prevailed . And lastly my cousin John, who still serves in the Irish Army and saw active service in the Lebonan, for many years. Every Irish family can tell a similar story and that is why it is so important to keep the memory and exploits of these famous Irish Regiments, past and present alive.

Reenactment and Living History is a hobby which thousands of people take part in throughout the country in order to preserve history and teach others about the sacrifices made by men of many nations during two world wars. I had been ignornant about the sacrifice my own country men had made. Royal Ulster Rifles, London Irish, Irish Fusiliers, Inniskilling Fusiliers, Irish Guards, none of these fine regiments were being represented. Thousands of Irishmen were fighting in British regiments as well. My father had often mentioned ' Paddy ' and the Royal Ulster Rifles, so i decided to represent my countrymen on the reenactment scene through the very same regiment. It made me feel proud to wear the Harp on my cap and to inform members of the public what the regiment did during the course of World War 2, along with all the other fine Irish regiments. It was surprising just how many people came up to the display and said that their relative had either served in the Rifles or another Irish regiment. Education is always on our agenda and we feel special that we are representing men who were so brave in battle and had a fearsome reputation. When the rifles attacked Cambes Wood during the Normandy Campaign they came under very heavy fire. Everything was thrown at them by the enemy who were entrenched in the wood. The attack was expected to fail. Under such intense fire the men should have taken cover, but when the smoke lifted the Rifles were still advancing in perfect formation until they reached the wood and got to grips with the enemy who fled. These are the Irishmen we remember.

Andrews Grandfather was with the 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles at Dunkirk. He also landed with them at Sword Beach during the Normandy Landings and fought all the way to Germany with the Regiment. He is mentioned in the book

"The Rifles Are There ". Andrew has a keen interest in the Regiment and also the London Irish Rifles. I suppose we look at ourselves as collectors, displaying our collections at various shows and events. The scene that we try to present is the Company HQ area around the Battle of Cambes, when the Rifles set up a defensive position at Le Mesnil, before the assualt on Cambes Itself. We have a display which i think is very impressive. Our display and kit is such that we are not just limited to the Normandy campaign. Infact we could represent any action taking place throughout North West Europe. Sometimes we like to attend shows just for a walk about, other times we put the whole display out and it can be hard work.

Relaxation and enjoyment are the most important things which we value along with authenticity. If you would like to come and join us we would love to hear from you. I hope that you enjoy looking at the website. There are still many subjects and Regiments which i have yet to cover. Best wishes Steve.

....Sean O'casey, Drums Under the Windows, London 1945, pp 315

The Irish in India

My name is O'kelly, I' ve heard the Revelly

From Birr to Bareilly, from Leeds to Lahore,

Hong-Kong and Peshawur,

Lucknow and Etawah

And fifty-five more all endin' in "pore"

Black Death and his quickness, the depth and the thickness,

Of sorrow and sickness I've known on my way,

But I'm old and I'm nervis,

I'm cast from the Service,

And all i desrve is a shillin' a day

Shillin' a Day

Bloomin' good pay -

Lucky to touch it , a shillin' a day !

Oh it drives me half crazy to think of the days I

Went slap for Ghazi , my sword at my side,

When we rode Hell - for - leather

Both squadrons together,

That didn't care whether, we lived or we died.

But it's no use desparin' , my wife must go charin'

An ' me commissairin ' the pay - bills to better,

So if me you be' old

In the wet and the cold,

By the Grand metropold, won't you give me a letter ?

Give ' im a letter -

' Cant do no better,

Late Troop - Sergeant - Major an ' - runs with a letter !

Think what ' e' s been,

Think what ' e' s seen,

Think of his pension an ' -

Gawd Save the Queen

( Chorus )

( Chorus )

Background picture. A ration party of the Royal Irish Rifles on the Somme