First World War History of the Irish Guards

irish guards mascot leitrim boy, on recruiting duties in waterford, 21 february 1917.

in august year, 2nd (reserve) battalion raised @ warley barracks. 1st irish guards later in september took part in marne , advance towards aisne. irish guards, having lost co few weeks after had reached france, take part in 1 of bloodiest battles of 1914, first battle of ypres, began on 19 october. battle caused major casualties among old regular army. 1st battalion involved in fighting duration of first ypres , taking part in major actions, @ langemarck, gheluvelt , nonne bosschen.

the 1st battalion suffered huge casualties between november 1–8 holding line against near defeat german forces, while defending klein zillebeke, no. 3 company being blown pieces on november 1 , no. 1 company being caught in open after french retreat on november 6 exposed flank, ensuring @ end of day greater part of them missing .

by end of first ypres on 22 november, battalion had suffered on 700 casualties. 2nd division, of 1st irish guards part of, suffered 5,769 officers , men killed, wounded or missing in action.

the rest of 1914 , 1915 spent in trenches little action, although soldiers @ risk snipers , shells. in february 1915, lance-corporal michael o leary performed act of bravery @ cuinchy, attack , counter-attack had been taking place between british , germans since 29 january until february. on 1 february, o leary part of storming party attacked enemy barricade, during attack party suffered casualties , group of storming party hit own artillery bombardment. o leary rushed forward, shooting 5 germans before attacking further 3 in machine-gun position @ next barricade, capturing 2 germans in process. trench , many prisoners taken actions of o leary. awarded victoria cross, first vc irish guards won in war.

in may 1915, 1st irish guards took part in battle of festubert, though did not see action. in july 1915, 2nd (reserve) battalion redesignated 3rd (reserve) battalion, , battalion, 2nd battalion formed @ warley barracks. in august year 1st irish guards, , rest of 4th (guards) brigade moved guards division. brigade redesignated 1st guards brigade. in september year, battalion, 2nd irish guards, had reached france in august, took part in battle of loos, lasted 25 september until october.

the 1st battalion, irish guards spent of remainder of 1915 in trenches, but, on 1 july 1916 battle of somme began, was, , still is, bloodiest day in history of british army. 1st irish guards took part in action @ flers–courcelette suffered severe casualties in attack in face of withering fire german machine-guns. battalion took part in action @ morval. involved in capture of northern part of village, during action , relieved following day 2nd irish guards. 1st irish guards suffered quite heavily during morval engagement.

in 1917 irish guards took part in battle of pilckem began on 31 july during third battle of ypres. further actions took place @ menin road , poelcapelle. during third ypres , @ broenbeek, in september, lance-sergeant moyney , private woodcock of 2nd battalion, irish guards, part of advance post became surrounded germans. during defence, lance-sergeant attacked advancing germans grenades , lewis gun. he, , men, charged germans, breaking through them , reaching stream , private woodcock formed rearguard while rest of party withdrew. subsequently began withdraw, crossing stream, private woodcock heard cries , returned, retrieving wounded man , carrying him british lines under machine-gun fire. had held out ninety-six hours.

the irish guards going communication trench. elverdinghe, 30 july 1917.

the irish guards took part in battle of cambrai, first large use of tank in battle took place during engagement. in 1918 regiment fought @ same area had caused pain british army 2 years before, somme. regiment fought in number of engagements during second battle of somme, including @ arras , albert. regiment took part in number of battles during british offensives against hindenburg line.

on 4 november 1918 @ sambre-oise canal, acting lieutenant colonel james marshall of irish guards attached 16th (service) battalion, lancashire fusiliers, organised repair parties trying repair damaged partly finished bridge. first party came under fire , killed or wounded. marshall, disregarding own safety, stood on bank, encouraging , helping men worked on bridge. once repaired, began lead men across bridge killed. awarded posthumous vc.

the irish guards took place in last advances on western front. on 11 november 1918 armistice germany signed. 1st battalion, irish guards @ maubeuge when armistice signed, near irish guards began war in 1914 @ mons, there not many survivors of first battle 11 november. on 11 december regiment marched germany, drums beating. sacrifice irish guards during first world war, however, immense. on 2,300 officers , men had been killed , on 5,000 wounded. regiment awarded 406 medals, including 4 vcs, during great war.

among killed serving irish guards in first world war second lieutenant john kipling, 18-year-old son of author rudyard kipling, listed missing during battle of loos in september 1915. in tribute son s regiment, kipling composed poem irish guards , after war wrote two-volume history of regiment s service in war.

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