The Royal Munster Fusiliers consisted of two regular service and two reserve battalions prior to World War I. Subsequently it had a total of 11 raised battalions. The regiment won 51 honours in battle and three Victoria Crosses. It suffered a total of 3,070 lost casualties.
In common with other Irish regiments of the British Army, the remaining Battalions of the Royal Munster Fusiliers were disbanded in 1922 with the founding of the Irish Free State. Many of its ex-servicemen and officers helped in establishing the newly formed Free State Force.
1st Battalion
At the outbreak of war the Battalion was in Rangoon, Burma, arriving back at Avonmouth, U.K. in January 1915. In March it sailed for the Dardanelles, Turkey. It the April Battle of Gallipoli, at the failed "V" beach landing at Cape Helles it suffered severe casualties, necessitating its amalgamating with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, which suffered equally badly. The decimated Ballalion was withdrawn from Gallipoli in January 1916, arriving in France in March where it was assigned in May to the 16th (Irish) Division, absorbing members from the disbanded 9th Battalion, and in November the surplus of the 8th Battalion. It ended the war at Lille, France.
2nd Battalion
It was based at Aldershot, England, and formed part of thr British Expeditionary Force arriving in France in September 1914 and helped to stop the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne. In May 1916 it absorbed the rest of the disbanded 9th Battalion, but its subsequent losses resulted in it being transfered to the 1st battalion in April 1918.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
Mobilised at Tralee, Ireland, it was deployed to Berehaven and Bantry Bay, then moved to Cork. In May 1915]] relocated to Cork Harbour, in October 1917 to Ballincollig. Then was moved to Devonport England in November 1917. In May 1918 it absorbed the remaining 4th and 5th Battalions, remaining at Plymouth, England, until the Armistice.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
This Battalion was mobilised in Kinsale, County Kerry, Ireland. There followed several moves to Queenstown, Cork Harbour, South Shields England, from September 1915 back to Ireland atFermoy, followed by the Curragh in April 1917. It was at Castlebar County Mayo in August. Crossed to Scotland in November. It was absorbed by the 3rd Battalion in May 1918 at Plymouth, England,
5th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
Was mobilised at Limerick, Ireland in August 1914 and deployed to Queenstown followed by Berehaven then to Cork Harbour in March 1915, to North Shields in May, to the Curragh in September, on to Galway in August 1917. Moved to Scotland in November 1917, in May 1918 absorbed into the 3rd Battalion at Plymouth, England.
6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Tralee, Ireland in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army, was moved to the Curragh as the 30th Brigade of the 10th (Irish) Division. In May 1915 transfered to Basingstoke England, sailing in July for the Dardanelles, Turkey and landing in August. After heavy losses was withdrawn to battle at Salonika in October. In November 1916 it absorbed the remainder of the 7th Battalion, moving to Egypt in September 1917. In April 1918 left for France and in June was absorbed by the 2nd Battalion.
7th (Servive) Battalion
Was also formed at Tralee as part of Kitchener's First New Army, 30th Brigade of the 10th (Irish) Division at the Curragh. In May 1915 it moved to Basingstoke England, sailing in July for the Dardanelles Turkey campaign, landing in August. After severe losses withdrawn to Salonika in October. In November 1916 the remainder of the Battalion was transfered to the 6th Battalion.
8th (Service) Battalion
This Battalion was formed at Fermoy in October 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and was reserved for recruits from the Irish National Volunteers, as the 47th Brigade in the 16th (Irish) Division. It moved to Mitchelstown in November 1914, then to Templemore in February 1915. In August crossed over to Aldershot, England. It landed in France in December, going straight to the front, engaged on the Loos salient. In May 1916 its ranks were replemished by men from the disbanded 9th Battalion, before itself being disbanded and drafted into the 1st Battalion.
9th (Service) Battalion
The Battallion was raised mostly in County Cork and its