Dedicated To The Bravery And Loylaty Of The Men From The Tyneside Irish Brigade
the recruiting net
towns of Workington, Whiteheaven, Millom and Cleator Moor, in the hope of raising a Cumbrian Irish Company.
In Liverpool there was move to form a Liverpool Irish Battalion for Kitchener's Army but Liverpool already had an Irish Battalion, the 8th ( Liverpool Irish ) Battalion. A territorial battalion of the King's Regiment, so the Kitchener Battalion received little support. Those who did enlist were sent to Newcastle to join the Tynside Irish and arriving in Newcastle on 12th January 1915, were allotted to the First battalion to be split amongst the companies. The Cumbians however went to the Fourth Battalion, with the majority serving in ' B ' Company.
Accomodation was found for the Third Tyneside Irish Battalion at Sunbean Buildings in Gateshead; This was a large wooden three storey building, not ideal for 1,000 men, the home of the Sunbeam Lamp Company a large factory for making oil, and electric lamps together with associated products. The men called up in batches were kitted out and put into billets and training began. Initially command of the Third Bttalion was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Hussey Walsh who like the other battalion commanders brought with him experience of Britain's Colonial Wars (as with so many ex staff officers who had fought in the 'fuzzy wuzzy ' wars all over the Empire what on earth could this type of experience contribute is beyond belief, when these men were now stepping into a modern war where millions would be killed by machine gun fire and artillery, without even seeing the enemy! There is no better way of summing up that of the upper brass, other than that expressed by Sir David Sterling, creator and founder of the Special Air Service during the Second World War when his proposed ideas were blocked by ' red tape ' and the ' old brigade ' he referred to those in command as ' Fosilized Shit ' and it was the men of this unique group as described so well by David Sterling, who would lead the Tyneside Irish to such tradgedy.. sadly we must contine with the story) Attention was now being given to a special emblem for the Tyneside Irish Battalions and it was reported that most favoured a harp surrounded by the letters T.I.N.F The final choice however was the Connaught Rangers Harp, with the wording changed to Tyneside Irish, above the battalion number and below the letters N.F
( It is interesting to note that in the book " The Irish Regiments " 1683-1999 by R.G Harris it is mentioned: 'The Irish were badged as Northumberland Fusiliers wearing a grenade cap badge, but a crowned Irish Harp with title scroll and the letters N.F as shoulder title was permitted' Tyneside Irish soldiers are often seen wearing their Irish Harps on their collars, this practice was adopted in 1917, but all appear to wear the Northumberland Fusiler cap badge in their hats.The battalions also learned that they were to be officially numbered in the Northumberland Fusiliers sequence as follows:
In Liverpool there was move to form a Liverpool Irish Battalion for Kitchener's Army but Liverpool already had an Irish Battalion, the 8th ( Liverpool Irish ) Battalion. A territorial battalion of the King's Regiment, so the Kitchener Battalion received little support. Those who did enlist were sent to Newcastle to join the Tynside Irish and arriving in Newcastle on 12th January 1915, were allotted to the First battalion to be split amongst the companies. The Cumbians however went to the Fourth Battalion, with the majority serving in ' B ' Company.
Accomodation was found for the Third Tyneside Irish Battalion at Sunbean Buildings in Gateshead; This was a large wooden three storey building, not ideal for 1,000 men, the home of the Sunbeam Lamp Company a large factory for making oil, and electric lamps together with associated products. The men called up in batches were kitted out and put into billets and training began. Initially command of the Third Bttalion was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Hussey Walsh who like the other battalion commanders brought with him experience of Britain's Colonial Wars (as with so many ex staff officers who had fought in the 'fuzzy wuzzy ' wars all over the Empire what on earth could this type of experience contribute is beyond belief, when these men were now stepping into a modern war where millions would be killed by machine gun fire and artillery, without even seeing the enemy! There is no better way of summing up that of the upper brass, other than that expressed by Sir David Sterling, creator and founder of the Special Air Service during the Second World War when his proposed ideas were blocked by ' red tape ' and the ' old brigade ' he referred to those in command as ' Fosilized Shit ' and it was the men of this unique group as described so well by David Sterling, who would lead the Tyneside Irish to such tradgedy.. sadly we must contine with the story) Attention was now being given to a special emblem for the Tyneside Irish Battalions and it was reported that most favoured a harp surrounded by the letters T.I.N.F The final choice however was the Connaught Rangers Harp, with the wording changed to Tyneside Irish, above the battalion number and below the letters N.F
( It is interesting to note that in the book " The Irish Regiments " 1683-1999 by R.G Harris it is mentioned: 'The Irish were badged as Northumberland Fusiliers wearing a grenade cap badge, but a crowned Irish Harp with title scroll and the letters N.F as shoulder title was permitted' Tyneside Irish soldiers are often seen wearing their Irish Harps on their collars, this practice was adopted in 1917, but all appear to wear the Northumberland Fusiler cap badge in their hats.The battalions also learned that they were to be officially numbered in the Northumberland Fusiliers sequence as follows:
was now being spread wider; meetings were arranged for the Cumbrian
101ST BRIGADE 34TH DIVISION:
10th ( Service ) Battalion ( Grimsby Chums ) The Lincolnshire Regiment ( to 103rd Bde 1918 )
11th ( Service ) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment ( Until May 1918 )
15th ( Service ) Battalion (1st Edinburgh ), The Royal Scots ( Lothian Regiment)( until May 1918 )
16th ( Service ) Battalion ( 2nd Edinburgh ) The Royal Scots ( Lothian Regiment ) until May 1918)
2/4th Battalion ( TF ), The Queen's ( Royal West Surrey Regiment ) from June 1918 )
2nd Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment ( from June 1918 )
102ND ( TYNSIDE SCOTTISH ) BRIGADE:
20th Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusilers
21st Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
22nd Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
