The story of the Munsters at Etreux, Festubert, Rue du Bois and
Transcription
The story of the Munsters at Etreux, Festubert, Rue du Bois and
-IHh STORY OF THE MUNSTERS ET R E y X F F S T B RT .RUE DU B01S VN, HVLLOCH .iv Br MRS. F;. RJCKJRD • .V • i * IJ h: THE STORY OF THE MUNSTERS THE STORY OF THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX, FESTUBERT, RUE DU BOIS AND HULLOCH. MRS. VICTOR RICKARD ^ "THE LIGHT ABOVE THE CROSSROADS, AUTHOR OF "DREGS,' It "the frantic boast," "the fire OF GREEN BOUGHS " >) friTH AN INTRODUCTION BY LORD DUNRAVEN Honorary Colonel, ^th Royal Munster Fusiliert HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK MCMXVIII TORONTO DEDICATED TO VICTOR RICKARD AND HIS MUNSTER COMRADES FUSILIERS, IN IN ALL RANKS OF THK WHO FOUGHT AND FELL THE GREAT WAR, I914-15 " One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, sleep to wake." The shamrock, which forms part of the cap badge of the Royal Munsler Fusiliers, was first introduced, in February 1915, by Lieut. -Colonel Rickard, in the Second Battalion, with the object of giving a distinctively Irish emblem to all ranks of the Regiment. battalions of the Munsters. It is now worn by all the PREFACE I SHOULD like to express officers of the also my thanks to the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and and relatives who have to the friends helped me to collect and arrange this book. In the following accounts of the engagements of Etreux, Festubert, Rue du Bois and Hulloch, I do not wish to appear as an historian ; in any sense that task awaits and more qualified hands. follows has been threaded together as What far abler men who gave and who were brave a little tribute to the their lives for an Ideal, Great War. soldiers in the The first three chapters of this book ap- peared in New of 5, and were shortly afterwards 191 Ireland during the summer re- published by that paper, together with the supplementary letters, as The Story of the Munsiers. A second impression was sold PREFACE vi out by the end of the year, since when no copies of the book have been obtainable. The new features of the present edition are the historical Introduction specially written by Lord Dunraven, to whom my best thanks are due, and the four pictures and account of the the Munsters at Hulloch which have already appeared in The Sphere. Mr. Clement Shorter, has a Its Editor, special claim to the lasting gratitude of the Munster Fusiliers for the deep interest he has always ment ; shown and illustrations, is Regi- his permission that the by which add incalculably to the here reproduced. thanks are also offered to Mr. Geddes, slender My it in all records of the story itself, are who has designed the colour plate on the cover, and brought into the book a sense of the traditions which surround the regimental flags. L. RiCKARD. INTRODUCTION The origin of Royal Munster the Fusiliers, like that of those other great Irish Regiments, the Dublins and the Leinsters, is inextricably bound up with movements of Imperial expansion which took place in the eighteenth century. Of the Leinsters one battalion was originally raised in Canada those great and Both regular were raised in Like them, the ist and 2nd Batof the Royal Munsters (before another in India. battalions of the Dublins India. talions the Caldwell reconstruction the loist and 104th Foot) were originally regiments in the army of the East India Company, raised out of British-born volunteers in India and only taken over as part of the British when the Army vii INTRODUCTION viii control of India passed pany to the Crown. from the ComIt is for this reason that on the grenade which, in with other Fusilier battaHons, is worn by the Munsters the royal tiger common of India is superimposed. present war, with the exception of the notable service performed by the ist Battalion in South Until Africa, the all the battle honours of the Regiment come from India or the sur- The regimental rounding countries. colours record service for the ist Battalion at the following actions: Plassey, Condore, Masulipatam, Badara, Buxar, Rohilcund, Carnatic, Sholinghur, GuKerat, Deig, Bhurtpore, Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Pegu, Delhi, Lucknow and Burmah for the 2nd Battalion, raised as see eighty years after the first, ; we while shall there arc the Punjaub, Chillianwallah, Goojerat, Pegu and Delhi. To trace these records INTRODUCTION ix would be to write the history by which we acquired our in detail of the steps Indian Empire. They explain sufficithe ently (with regimental origin in the Company's forces) why there were no Munsters The in the Napoleonic wars. ist Battalion from existence dates its 22nd the corporate December, 1756, when Clivc, who had just returned to India and was about to begin the most glorious epoch of his career, raised it under the title of the Bengal European The Regiment Regiment. his in army at fought in Plassey and Condore and every action of that war up to the great victory of In 1779 it Buxar was sent October 1764. in to the Presidency of Madras and under Eyre Coote fought at Windeywash under wars then, ; ; in 1794 in Abercrombey it was present after Army, by the the it the took part Rohilla (being known fashion of the India name of its Colonel^ INTRODUCTION X Clark's Corps) in 1808. Macao the at occupation of In 1839 it served in when out of volunteers Afghanistan, it the 104th 2nd Battalion Regiment (now the Royal Munster Fusiliers) was formed. It for in the served with distinction Sikh War, and services was as a The the at Regiment the dignity of a colours carried by this fiercest period hang in went through engagements of the Winchester Cathedral. the its raised to fusilier corps. all