Dedicated To The Bravery And Loyalty Of The Men From The Tyneside Irish Brigade
The 27th Battalion received its initial trench training under 70 Brigade, originally with the 23rd Division. This Brigade had replaced 24 Brigade in the 8th Division. At 9am on the 10th February a party of officers and NCOs of the Battalion proceeded to the trenches for instruction, under 10th Sherwood Foresters and 8th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. It was on this day that the Tyneside Irish Brigade had its first fatal casualty, Major E.A Leather, Officer Commanding B Company 27th Battalion. Major Leather stood 6ft 3inches tall, and was the tallest of six brothers who served during both the boer war and the Great War. In the next three days the Battalion had a fatal casualty every day. Also ten mwn were wounded. This would become known as daily wastage. On the night of the 15th and 16th of March a German patrol planted a German flag in front of the 27th Battalion and during the day, the battalion snipers shot at the pole, eventually bringing the flag down. Plans were made to try and recover it during the night when the Company Commander, Captain Davey, had no shortage of volunteers to go out and capture the flag. He therefore chose the best man for the job Liuetenant C.J Ervine, together with two men of his platoon but after an hour or so, the party returned without the flag. The enemy were too alert and waiting, and had a patrol covering the flag on one side and a machine gun covering the other. When the three Tyneside Irishmen got to within twenty-five yards of the German flag there was such an outburst of firing that they had to return to the British Lines. But in the early hours of St Patrick's day, Lieutenant Ervine set out again, this time alone and for half an hour those in the British trenches waited, until Lieutenant Ervine's Platoon Sergeant went out to the wire to look for him. At quarter the three the Germans fired a star shell and those in the trench could see the dark shape of Lieutenant Ervine making his way slowly back to the British Lines having managed to recover the prize, but on the way having fallen into a a ditch full of muddy water. While Ervine dried himself, Captain Davey and another officer errected a stout pole with the German Ensign nailed to it, and above the ensign the green flag with the golden harp, which had been presented to the company prior to leaving England. As day broke the Germans started to shoot at the pole in a vain attempt to bring it down, but there it hung throughout St Patrick's Day, attracting admiring visitors to the Tyneside Irish trenches from other parts of the line.
Unfortunately shortly after this episode, Lieutenant Ervine who hailed from Belfast was badly wounded and succumbed to his wounds soon afterwards. He was interred in Bailleul communial cemetary. ( The German Ensign was was presented to the Regimental museum by Lieutenant Ervine's brother in 1959 ) The fire attrracted by the flag from German snipers was to have tragic consequences for some of those on duty in the trenches on St Patrick's Day. Early that morning Private William Brown and Private John Scollen took over sentry duty at a post in the front line. At about 4.15 am the pair were about to be relieved when s shot from the enemy lines hit William Brown in the head, the round ricocheted and then hit John Scollen in the face. As William fell to the floor of the trench, John could see that he was badly wounded and needed help urgently. Forgetting his own wounds John Scollen rushed down the trench to the Battalion Aid Post and turned out the stretcher bearers; then he led them back to the front line to where William Brown now lay unconscious but still alive. The wounded man was placed on a stretcher and evacuated as quickly as possible from the firing line, however although he reached the aid post, he died before the Battalion Doctor Lieutenant Cosgrave could reach him. Mrs Brown was told of her husbands death on a letter from his company commander Captain Davey, who told her of private Scollen's attempt to save her husband. She also received a letter from his platoon commander, Lieutenant Ernest Blight, who wrote
Unfortunately shortly after this episode, Lieutenant Ervine who hailed from Belfast was badly wounded and succumbed to his wounds soon afterwards. He was interred in Bailleul communial cemetary. ( The German Ensign was was presented to the Regimental museum by Lieutenant Ervine's brother in 1959 ) The fire attrracted by the flag from German snipers was to have tragic consequences for some of those on duty in the trenches on St Patrick's Day. Early that morning Private William Brown and Private John Scollen took over sentry duty at a post in the front line. At about 4.15 am the pair were about to be relieved when s shot from the enemy lines hit William Brown in the head, the round ricocheted and then hit John Scollen in the face. As William fell to the floor of the trench, John could see that he was badly wounded and needed help urgently. Forgetting his own wounds John Scollen rushed down the trench to the Battalion Aid Post and turned out the stretcher bearers; then he led them back to the front line to where William Brown now lay unconscious but still alive. The wounded man was placed on a stretcher and evacuated as quickly as possible from the firing line, however although he reached the aid post, he died before the Battalion Doctor Lieutenant Cosgrave could reach him. Mrs Brown was told of her husbands death on a letter from his company commander Captain Davey, who told her of private Scollen's attempt to save her husband. She also received a letter from his platoon commander, Lieutenant Ernest Blight, who wrote
" A Rough Day in the Trenches " By 25/637 Private William Smith, 25th Tyneside Irish, Killed 1st July 1916
Dear Madam,
It is with great regret that i have to inform you that your husband lost his life on Friday the 17th at about 4.15 in the early morning. He was on sentry duty in his bay in a trench very close to the Germans when a bullet struck him. His comrades took him to the dressing station as fast as possible, but the wound proved fatal.
