The London Irish
The troops holding the advanced trenches, which ran almost into the enemy's position, were continually attacked on both sides. When the German Infantry held off, the German Guns played on them in an almost incessant sweep of fire. All the ground held by the London Irish and the Division was plastered with shells, and the men wondered whether they would be blown to pieces or buried in one of the human waves that kept surging against them. The strain on the nerves of these new soldiers was terrible. The soaked miserable figures could at last hardly stand from fatigue, but still they fought on almost blindly. It was an incessant " Stand to arms! " for the entire Division.
The men could not afterwards tell how they kept themselves up. The dawn broke on Sunday in a green hazy atmosphere, pierced with flashes of light from rifles and machine-guns. The men battled all day, and went out in shifts at night to the shell holes to act as listening patrols. It was most necessary to guard against surprise in this away, as there was no barbed-wire available for putting up until the third night.
In the darkness some of our men obtained fresh bread from the packs of the Germans they had slain in front of the hard fought line. In spite of the absence of wire entanglements, none of the German charges got nearer than a dozen yards of the " Terriers " trenches. This was the distance at which the strongest German wave of infantry broke round the the wedge of Londoners. Sunday passed in a tumult of bombardments and broken bayonet attacks and no relief came. Monday went by like a nightmare. Yet on this day, when things were at there worst, the marvellous " Terriers " not only threw back the enemy, but bombed their way into the vital German position in the wood south of the chalk-pit. This extraordinary advance against the German reinforcements saved the situation. Then at daybreak on Tuesday our guns were again so strongly massed and so well supplied with shells as to overpower the reinforced German batteries. Under cover of another great British bombardment which broke down the German wall of fire, new troops were pushed forward, and the London Division was relieved. It is said that some of the men were so overwrought that when they went back to their billets they cried like children. It was the effect of absolute physical fatigue, combined with long nerve-racking strain of the continual bombardment. Other men wildly sought for pencils and postcards to let their relatives know that they had done something fine, and had returned unhurt from one of the fiercest furnaces of the war. The Territorials were much cheered, their fresher comrades running to carry their kit and rifles, knowing how tired out they must be. The men were afterwards addressed by the General.
The men could not afterwards tell how they kept themselves up. The dawn broke on Sunday in a green hazy atmosphere, pierced with flashes of light from rifles and machine-guns. The men battled all day, and went out in shifts at night to the shell holes to act as listening patrols. It was most necessary to guard against surprise in this away, as there was no barbed-wire available for putting up until the third night.
In the darkness some of our men obtained fresh bread from the packs of the Germans they had slain in front of the hard fought line. In spite of the absence of wire entanglements, none of the German charges got nearer than a dozen yards of the " Terriers " trenches. This was the distance at which the strongest German wave of infantry broke round the the wedge of Londoners. Sunday passed in a tumult of bombardments and broken bayonet attacks and no relief came. Monday went by like a nightmare. Yet on this day, when things were at there worst, the marvellous " Terriers " not only threw back the enemy, but bombed their way into the vital German position in the wood south of the chalk-pit. This extraordinary advance against the German reinforcements saved the situation. Then at daybreak on Tuesday our guns were again so strongly massed and so well supplied with shells as to overpower the reinforced German batteries. Under cover of another great British bombardment which broke down the German wall of fire, new troops were pushed forward, and the London Division was relieved. It is said that some of the men were so overwrought that when they went back to their billets they cried like children. It was the effect of absolute physical fatigue, combined with long nerve-racking strain of the continual bombardment. Other men wildly sought for pencils and postcards to let their relatives know that they had done something fine, and had returned unhurt from one of the fiercest furnaces of the war. The Territorials were much cheered, their fresher comrades running to carry their kit and rifles, knowing how tired out they must be. The men were afterwards addressed by the General.
" Not only am i proud to have had the honour of being in command of such a regiment as yours, but the whole Empire will be proud when even in after years the story of the Battle of Loos come to be written.
For i can tell you that it was the London Irish who helped to save a whole British army corps. You have done one of the greatest acts of the war "
For i can tell you that it was the London Irish who helped to save a whole British army corps. You have done one of the greatest acts of the war "
And these remarks may be applied to every battalion of the London Territorial Division. First of all it closed the gap between the French and British Armies. Then after helping to clear Loos, it protected the right flank of the British force, and enabled the Guards Division to force back the German line and assure our hold on the new position. The new Highland Division and the Territorial Division fairly won the chief honour of the war.