reward for It Mutiny and was present at the siege and capture of Lucknow. In 1861 it went under the Crown and becam.e the loist liers). in Regiment (Royal Bengal FusiFrom 1868 to 1874 it served England, then abroad again, and in 1883 became the ist Battalion Royal had the distinction of being sent to South Africa from Fermoy before mobilisation, being Munster Fusiliers. the home regiment first In 1899 to it go out to INTRODUCTION xi served with great distinction in Lord Methuen's force at Bel- the war. It mont, and afterwards on the march Pretoria, and in the latter period the war mounted supplied a to of infantry battalion. The history of the 2nd Battalion is Formed shorter, but no less glorious. during the first Afghan War out of surplus volunteers for Battalion, it took in in 1839 its sister the great victory of Chillianwallah, went through the Burmese War 1851-53, and in the Mutiny was part stormed Delhi. into the part of the force In 1861 line as the it which was brought 104th Regiment, but served for ten years more in India before it came home. In i 887 it joined the Second Burmah Expedition, and with great distinction in the South African War in Natal, and later under Lord Kitchener like the ist Battalion served in the Transvaal and Cape Colony. INTRODUCTION xii The 2nd Battalion was sent France to the present war. beginning It suffered very severely and has been at the of reinforced by the 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions. The ist, 6th and 7th Battalions have served I St Dardanelles, evacuation of the after the at Battalion went to Gallipoli France. and the They suffered heavy losses. Both on the Western front and in the East have also the Regiment has splendidly maintained its ancient renown. To go further into modern history would be to trespass upon Mrs. Victor Rickard's admirable I write these few lines about pages. the origin they may of the Regiment because be interesting to her readers. We must not forget that though the bones come from Bengal, the blood and sinews as an Irish regiment that the Munsters are cele- brated in these pages. Irishmen are Irish. who have won its It new is It is battle honours. INTRODUCTION xiii men and women who have suffered, Irishmen who have triumphed The record of the Regiin the field. It is ment Irish is splendid, and I am proud to sign myself DUNRAVEN, Hon. Col. ^th Battalion^ Royal Munster Fusiliers. CONTENTS FAGB THE STAND OF THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX . I THE MUNSTERS AT FESTUBERT , , .17 THE MUNSTERS AT RUE DU . , -32 . -45 THE MUNSTERS AT HULLOCH BOIS ... THE STAND AT ETREUX 55 APPENDIX 67 XV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX {Drawn by Christopher Clark) To face page t 6 MAJOR p. A CHARRiER {Photograph) „ THE MUNSTERS AT FESTUBERT „ {Drawn by Philip Dadd) 17 LT.-COL. A. M. BENT, C.M.G. {Photograph) LT.-COL. G. J. RYAN, D.s.o. {Photograph) „ 24 „ 28 THE LAST ABSOLUTION AT RUE DU BOIS LT.-COL. CAPT. J. . {Draivn by F. Matania) G H. RiCKARD {Photograph) CAMPBELL-DICK {Photograph) V. „ 34 „ 38 „ 40 ,, 45 THE MUNSTERS AT HULLOCH {Draivn by F. Matania) w. CONSIDINE {Photograph) MAJOR J. „ 49 MAPS TO ILLUSTRATE THE STAND OF THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX {Sketch A) page 57 {Sketch B) „ 63 OFFICERS OF THE 2ND RL. MUNSTER FUSILIERS, MAY 1915 {Photograph) To/acepage66 TVl THE STAND OF THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX August 21 th^ 19 14 (WHICH TOOK. PLACE DURING THE RETREAT FROM MONS) "Then lift the flag And fill the ranks March on And of the crusade, where the world's remade to the fields the ancient dreams "A last of the last brigade, Song of the Kettle. come Irish true." By T. M. Armies." On the 13th of August, 19 14, the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers left Aldershot on their destination " to an way somewhere unknown in France." The Expeditionary Force was as ing forward, wrote, towards and he B also one "a added, jolly " the of in some reachofficers Belgium," of us will 2 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS not come back." The same joy that was with Garibaldi and his thousand when they went forth to the redemption and gallant race, went, we all know, with the men of the First Division. Each one knew that an hour of a small lay ahead when great issues were to be joined, and the Munsters were proud to feel that the chance was with them to add to the records of their Regimental history. The Battalion embarked at South- ampton, and the transport steamed out shortly after noon, arriving at Le Havre at 3 a.m. on the 14th of August. From there they marched to a rest camp on the ridge west of Harfleur, where they August, and marched to Havre, remained until the i6th once more they of where they entrained for the concentraOn Sunday, tion area at Le Nouvion. the 17th, Le Nouvion was crowded with French troops, and the townsfolk, wild STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 3 with enthusiasm, welcomed the Munsters, and from thence the Regiment marched to Bouey, three miles distant from Etreux. The dawn of the 22nd of August saw the Battalion on the road again, marching towards Mons. All of this is now like the fragment of a dream, and the who marched troops and sang are many of them on the further side of the boundary but still the memory remains, though the rows and ranks of men are gone, and, like the clerk in the old story, " Come to ; Oxford and " It's A • their friends a long way to Tipperary, •••.. long wa-ay to go." All round and about a village no more." near the Chapeau Rouge, river Sambre, and not far from Le Cateau, the country is a bower of green hedgerows in the month of August. In ordinary times, when trenches, deeper than any grave. