Dedictaed To The Bravery And Loyalty Of The Men From The Tyneside Irish Brigade
The committee
asked for suggestions to solve this problem, as most suitable buildings were already
occupied by other units. Headquarters of the Battalion was established at 10 Osborne Villas, Osborne Avenue, Jesmond, by the Commanding Officer. Mr Joesph Crown now allocated a further £5,000 to the battalion to defray any unforeseen expenses, and Dunn's Buildings. in Low Friar Street, Newcastle, was secured as accommodation for the men. The building was described as being made of concrete, and calculated to be warm and comftable with sufficient space to house 800 men. Initially 223 men were quartered in the Town Hall in Newcastle, and the remainder in Dunn's Buildings. Later the Raby Street School became available, and those in the Town Hall were moved there.
Over 100 men were recruited from the meeting on the 31st October, and by lunch time on Monday 2nd November
1914, the strength of the Battalion stood at over 900. It was reported that the first attestations were ten ex-NCOs who could no longer resist the call to arms, as the appeal had been from Irishmen to Irishmen. The Corn Exchange presented a very busy site as men were enrolled. By the fourth of the month the Battalion was at full strength with more than enough men to compensate for leakage during the attestation. The numbers reached one thousand and fifty-two men who filled the ranks of the Tyneside Irish Battalion. The Battalion had been formed in spite of all the difficulties. The average agao of these ' young recruits ' was in the late thirties, although Private John Connolly was 44 and private William Turnball, Finlay and Rodgers were 42. Astonishingly Private Arthur Walton was 14 and Edward Armstrong was 15. The use of boy soldiers withing the ranks of The British Army would in later months be the subjet of heated debate in Parliament as they to were being accepted into the army in their thousands yet the government would deny this, but that is another story. The first Regimental Sergeant Major was soon appointed RSM P O'Toole was an ex-Drill Sergeant of the Irish Guards. It was under his watchful eye that drill parades were carried out in Eldon Square, although he was not to remain with the battalion, for he was discharged in early 1916 because he was 60 years old. His son CQMS O'Toole was killed in action in France in Novemebr 1914 with his fathers's old regiment. Drill practice was carreid out on the Town Moor and the intricacies of ceremonial and company drill were taught and absorbed by the recruits. Theses were practiced for hours and the men patiently trained, although many of the older ones could see little seense in the wheeling and forming and standing immovable for what seemed an age. The training was left much in the hands of the company officers, who found there was little that could be achieved in Newcastle. But the one area in which the Tyneside Irish excelled was the digging of trenches. On theTown Moor therefore an area was set aside and the officers studied the ' Manual of Field Engineering ' using terms unfamiliar to the men such a parapet, parados, traverses and communication trench. before the officers had explained what was required the men were digging like moles as if it was second nature.
Over 100 men were recruited from the meeting on the 31st October, and by lunch time on Monday 2nd November
1914, the strength of the Battalion stood at over 900. It was reported that the first attestations were ten ex-NCOs who could no longer resist the call to arms, as the appeal had been from Irishmen to Irishmen. The Corn Exchange presented a very busy site as men were enrolled. By the fourth of the month the Battalion was at full strength with more than enough men to compensate for leakage during the attestation. The numbers reached one thousand and fifty-two men who filled the ranks of the Tyneside Irish Battalion. The Battalion had been formed in spite of all the difficulties. The average agao of these ' young recruits ' was in the late thirties, although Private John Connolly was 44 and private William Turnball, Finlay and Rodgers were 42. Astonishingly Private Arthur Walton was 14 and Edward Armstrong was 15. The use of boy soldiers withing the ranks of The British Army would in later months be the subjet of heated debate in Parliament as they to were being accepted into the army in their thousands yet the government would deny this, but that is another story. The first Regimental Sergeant Major was soon appointed RSM P O'Toole was an ex-Drill Sergeant of the Irish Guards. It was under his watchful eye that drill parades were carried out in Eldon Square, although he was not to remain with the battalion, for he was discharged in early 1916 because he was 60 years old. His son CQMS O'Toole was killed in action in France in Novemebr 1914 with his fathers's old regiment. Drill practice was carreid out on the Town Moor and the intricacies of ceremonial and company drill were taught and absorbed by the recruits. Theses were practiced for hours and the men patiently trained, although many of the older ones could see little seense in the wheeling and forming and standing immovable for what seemed an age. The training was left much in the hands of the company officers, who found there was little that could be achieved in Newcastle. But the one area in which the Tyneside Irish excelled was the digging of trenches. On theTown Moor therefore an area was set aside and the officers studied the ' Manual of Field Engineering ' using terms unfamiliar to the men such a parapet, parados, traverses and communication trench. before the officers had explained what was required the men were digging like moles as if it was second nature.
It would not be long before these men from Tynside would be moulded into one of the best and Bravest Battalions in the New Army which fought on the Somme. Months of training still lay ahead for them.
Yet the reality was that it would not be as easy as in training to jump into the enemy front line trech and teach the hun a lesson with the point of the bayonet. Sadly most men would not even get this far .
