Irish Guards: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:35, 25 September 2006

Revision as of 14:29, 26 September 2006

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===First World War===

The 1st Irish Guards deployed to [[France]], eight days after the UK had declared war upon the [[German Empire]], as part of [[4th (Guards) Brigade]] of the [[British 2nd Division (World War I)|2nd Division]]. The 1st Irish Guards would remain on the [[Western Front]] for the duration of WWI. The battalion took part in the [[Battle of Mons]] and the subsequent arduous and bloody [[Retreat from Mons]], which began on the [[24 August]] and would not end until the [[5 September]]. The Irish Guards were one of the units of the rearguard during the retreat and took part in a small-scale action at [[Landrecies]] against the advancing Germans. The 1st Irish Guards also took part in another rearguard action at woods near [[Villers-Cotterets]], on the [[1 September]], during the [[Battle of Le Cateau]] in which their CO Lieutenant-Colonel the [[Hon. George Morris]] and the Second-in-Command Major Hubert Crichton were killed. Le Cateau was a successful action that helped delay the inexeorable German advance towards [[Paris]], inflicting very heavy losses on the Germans in the process.

In August that year, the 2rd (Reserve) Battalion was raised at Warley Barracks. The 1st Irish Guards later in September took part in [[First Battle of the Marne|Marne]] and the advance towards the [[Battle of the Aisne|Aisne]]. It was already becoming a bitter time for the Irish Guards, having lost their CO only a few weeks after they had reached France month, would face one of the bloodiest battles of 1914, [[First Battle of Ypres|Ypres]], which began on the [[19 October]]. The battle would rip the heart out of the old [[Regular Army]], just like the [[Battle of the Somme (1916)|Somme]] would rip the heart out of the [[Kitchener's Army|New Army]]. The battalion was in the thick of it for the duration of 'First Ypres', taking part in the major actions of 'First Ypres, at [[Battle of Langemarck|Langemarck]], [[Battle of Gheluvelt|Gheluvelt]] and [[Battle of Nonne Bosschen|Nonne Bosschen]]. By the end of 'First Ypres' on the [[22 November]], the battalion had sufferered over 700 casualties. The 2nd Division that the 1st Irish Guards were part of, suffered 5,769 officers and men killed.