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 4 and wire entanglements, and devastation of war cut up into small is fields not, a all the country- has an intimate It and friendly look. suggests little things, and is small and near and has none of the sudden desolation of open space, stretching empty to the sky line. But what is beautiful in times of peace may moment become one in terrible time of war, and the little hedgerows cost Ireland dear on the morning of in the 27th of August, 1 The morning broke and of the distant in were placed to the as the sullen electric and coming storm vibrated 9 14. air. and heavy, premonition coming The battle Munsters Right Battalion, next them came the Coldstream, further on the Scots Guards, with the Black Watch in reserve. The frontage of the Munsters extended from Chapeau Rouge, where the roads crossed, to another cross roads north of Fesmy. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 5 Major Charrier (commanding the Munhad explicit orders to hold the sters) above cross roads unless or until retire. Dawn Chapeau he received found Rouge, orders to men of the B Company, commanded by Captain Simms, busily digging and trenches strengthening their position, w^hile the air was comparatively cool. The German attack was expected in the course of the morning, and B Com- pany was the first Battalion to receive its of company baptism of the fire. For men whose record shows them proud, fiery, and dashing soldiers, the task alloted to one. It B Company was no was necessary that easy their posi- at last the crackle and rattle of when German musketry broke of tion should be kept secret, and the tension this waiting, the Company holding the outThe German patrol, post did not reply. whose business it was to locate their STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 6 an intermittent fire, position, kept up and the small handful of Irish did the hardest thing of waited. The lulls all one upon the other them for — they and bursts followed ; tremendous echoes of sound, and the repeated the volleys swinging shrill of flying bullets con- tinued overhead, punctuated now and of intense quiet. again by spells midsummer the Suddenly storm broke with a violence that is indeTorrents of drenching rain scribable. soaked the men to the skin and in the vortex of in the trenches, the storm the the " attack. and collected Germans advanced In one moment it to was War, war, bloody war," and the first onslaught fell upon B Company, and D Company (commanded by Captain Jervis) with Lieutenant R. Lieutenant fierce and W. Thomas. The Munsters with Crozier repelled the attack determination, and the little Major and Royal Munster P. A. Charrier head of his Battalion Mons, August 27th, 1914 Fusiliers, killed at the at Etreux, near Record of Service — West Africa, 1900 — Operations in Ashanti, slightly wounded Despatches, London Gazette, 8th March, 1901. South African War, — 1902 Employed with Imperial Yeomanry operations in Cape Colony, May, — 1902. Queen's Medal, with two clasps. East Africa, 1903-4 Operations in Somaliland on Staff (as Special Service Officer). Employed on Transport (from November, 1903). Medal, with clasp. : ; [To face p. 6. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS fields 7 Chapeau Rouge became and terrible memory, around a place of violent men held doggedly to their position until the order came to withdraw a mile to the rear. B Company but the was at this detailed point to act as guard on the east, where was hottest, and in en- right flank the attack deavouring to carry out this order, they from the flank by the thick green hedgerows, and so to them were cut ' off came the adventure little battle of their The of own. continued rain maintaining a and mud the grew deep, and very slowly and without loss heavy B Company back fell through Fesmy, fighting through the small wide street until it rejoined the Battalion on the further side. had shaken the Germans moment in spite of their off They for the immensely superior numbers, and had done most After a short delay Major gallantly. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 8 them Charrier sent of the to take the head column and march to Oisy as advance guard. The day continued showery for some hours, with occasional drenching bursts, , men cared nothing for the discomfort of soaked clothes. It has been but the Power decreed by the destiny of call of a men and vital essence of desired file it morning the actual was touched by the ; of the as safety marching men, condition a give to has never entered very into the Celtic vision of in that the makes the heart of There was real adventure in their lives that abstract nations bugle Ireland glad. rank and that rules the those what moments when be much can life it for is at its best. From Fesmy the Munsters pushed on to Etreux, there to join the that town. body of troops holding main STORY OF THE MUNSTERS Up 9 the wide road where the bridge the curve of the river at Oisy spans Sambre, and some miles from where the Munsters were retiring towards Etreux, about sixty talion, up of the Bat- under Captain Emerson, took their position, road. men hoping They were here the Coldstream Guards, to hold the reinforced by who were en- deavouring to get into touch with the Munsters, now separated from them by five miles of road, enemy were advancing To the meadow upon which the rapidly. near the bridge where the Munsters were collected an orderly carrying a dispatch came up at about three The time o'clock in of the the afternoon. dispatch was not marked upon the message, which was to order the once." The Munsters to orderly who retire " at carried the message