I have not been in charge of this platoon for very long, but during the short time i had your husband under my charge, i was able to see that he was a good soldier and a fearless man. He did his duty thoroughly and died bravely for a worthy cause. I hope that you will be given health and strength to bring up your family and that you will bear up as well as can be expected during this great trial.
I am yours faithfully
E J Blight Lieut.
It is with great regret that i have to inform you that your husband lost his life on Friday the 17th at about 4.15 in the early morning. He was on sentry duty in his bay in a trench very close to the Germans when a bullet struck him. His comrades took him to the dressing station as fast as possible, but the wound proved fatal.
I have not been in charge of this platoon for very long, but during the short time i had your husband under my charge, i was able to see that he was a good soldier and a fearless man. He did his duty thoroughly and died bravely for a worthy cause. I hope that you will be given health and strength to bring up your family and that you will bear up as well as can be expected during this great trial.
I am yours faithfully
E J Blight Lieut.
Mrs Brown had another letter from Lieutenant Ralph Pritchard; although he was now serving in D Company it was less than a fortnight since he had been Brown's platoon commander in B Company. Lieutenat Pritchard described Willam Brown as ' one of the most cheery men in the company ' he went on to say
' no matter how hard the day's work had been your husband always looked upon the bright side and if a laugh was possible Brown always gave it ' trying to ease Mrs Brown's loss he went on to write: " An officer often finds inspiration amongst his men and i am sure your husband's cheerfulness and large heartedness were a source of inspiration to me and helped me very considerably more than once. You will feel his loss keenly i know but i hope that God may give you strength to bear up in this very hard time "
In France on the 17th of March, St Patrick's Day, most of the men managed to obtain a piece of shamrock to wear and those lucky enough to have it sent from home shared with a friend. Ted Colpitts managed to get some from a chum, whilst the 27th Battalion received its shamrock through the kindness of Mr John Redmond MP, who sent enough for the whole Battalion. Sniping and patrolling were activities that had to be undertaken and the snipers of the 24th Battalion claimed two Germans on the 19th of March, and those of the 25th Battalion one German cyclist on the same day. Awards for gallant conduct in the trenches started to be made and the first Military Medal to the Brigade was awarded to Lance Corporal Thomas Mckenna of D Company of the 26th Battalion, for good patrol work between 20th of February and 5th March. Sadly lance Corporal Mckenna was killed at 4.20am on the 8th of April, the day the award was announced. The news of his death was conveyed to Captain Falkous, serving with the Reserve Battalion, by Jack Fleming, in a letter written on the 21st April.
In France on the 17th of March, St Patrick's Day, most of the men managed to obtain a piece of shamrock to wear and those lucky enough to have it sent from home shared with a friend. Ted Colpitts managed to get some from a chum, whilst the 27th Battalion received its shamrock through the kindness of Mr John Redmond MP, who sent enough for the whole Battalion. Sniping and patrolling were activities that had to be undertaken and the snipers of the 24th Battalion claimed two Germans on the 19th of March, and those of the 25th Battalion one German cyclist on the same day. Awards for gallant conduct in the trenches started to be made and the first Military Medal to the Brigade was awarded to Lance Corporal Thomas Mckenna of D Company of the 26th Battalion, for good patrol work between 20th of February and 5th March. Sadly lance Corporal Mckenna was killed at 4.20am on the 8th of April, the day the award was announced. The news of his death was conveyed to Captain Falkous, serving with the Reserve Battalion, by Jack Fleming, in a letter written on the 21st April.
' Did you know McKenna of D Company, a fine big-hearted chap. He was one of the best men and did some excellent patrol work - so excellent that he received the Military Medal the first man in the Army to gain the distinction. The news came too late as poor McKenna got caught by a sniper's bullet while sitting in a fire bay, a most extraordinary thing. I the hell it got him i don't know, but it did.'
The first Military Cross awarded to the Tyneside Irish Brigade was given to the bombing officer of the 27th Battalion Lieutenant J W Marshall of South Shields who at great personal risk, crossed No-Mans-Land where Sergeant James Burke was trapped and badly wounded on the German wire. Lieutenant Marshall carried the wounded NCO back to the British Lines under very heavy fire. It is sad to say that his efforts were all in vain, as Sergeant Burke died shortly afterwards at the Battalion aid post. On the 3rd of April, Lieutenant Colonel Beresford, who left the 25th Battalion to go on leave, went sick and did not rejoin. Command of the Battalion passed to Major J H M Arden DSO of the Worcestershire Regiment, who was on the staff of HQ 103 Brigade.
The Battalion Medical Officer of the 26th was wounded the same day that Lance Corporal McKenna died . Again the news of this incident was passed on to Bob Falkous by Jack Fleming.
The Battalion Medical Officer of the 26th was wounded the same day that Lance Corporal McKenna died . Again the news of this incident was passed on to Bob Falkous by Jack Fleming.
' That day Doc Pirrie called up. He was not supposed to come to the fire trenches but like the dear old chap he was he did. So i went round with him, we passed an " Unknown " near " Jock's Joy " and Doc stopped and said " It was about here my boy was killed ". We strolled along the duck boards chatting amiably when the Hun sent a few over. I was leading and half turned to Doc and said " These Devils are starting again " When poor Doc gave a grunt and fell with a chunk of shrapnel as big as an orange near his kidney. I helped the poor fellow all i knew and went with him on the stretcher to the Field Ambulance from where he was taken away '.