23rd Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
In February 1918 the 20th and 21st Battalions were disbanded and in June the 22nd ( 3rd Tyneside Scottish ) joined the 48th Brigade, 16th ( Irish ) Division while the 23rd Battalion ( 4th Tyneside Scottish ) joined the 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
25th ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers ( From February 1918 until June 1918 )
1/4th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment ( From July 1918 )
1/7th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment ( From July 1918 )
1/1st Battalion, The Herefordshire Regiment ( From June 1918 )
103RD ( TYNESIDE IRISH ) BRIGADE
24th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
25th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
26th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
27th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
10th ( Service ) Battalion ( Grimsby Chums ) The Lincolnshire Regiment ( to 103rd Bde 1918 )
11th ( Service ) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment ( Until May 1918 )
15th ( Service ) Battalion (1st Edinburgh ), The Royal Scots ( Lothian Regiment)( until May 1918 )
16th ( Service ) Battalion ( 2nd Edinburgh ) The Royal Scots ( Lothian Regiment ) until May 1918)
2/4th Battalion ( TF ), The Queen's ( Royal West Surrey Regiment ) from June 1918 )
2nd Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment ( from June 1918 )
102ND ( TYNSIDE SCOTTISH ) BRIGADE:
20th Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusilers
21st Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
22nd Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
23rd Tyneside Scottish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
In February 1918 the 20th and 21st Battalions were disbanded and in June the 22nd ( 3rd Tyneside Scottish ) joined the 48th Brigade, 16th ( Irish ) Division while the 23rd Battalion ( 4th Tyneside Scottish ) joined the 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
25th ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers ( From February 1918 until June 1918 )
1/4th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment ( From July 1918 )
1/7th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment ( From July 1918 )
1/1st Battalion, The Herefordshire Regiment ( From June 1918 )
103RD ( TYNESIDE IRISH ) BRIGADE
24th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
25th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
26th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
27th Tyneside Irish ( Service ) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
On the 14th of January it was reported that the race with the Tyneside Scottish to complete a Brigade was now won, but within days the Tyneside Scottish would also complete their Brigade. It should be pointed out that the Tyneside Scottish had actually raised four battalions first and closed their recruiting offices, but they had not raised depot companies so they had to start all over again.
As we progress with the story of the Tyneside Irish i thought it would be an idea to give an example of what a battalion looked like when it was formed up. Tragically during the Great War many fine regiments were ' wiped ' out. On the 1st July 1916, during the first day of the Somme some regiments were so cut up that they ceased to exist as a fighting unit and were disbanded. It is so easy to read about these tragic attacks without contemplating what these numbers looked like when presented as in the above photograph. Battalions could reach as many as 1000 men in strength but more often they numbered about 750 in size, with a group of men held back in reserve to form the nucleus of a new battalion should everyone else be killed. This photograph was taken in 1915.
The Tyneside Irish had been raising men for their depot as they went along. The medical condition of many troops was not up to standard, contrary to the propoganda put out by the raising committee. Particular health problems relating to working in the mines were evident and many men were discharged after only a few weeks with the colours. The serious work of training went on for many months, infact another ten months. There were plenty of field exercises, route marches, and target practice on the firing ranges. There was also great pride in inter battalion sport and compitions. The 24th Battalion had only been in Alnwick for five days when on the 17th March 1915, it held the ST Patrick's Day parade and Holy Mass celebrated at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Bailiffgate, the reverened Verity Young being the celebrant. The 25th Battalion held their parade at Blackfell. The 26th Battalion were at Eldon Square where the Mayoress handed out shamrock. A sure sign that the men were soon to leave for France would have been the sheer increase in the intensity of their training and the moving of accomodation and training locations. The bonds of friendship created amongst these men must have been unbreakable. They were friends in the towns and villages where they had grown up they played cricket and football in the streets and now they were brothers together on a great adventure which just laid a short distance across the English Channel.
The Tyneside Irish had been raising men for their depot as they went along. The medical condition of many troops was not up to standard, contrary to the propoganda put out by the raising committee. Particular health problems relating to working in the mines were evident and many men were discharged after only a few weeks with the colours. The serious work of training went on for many months, infact another ten months. There were plenty of field exercises, route marches, and target practice on the firing ranges. There was also great pride in inter battalion sport and compitions. The 24th Battalion had only been in Alnwick for five days when on the 17th March 1915, it held the ST Patrick's Day parade and Holy Mass celebrated at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Bailiffgate, the reverened Verity Young being the celebrant. The 25th Battalion held their parade at Blackfell. The 26th Battalion were at Eldon Square where the Mayoress handed out shamrock. A sure sign that the men were soon to leave for France would have been the sheer increase in the intensity of their training and the moving of accomodation and training locations. The bonds of friendship created amongst these men must have been unbreakable. They were friends in the towns and villages where they had grown up they played cricket and football in the streets and now they were brothers together on a great adventure which just laid a short distance across the English Channel.