had, he said, been chased by the enemy, and after lying hidden for STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 10 time under the nearest cover, believed that it was not possible for him to a bring the message through to Major Charrier. incident this Upon the tragedy of the whole day turned. Time had been lost, time too precious ever the exclusive supremacy is to regain ; nearly always a question of minutes. Colonel Ponsonby decided that was best to retire the Coldstreams the handful of Munsters it and who were with them, and these were joined some miles back by Captain Woods and seventy men, who had fallen back to the Guise road. • • The and river winds • • Sambre past is • • of curves, and Etreux. full Fesmy Just along the right bank there runs a railway line, turning through a deep cutting into the station of Etreux. From before there, the old the you or I war could have who lived travelled STORY OF THE MUNSTERS ii comfortably across three frontiers in a In this pastoral few short hours. country, surrounded at evening by the softness of rising damp, stands Etreux, but none of the wandering fortunes of anyone back to look at the same picture any more. When the Munsters marched onlife ever will carry wards the early evening was bright again, and the heavy clouds had rolled to The westward. little environs stretched a few houses, a out along the road cabaret, an orchard bright with cider ; apples, some already under the trees ; collected in piles further again another proud house, bigger than the rest, and then streets, a palisade of trees and a All this seen at a glance, where the road passed the railway cutting ; spire. month of August war had made France hag-ridden and Near to the railway cutting, for in the not yet •desolate. and on the rise of ground a cross STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 12 marked a number of tiny lath crosses stuck into turn to a side road, and a the grass signified that the good folk Etreux carried their dead that way. the high cross was written of Beneath "Ave Crux fell Spes Unica," and its shadow over the road, dividing the Munsters from the village like the boundary of a frontier. Within buildings, a few yards of the outlying sudden burst of rifle and artillery fire swept through the ranks of a the Regiment, informing them finally and terribly that they were cut The men B Company rallied off. magnificently, and at once. Led by extended Captain Simms, they went forward to attack the enemy's main position, which was in the loopholed house that domi- nated the road. was held D in force The railway cutting the Germans, and by Company, commanded by Captain Jervis, and covered by the steady rifle STORY OF THE MUNSTERS fire of the men the fields on rushed man the save attempt ; by one of in position the side railway 13 the of road, Every cutting. two were shot down in the Lieutenant Crozier, showing the greatest gallantry, crossed a narrow lane, and exposing himself recklessly to the enemy's are come ; fire, shouted, "There they on, men," and The instantaneously. ketry, the booming of rattle fell, killed of mus- guns speaking the air itself terribly, was everywhere vibrated and the ghastly transformation ; which men call war, continued. Everywhere the dead lay in huddled heaps, and the wounded with grey faces tried to rise, or crawled ini little maimed agony a further on to die. Bit by bit the shattered the Battalion fell remnant of back into the orchard, where Captain Chute brought the machine guns along the road under a hail of lead, and placed them in posi- 14 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS tion. He was wounded in the side, and immediately afterwards was killed by another bullet. Led by Major Charrier, the Munsters charged and charged again, against the enveloping force which now circled them around with a ring of fire, drop- ping rier, and Major Charwho was twice wounded, steadily shells bullets. continued the direction of the action. He was standing by one of the guns which had been put out of action when Gower came and reported to him, just about sunset. Once more he rallied the men to the charge, and Lieutenant mortally wounded, crossed the road. he fell as they Incident by incident the later stages of the heroic stand developed as the hours passed on, and ammunition could only be renewed by taking what was left on the dead and dying, and moment after moment gave fresh hostages to death. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS Slowly and came onslaught gathered many sounds of battle and the force, twilight German the as dreadfully the 15 rose and rose around the men who, with the Battalion thinned to less than half their fighting forces, the massed battalions of diers still Munsters gave themcourage and lavishness, with and strong unconsciously Once more they charged, and of seas crushed uncounted and broke who were enemy's troops left to surrender. all was the ••••• last. • told is that the said that men had bravely it back splendid. the great them and forced So the bitterest hour of It sol- but the ; selves those resisted German ; is to their German ofHcers never fought more also said that they sent headquarters for a chap- bury the Irish dead. Major Charrier and eight lain to officers of STORY OF THE MUNSTERS i6 the Munsters were buried men were trench where the though we call them the where But great fight. under the shadow of the they had fought their near laid to rest, trees dead, we know that the spirit that is strong and cheerful, and that has added to the page of a nation's outlives history, untimely endings. The all so-called finished work, the completed undertaking, is not for many in the story of this great war, and