At the conclusion of The Battle of Loos, the British front line stood close to the line reached at the end of the first day, although the Germans had captured the Hohenzollern Redoubt. British casualty figures were close to 50,000 with 16,000 dead and 25,000 wounded. The German casualty figures vary, but the most common figure is for a total of 25,000. The Autumn battles of 1915 all ended in a similar tale
of Allied failure and heavy casualty figures. Nothing had been learnt.
of Allied failure and heavy casualty figures. Nothing had been learnt.
the london irish and world war 2
A 2nd Battalion was raised in London in August 1914, trained in England and sent to Salonika in 1916 and in June 1917 to Egypt, eventually disbanded in Palestine in July 1918, personel being sent to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, Irish Fusiliers and the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment, all in the 10th Irish Division. A 3rd Battalion was formed in 1915, serving in England throughout the war as a reserve Battalion. In total the London Irish suffered 1,016 men killed, 2,644 wounded and 303 prisoners of war. Further figures show that the following
awards were made: DSO - 7, Military Cross - 33, DCM - 24, Military Medal - 101, and 24 battle - honours awarded.
In 1919 the regiment was reduced to a cadre but shortly reconstituted. The Important events during the years between the wars were of course the weekly training sessions at the drill hall and the annual camps where training was mixed with sport and where plenty of liquid refreshment was consumed. Ceremonial parades and changes of uniform patterns are always worth noting. In 1928 the Territorials took on the regular army during manoeuvres, notable for the novel employment of aeroplanes. There was a large turnout at the parade and service held outside the Royal Exchange marking the 15th anniversary of Loos. It was in 1929 also that the regiment was officially affiliated with the Royal Ulster Rifles. When the regiment was on annual training in Ulster in the summer of 1931 they received a visit from HRH The Duke of Connaught, who wore the regimental harp badge on his khaki cap. Prior to 1937 the permanent Staff Instructors were drawn from any Irish Regiment but were now to be taken exclusively from the Royal Ulster Rifles. The RSM was from the Irish Guards. About eleven newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants attended a Levee on the 17th March 1938 and were photographed leaving St James's Palace. all looking incredibly smart, wearing the caubeens with St Patrick blue hackle, together with khaki uniform with plus-four trousers and khaki puttees. The caubeen incidentally was officially sanctioned for wear by all ranks in 1937.
Various changes in uniform had taken place since 1922. In that year pipers were parading in green balmorals, khaki cut-away jackets with green rounded cuffs, saffron kilts with green hose black belts. At the 1928 manoeuvres pipers of the regiment on the march were then wearing the caubeen, khaki cut-away tunics and dust covers over the kilts, whilst at the Loos Commemoration Parade pipers and buglers were in full dress, the latter with rifle busbies, although the Bugle-Major on this occasion wore his dark green peaked cap. Finishing touches to the pipe band came in 1937 a gift that year of pipe banners. These were of dark green with silver embroidery and fringes, the battalion harp badge surrounded by a wreath of shamrock and with 11 principal battle-honours mounted upon it, whilst the regimental title was embroidered on a triple scroll below, on the reverse the donor's arms and crest.
1940 saw the regiment taking proud possession of its first Irish Wolfhound mascot, a beautiful animal with the difficult name of Sean of Ballykenny but soon re-christened Tara. He was put under the care of Piper Mulqueen. When the London Irish went on active service overseas Tara was handed over to the 70th Battalion London Irish Rifles ( Young soldiers Battalion, formed in 1941 and disbanded in 1943 ) and when that battalion was disbanded he was passed on to the 70th ( YS ) Battalion, The Royal Ulster Rifles. In 1939 two battalions of the London Irish were mobilised. After the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk, the 1st Battalion volunteered to go over and form part of the bridgehead to cover the evacuation, but shipping could not be spared so instead it was employed at disemarkation at Margate and Ramsgate. During the ' Phoney ' war period the battalion was fully engaged with anti-invasion and guard duties, as well as intensive training. In August 1942 it left England for Iraq, which was to be the start of three years travel and fighting, from the Middle East with the 56th ( London ) Division to Egypt, Sicily, and then up through Italy and the horror of the Anzio beach-head where the battalion suffered grevious casualties, before being able to move to a rest area at Naples, and later being withdrawn to Egypt. Back to Italy once more and the static warfare prior to the fighting south of the River Po and along the Rivers Senio, Sarurno and Reno, with the 8th Army.
The 2nd Battalion's war was equally fierce. After Dunkirk the Battalion moved from the East to South Coasts and was retained in this country training etc, slightly longer than the 1st Battalion. but was in action before then, in North Africa in November 1942, with the Irish Brigade, 6th Armoured Division and as part of the 1st Army. The battalion enjoyed the fruits of victory after entering Tunis in March 1943 and the whole battalion with pipers took part in the Victory Parade. Then came Italy and the continuous fighting until April 1945, mostly over the extremely difficult country and in atrocious weather. The battalion had the distinction of playing an important role as part of the ' Kangaroo Army ' so called because it was mounted in armoured carriers of the 4th Hussars, backed up by the 9th Lancers, and once out in the open leaping forward with great strides, the 8th, 5th and Allied Armies finally trapping the German Forces south of the River Po.