The joint secretaries of the Tyneside Irish Committee Mr Gerald Stoney and Mr J Mulcahy called a meeting to consider proceeding with the recruiting of a second battalion. In the meantime enrolements continued and on the fourth, a special effort was made to recruit men at Seaham Harbour, when a recruiting meeting was held at which Father Haggerty presided. Seaham of course was had a large Irish population brought over by Lord Londonderry to work on his estates, and in his mines. Another recruiting meeting was wes held in The Church Square Schools in West Hartlepool, presided over by the Mayor, councillor Fryer, with many of the Tyneside Irish committee in attendance. The usual speeches were made but, despite an Irish community amongst the dock workers, not many recruits from the Hartlepool area were obtained.
On the 10th of November a second battalion was officially sanctioned by the War Office, but as recruiting had continued without let, within two days the battalion was almost full and the Committee had to face the probability of recruiting a third battalion. Reverned Father Hartley of Blaydon volunteered to serve as Padre to the Irish Battalion in view of the large number of Roman Catholics amongst those who were being recruited. The only indication of religion for a whole platoon comes from the company roll book of 'B' company of the 24th Battalion, kept by Captain George Swinburn. However he only recorded religion for Number 5 Platoon which had a strength of seventy men, 35 Roman Catholics, 12 Church of England, 3 Non Conformists and 20 unknown. It is highly probable from the names of the 20 unknown that they were Roman Catholic. The third battalion was sanctioned by the War Office on the 23rd of November and received the blessing of thr Roman Catholic Bishp of Middlesborough and one of the most active supporterd of this movement was Mr Robrt Robert Mclean, afterwards Clerk to Redcar Urban District Council. In view of the fact that few middlesborough men appear in the csualty lists of the Tynesise Irish, and only one or two in the Abentee Voter List gave Tynside Irish Regimenst munbers, it would be seen this company never reched theTyneside Irish. Contracts for clothing and equipment were plaved with loval companies and were saaid ti be well in had. The colour Khak1 was said to be the true colour for the Irish and this was a reference to the fact that many of the Kitchener Battalions that were forming were wearing blue uniforms now know as ' Kitcher Blue '. This was a scource of disappointment to many recruits, and the Tyneside Irish Committee hoped that by issuing Khaki uniforms they would attract more men so that as the khaki became avaialbe they were isuued to the men of the First Bttalion and were seen when the Bttalion paraded in Eldon Square. It was also very important to make these bew recruirs feel as if they werer soldiers which would lift their chests with pride, Recruiting continued throughout December although the lists of names grew shorter towards Christmas. On the 23rd of the month the First Battalion paraded again in Eldon Square ( if you have a picture of the square at this time i would be very greatful if you could maybe e mail me a copy, i wonder how many sprits still parade their today from these fanstatic men who never returned? )
On the 9th January 1915 the First Battalion Paraded in Eldon Square completely turned out in khaki whennot a single man was in civilian clothes and some menhad all full equipment. They must have felt extremely pround.
The recruitment drive continued until it was estimated that there were 7,325 other ranks.
Page being constructed
On the 10th of November a second battalion was officially sanctioned by the War Office, but as recruiting had continued without let, within two days the battalion was almost full and the Committee had to face the probability of recruiting a third battalion. Reverned Father Hartley of Blaydon volunteered to serve as Padre to the Irish Battalion in view of the large number of Roman Catholics amongst those who were being recruited. The only indication of religion for a whole platoon comes from the company roll book of 'B' company of the 24th Battalion, kept by Captain George Swinburn. However he only recorded religion for Number 5 Platoon which had a strength of seventy men, 35 Roman Catholics, 12 Church of England, 3 Non Conformists and 20 unknown. It is highly probable from the names of the 20 unknown that they were Roman Catholic. The third battalion was sanctioned by the War Office on the 23rd of November and received the blessing of thr Roman Catholic Bishp of Middlesborough and one of the most active supporterd of this movement was Mr Robrt Robert Mclean, afterwards Clerk to Redcar Urban District Council. In view of the fact that few middlesborough men appear in the csualty lists of the Tynesise Irish, and only one or two in the Abentee Voter List gave Tynside Irish Regimenst munbers, it would be seen this company never reched theTyneside Irish. Contracts for clothing and equipment were plaved with loval companies and were saaid ti be well in had. The colour Khak1 was said to be the true colour for the Irish and this was a reference to the fact that many of the Kitchener Battalions that were forming were wearing blue uniforms now know as ' Kitcher Blue '. This was a scource of disappointment to many recruits, and the Tyneside Irish Committee hoped that by issuing Khaki uniforms they would attract more men so that as the khaki became avaialbe they were isuued to the men of the First Bttalion and were seen when the Bttalion paraded in Eldon Square. It was also very important to make these bew recruirs feel as if they werer soldiers which would lift their chests with pride, Recruiting continued throughout December although the lists of names grew shorter towards Christmas. On the 23rd of the month the First Battalion paraded again in Eldon Square ( if you have a picture of the square at this time i would be very greatful if you could maybe e mail me a copy, i wonder how many sprits still parade their today from these fanstatic men who never returned? )
On the 9th January 1915 the First Battalion Paraded in Eldon Square completely turned out in khaki whennot a single man was in civilian clothes and some menhad all full equipment. They must have felt extremely pround.
The recruitment drive continued until it was estimated that there were 7,325 other ranks.
Page being constructed