it is not a little thing but a fine deed, to have left a record that betters the honourable traditions of the Royal Munster " Fusiliers. Dying ye die greatly with a surpass the glories of shall glory that shall the past." The Munsters at Festubert December 22nd, 1914 Drawn by Phthp Dadd.] [To tace p. 17. THE MUNSTERS AT FESTUBERT December 22nd^ ^9^\- " Your ashes o'er the flats of France are scattered, But hold a fire more hot than flesh of ours. The stainless flag that flutters frayed and tattered, Shall wave and wave like spring's immortal flowers. You die, but in your You shall not know death the life grows intenser, shame of growing old. In endless joy you wave the holy censer, And blow a trumpet though your Dead." By Edmund lips are cold." " To Our Gosse. On the evening of the 20th December, 19 14, the 2nd Battalion Royal Munstcr Fusiliers, commanded by Colonel A. M. Bent, were billeted in Bailleul. in They were the farm c the outskirts of scattered about houses and barns, in the 17 1 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 8 narrow, yellow-plastered chateaus, that draughts from all the corners of the country, and in the little in let villa all the houses on the threshold of Bailleul itself. Up to that time Bailleul had escaped from the destruction of falling shells, and only the far-away boom of guns made war very strongly evident that ; and the masses of British troops and the passing of motor transport, divorced it dreaming quiet of a few months back. The weather was in- from old its an icy west wind came frozen flats, and drove the tensely cold over the ; tearing rain-storms covered fens. out of the mist- The Regiment had been some weeks in billets, re-equipping and training, going steadily through the process by which freshly drafted youngsters are made into fine soldiers. was unusually gifted Colonel Bent with the quality STORY OF THE MUNSTERS that inspires men of central control 19 to realise the value ; and his personality indomitable will made for an influence that the hundreds of command responded men under to his instinctively. fought with him at Ypres and elsewhere have testified to Many of those w^ho this. Previous to December 20th the Bat" talion had been " standing by ready to move at the shortest notice, but on the morning of December 20th a message was received from Brigade Headquarters to the effect that the Battalion need no so normal, longer be held in readiness semi-peace conditions reigned. They ; were, however, not destined to enjoy these conditions for long, nor to turn their thoughts towards the completion of Christmas festivities, for at an urgent message was Colonel Bent that the to 5 received p.m. by 3rd Brigade, which the Battalion belonged, was STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 10 to be ready march " to as soon as possible." was quite dark when the order came, and though the men were scatIt tered in their billets, at 6.15 p.m. the Munsters were place out into the them the Brigade, stormy dream many in their in and marching darkness. Behind of the Christmas vanished like so Reality took its place, a a road ankle deep in mud, dreams. reality of a tearing blizzard of rain and hail, and a black drenching tempest to face with bent heads. For six hours the Battalion marched forward until at Merville a halt was and in an empty factory there was rest and shelter for the drenched called ; and weary men. There was no sign anywhere of it any promise of day in the sky might have been the commencement ; of eternal night and of eternal dark- STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 21 when the Munsters stood to arms. The men were heavy with their four ness hours' sleep, heavy, too, with their load ammunition and equipment. They left the factory behind them and took of the sodden road, and at grey dawn broke, cleared slowly and from the ashen last the the landscape shadow of night, but the rain never ceased nor and the sound of the heavy lessened '* " business told that the ; as usual guns war had begun of the At 8 again. a.m., outside Bethune, the Bat- talion halted again awaiting orders, the sitting or lying in the mud men along the roadside, keeping as cheerful as cir- With his permit. cheerfulness and energy, cumstances would unwavering Colonel Bent worked against the conditions of the weather and the hardships his men were undergoing, affecting everyone with his own courage and dis- pelling the despondency of weariness, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 22 which can one of the hardest things is A face. human battle itself calls characteristics of dash and but weariness rain and man a up the and fight, mud are cruel adversaries, fought at a disadvanIt is in those hours that most of tage. all the magnetism of personality issue Afterwards, when longer doubtful and value. superb is no is of the the is over, and the definite, conspicuous end gained, it is easy for anyone to raise a cheer but sitting in the liquid battle ; mud, weary and very cold, it takes a strong heart and the truest kind of pluck to rise above it all. By p.m. orders were received that 3 the Battalion was to occupy the trenches at Festubert vacated by the Indian the leading Brigade deployed and shortly after the Third Brigade were placed on the left of the First Guards Brigade. This Brigade troops ; for attack, consisted of the 2nd Welsh Regiment, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 23 Gloucesters, supported by the Munsters, the ist South Wales Borderers, the and I St the Royal Welsh 4th (Territorial). Fusiliers After the issue of these orders the Brigade resumed its through Gorre Battalion remained where the to Festubert, in march, reserve, but on the