These were the last actions of the war for both battalions , a war in which 1,200 soldiers of the Royal Ulster Rifles and London Irish Rifles had laid down their lives.
awards were made: DSO - 7, Military Cross - 33, DCM - 24, Military Medal - 101, and 24 battle - honours awarded.
In 1919 the regiment was reduced to a cadre but shortly reconstituted. The Important events during the years between the wars were of course the weekly training sessions at the drill hall and the annual camps where training was mixed with sport and where plenty of liquid refreshment was consumed. Ceremonial parades and changes of uniform patterns are always worth noting. In 1928 the Territorials took on the regular army during manoeuvres, notable for the novel employment of aeroplanes. There was a large turnout at the parade and service held outside the Royal Exchange marking the 15th anniversary of Loos. It was in 1929 also that the regiment was officially affiliated with the Royal Ulster Rifles. When the regiment was on annual training in Ulster in the summer of 1931 they received a visit from HRH The Duke of Connaught, who wore the regimental harp badge on his khaki cap. Prior to 1937 the permanent Staff Instructors were drawn from any Irish Regiment but were now to be taken exclusively from the Royal Ulster Rifles. The RSM was from the Irish Guards. About eleven newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants attended a Levee on the 17th March 1938 and were photographed leaving St James's Palace. all looking incredibly smart, wearing the caubeens with St Patrick blue hackle, together with khaki uniform with plus-four trousers and khaki puttees. The caubeen incidentally was officially sanctioned for wear by all ranks in 1937.
Various changes in uniform had taken place since 1922. In that year pipers were parading in green balmorals, khaki cut-away jackets with green rounded cuffs, saffron kilts with green hose black belts. At the 1928 manoeuvres pipers of the regiment on the march were then wearing the caubeen, khaki cut-away tunics and dust covers over the kilts, whilst at the Loos Commemoration Parade pipers and buglers were in full dress, the latter with rifle busbies, although the Bugle-Major on this occasion wore his dark green peaked cap. Finishing touches to the pipe band came in 1937 a gift that year of pipe banners. These were of dark green with silver embroidery and fringes, the battalion harp badge surrounded by a wreath of shamrock and with 11 principal battle-honours mounted upon it, whilst the regimental title was embroidered on a triple scroll below, on the reverse the donor's arms and crest.
1940 saw the regiment taking proud possession of its first Irish Wolfhound mascot, a beautiful animal with the difficult name of Sean of Ballykenny but soon re-christened Tara. He was put under the care of Piper Mulqueen. When the London Irish went on active service overseas Tara was handed over to the 70th Battalion London Irish Rifles ( Young soldiers Battalion, formed in 1941 and disbanded in 1943 ) and when that battalion was disbanded he was passed on to the 70th ( YS ) Battalion, The Royal Ulster Rifles. In 1939 two battalions of the London Irish were mobilised. After the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk, the 1st Battalion volunteered to go over and form part of the bridgehead to cover the evacuation, but shipping could not be spared so instead it was employed at disemarkation at Margate and Ramsgate. During the ' Phoney ' war period the battalion was fully engaged with anti-invasion and guard duties, as well as intensive training. In August 1942 it left England for Iraq, which was to be the start of three years travel and fighting, from the Middle East with the 56th ( London ) Division to Egypt, Sicily, and then up through Italy and the horror of the Anzio beach-head where the battalion suffered grevious casualties, before being able to move to a rest area at Naples, and later being withdrawn to Egypt. Back to Italy once more and the static warfare prior to the fighting south of the River Po and along the Rivers Senio, Sarurno and Reno, with the 8th Army.
The 2nd Battalion's war was equally fierce. After Dunkirk the Battalion moved from the East to South Coasts and was retained in this country training etc, slightly longer than the 1st Battalion. but was in action before then, in North Africa in November 1942, with the Irish Brigade, 6th Armoured Division and as part of the 1st Army. The battalion enjoyed the fruits of victory after entering Tunis in March 1943 and the whole battalion with pipers took part in the Victory Parade. Then came Italy and the continuous fighting until April 1945, mostly over the extremely difficult country and in atrocious weather. The battalion had the distinction of playing an important role as part of the ' Kangaroo Army ' so called because it was mounted in armoured carriers of the 4th Hussars, backed up by the 9th Lancers, and once out in the open leaping forward with great strides, the 8th, 5th and Allied Armies finally trapping the German Forces south of the River Po.
These were the last actions of the war for both battalions , a war in which 1,200 soldiers of the Royal Ulster Rifles and London Irish Rifles had laid down their lives.