night of the 21st received orders that there was to be a general attack upon the German line. All the night of the 21st the Munsters waited, and all the night of the 21st it rained and snowed and stormed. The pitch darkness of a night of waiting is a memorable experience, even when there are many such to There the curious feeling of loneliness common to all humans out in record. is The bright smoke of fires the night. over the land behind the parapets of the German trenches made will-o'-the-wisp columns of misty light ; sometimes a STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 24 star shell shot up, lighting the place like day, and sometimes the crack of a rifle tore the dark and spattered in the mud of the trench. come much they do almost and death Life the night than day time, and the whole intolerable mystery of war is closer in in the intensified a thousandfold. the sullen dawn Very slowly broke, as if unwilling to reveal the sights that night clothed over, and the sodden fields and the barns and farmsteads stood out blackly against the grey. The green and yellowish water lying over the flats was frozen, and the dead were very in pathetic visible, lying heaps amid the refuse of a thousand unexpected things. The weary desolation of dawn over French Flanders passes The light, all description. noise grew with the and the morning boom and bang of heavy crashes grew fiercer, until the hour arrived when the Battalion, Lteutenant-Colonel a. M. Bent, C.M.G. 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, dangerously wounded at Festubert, 22nd December, 19 14 — — South African War, 1902 Operations in the TransRecord of Service January to April, 1902. Queen's Medal, with three clasps. North-West : vaal, Frontier of India, — igoS Operations in Mohmand Country. Medal with clasp. [To face p. 24. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS led by Colonel Bent, started to 25 the attack. The men swarmed and raced across the over the parapets fields, carrying their heavy equipment and following their officers over the shell-scarred, churncdStrands of barbed wire beset earth. up way, and the ground was broken by great shell-holes. Before them, from the German trenches, the machine guns their hammered welcome ; out their deadly message of and the men went gamely on, most splendidly fell across the led by their officers. Second in Command, Major Thomson, first German removed orders from where would not permit himself to issue trench, but to be ; continuing he lay, he was wounded again, the second wound proving fatal. He met his death unvanquished and unappalled, and his name remains bound in with the great Colonel Bent story of the Regiment. in the earlier of fell the charge. part 26 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS desperately wounded killed a little later, gallantry a ; Major Day was showing the greatest ; and Captain Hugh O'Brien, Irish officer beloved by his young men, and who had been proved War South African to in the possess unusual dash and coolness, fell as he shouted to " Get a bit of his company, your own Not twenty yards from back, boys.'^ where Captain O'Brien fell Captain Durand met his death. He had joined the 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1906, having served through the Mashonaland camhe died the Rhodesian Horse Matabeleland paigns in and ; most nobly, leading at the extreme point made by C Company, enfilading fire. The sorrow of the advance under fierce and the heroism of such death by the great enduring Men is touched light of glory. on the right and left, and again and again they rallied and stumbled over the broken ground, holding steadily fell STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 27 on under the wail of tearing shrapnel, and at last the Munsters reached their goal, the given point ; and in the fierce counter attack they did not lose an inch of what they had taken. So the day passed, and the wounded lay out under the cruel lash of the sleet and the bitter wind. Not one man returned some wounded to Headquarters, except who The straggled in, dazed and bleeding. chorus of the field guns, and the detonation of the great guns, and the crack, crack of rifle fire went on per- Lyddite and high explosives sistently. rained through the murky evening, and no orders were issued that reached the Munster Fusiliers. They had gone out, as is their way, to do their bit, and still had disappeared into the behind the night. ; nothingness and great flashes lit the those pale, awful gleams of super- Darkness dark vast civilisation fell, swept over the ghastly land. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 28 The enemy's search-lights were feeHng after the mutilated and wounded, showing up the stretcher bearers and Red Cross dressers, and as each slow beam swung in its followed lead deadly course, a hail of it, bearing death on its coming. In a big dyke and yawning gap mud of bog and the Munsters held on, unassisted, supports having The failed. Companies were lying out under fire, pinned to the ground, and with nearly all their officers killed or still wounded, they ••••• held on. • Major Julian Ryan, D.S.O., who had gone back to Brigade Headquarters on the morning of the 22nd, to arrange about ammunition and transport, as he himself in a trouble when " the put it " sized up Regiment into nothingness." left a record of the peared who letter, " It disap- was he work done Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. Ryan, D.S.O. 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed near Festubert, January 23rd, 1 91 5 Record of Service :— South African War, iSgg-igor — Employed with the Mounted Infantry, advance on Kimberley, including actions at Belmont and Modder River operations in the Transvaal from June to 29th November, 1900 operations in Cape Colony, operations in the Transvaal, 30th November, 1900, to March, 1901 operations in Orange River Colony, March to June, 1901. — Despatches, London Gazette, loth September, 1901 Vaal, June to 29th NovemQueen's Medal and five clasps, D.S.O. ber, 1900; operations in Cape Colony. ; ; ; — Soudan, 1905 Operations against the Nyam-Nyam tribes in Bafir-el-Gazel Province Egyptian Medal Despatches, London Gazette, i8th May, 1906. Soudan, 1906 Operations at Talodi in Southern Kordofan Clasp to Clasp. Egyptian Medal. Soudan, igo6 Operations in Blue Nile Province. Promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, London Gazette, 22nd January, 1915. [To fact p. 28. ; — — — STORY OF THE MUNSTERS by the whose six men 29 of the search party to return of a own, the safe single man of the Munster Fusihers chiefly due. efforts, is as to his Having reported at Brigade Head- quarters, and having received the reply that no help could be given. Major Ryan split his men into patrols At of two and sent them out. p.m., when it was very dark and the enemy's fire unceasing, the men, whose names, unfortunately, are not recorded, came 8 "Very few officers left many casualties; Colonel wounded; two back reporting senior Majors : ; killed. Send orders." Major Ryan, fully aware that daybreak would see the end of the gallant Battalion if nothing were done, redoubled his efforts. " It was 10 o'clock before the Brigadier's orders got to me to get orders out to the Battalion to retire, then I and even by had not a single unwounded STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 30 man the four companies that 7 a.m. to show me left of all had gone out at where they had got called on them at to. Once more I trusty six who had located dusk, and sent them out in my three parties, again with definite orders to come back to me at a certain point where I was alone but for a few stray men and no officers. By midnight, to got the remnant of the four companies in, worn out and starved, as my relief, I their officers had in the advance. to follow volunteers my and many men, All they could do was fallen guides and took in. I called for a party out with and got some wounded in, drew blank for the Colonel and stretchers but Major Thomson. The Adjutant had come in unwounded, but dead beat, and could not say where the Colonel was. "At 2 a.m., or nearly 3, I went round and collected the exhausted non- commissioned officers who had come in, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 31 called for volunteers again, and put the machine-gun party wounded. done under All fire. . . and more than all, do The charge. carrying the Colonel the rescue work was officer returned in The Regiment did all, that men could , they played up splendidly. never known men do so much. ; I have I am very proud of them." A few weeks officer of the later most Major Ryan, an promise and was killed striking personality, by a of the sniper, to the great sorrow Battalion. brilliant THE MUNSTERS AT RUE DU BOIS May " ()th^ 1915. She, beyond shelter or station, She beyond limit or bar, Urges to slumberless speed Armies that famish and bleed, Giving That That their lives for her seed. their dust their souls may may re-build her a Nation, re-light her a star." A. C. Swinburne. About of Neuve mile from the market-place Chapelle, and above Festubert a and Givenchy, street lying is east the Rue du Bois, a and west, some 500 yards behind the British trenches. Last year the bells of Neuve Chapelle sent the sound swinging over the little distance, but the pounding of the shells 32 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS and enemy of friend 33 the alike, silenced when war let loose the great stream of human blood and human The Rue was once a thoroughtears. bells, fare for early carts and other traffic going towards the Distillery on the Violaines Road, and had been built one according to the Roman system — houses of line straight all built to- Along this street the carts used to pass, coming up from Richebourg St. Vaast and Richebourg Avoue, gether. 1' and going on by the road that leads to The Rue du distant Lille. a sad have place, fallen, for Bois is now the chimney-stacks and the roofs and walls gape desolately. Changed times for since the France early carts went by, and a changed world for many of us. On 8th, the 19 1 5, evening of the 2nd Saturday, Royal May Munster commanded by Colonel Victor Rickard, were on their way to take Fusiliers, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 34 their place in the trenches in front of Rue du Bois ; with them was Father Francis Gleeson, whose name is known throughout the whole of Munster. It was a a clear spring evening, dark green sky, the orchards under through the country heavy with blossom, their scent The recalling manifold poplar trees, many recollections. of them shell- scarred and broken, were very still in the windless twilight, dark spires against the clear clean sky. At the entrance to the Rue du Bois there stands a broken shrine, and within the shrine is a crucifix. When Munsters came up the road, Colonel Rickard halted the BatThe men were ranged in three talion. the square, their green flags, embroidered with the Irish harp and a from the word " sides of a Munster," gift Lady Gordon, placed before each Company. Father Gleeson mounted, Colonel Rick- STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 35 ard and Captain Filgate, the Adjutant on their chargers, were in the centre, and in that wonderful twilight Father Gleeson gave a General Absolution. To some " vitam present, very certainly, the ceternam manifest, " was intensely and beautifully the day-spring of Eternity " Miseratur vestri Omni- very near. potens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, The perducat vos ad vitam sternam." whole Regiment with their heads bared, sang the Te Deum, the great thanks" " Sursum Corda of all the giving, the earth. There are many journeys and many stopping-places in the strange pilgrim- age we call life, but there is no other such journey in the world as the journey a road on the eve of and no battle, up stopping-place more holy than a way- side shrine. The men who prayed very few of them, the there were, men of the STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 36 Gaps had been filled again and again, and most of the Munsters who fought next day were newly come from Ireland and new to Lads from Kerry and Cork, the life. who, a year before, had never dreamed original Battalion. of marching in the ranks of the British Army. The Regiment moved on, and dark- the skirl of the Irish pipes broke out, playing a marching tune. The Munsters were wild with enthu- ness fell as siasm, they were strong with the invincible strength of faith and high they had with them the vital conviction of success, the inspiration that scorns danger which is the hope, for — lasting heritage of the Irish ; theirs and theirs to remain when great armaments and armies and empires shall still be swept away, because as the eternal stars. it is immovable STORY OF THE MUNSTERS On 37 the morning of May the 9th, 191 5, the Third Infantry Brigade were ordered to attack. Their right was on the Cinder Track, and their left on the Orchard Redoubt. The Munster Fusiliers were the assaulting Battalion, with the Royal Welsh 4th Fusiliers ; the Gloucesters and South Wales Borderers in reserve. The morning of 9th broke intouching the land the credibly still and fair, with the strange suggestion of unreality, which is part of the mystery of early dawn and the Rue du Bois, for all its desolation, was for a moment beautiful ; with the spaciousness of peace. Night dews were still in the air, and the first coming when of the sun sustained whole world. was not far distant thunder pervaded the The bombardment of the enemy's trenches had begun, and noise grew to the dimensions of the intensest force, crashing and roaring 38 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS with the rage of a storm The at sea. object of the bombardment was to cut gaps in the barbed wire in front of the Battahon, and for minutes seven the torrent of sound tore and rent the Only for thirty air. minutes the guns spoke, and on the amazed instant of silence Colonel Rickard order for attack. Cheering wildly the men fol- the gave lowed him over the breastworks, with a rush that swept them across the open some under deadly fire to a ditch, and GerBritish the between half-way little man lines. down and take cover while the Artil- lery again bombarded, only continuing the rush when As they fifty There they were the to lie fire lifted. crossed the first hundred and yards to the given point. Colonel Rickard fell, killed by a bullet that struck the spinal column of the neck. No one who knew him could ever doubt that he would have chosen any Lieutenant-Colonel V. G. H. Rickard 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed while gallantly leading the Battalion at Rue du Bois, 9th May, 1915 — — Record of Service South African War, 1902 Served as Adjutant, 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, operations in the Transvaal, April to May, 1902. Operations in Orange River Colony, February, April and May, 1902. Queen's Medal, with three clasps. Promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, 8th March, : 1915. [To face p. 38. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 39 other end than to die leading the Regiment he so loved all his life he gained the perfect death that takes no thought ; of self, and swallowed up which, in all truth, is in victory. Captain Campbell Dick, leading with magnificent dash, carried on B Com- pany with 5 and 6 Platoons, led to by Lieutenant Price and Lieutenant Horsfall by this time the close-range fire of the Germans poured like rain from thunder-clouds. Caring admiration ; nothing at all for the enemy's bullets. Captain Dick swept on, followed by men, his great buoyant spirit lifted his to by the joy of the If life charge. may truly be measured by its intensity, the Munsters lived well and dangerously in those moments. the very heights Captain Dick, gifted, of another very brave as certain devilry of spirit less militancy in life has been said " with officer, " " and a a cease- and death," was STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 40 well known to be a man unshaken nerve and flame-like attributes as he reached the second hne of the German trenches he stood on the enemy's breastof ; works, quite indifferent to the danger lay on every side, and standing which he often stood cheering a winner in the old days in Ireland, he waved his " Come cap and shouted to his men, as on, the Munsters he " ! A moment after, German trenches, and Company he commanded dashed fell the into the onwards with Lieutenant Price and Lieutenant Horsfall, and were enveloped in the very heart of the grey enemy Lieutenant Carrigan and Lieu- forces. tenant Harcourt brought the machine guns over the parapet of the German and there faced an enfilading that beat and battered upon the first line, fire men, grimly who, without to the trenches wavering, ; held a little further up the line Lieutenant Sealy King died Captain 2nd Royal Munster J. Campbell-Dick Fusiliers, killed in action 9th — South — May, 191 5 African War, 1 899-1 902 Advance on Kimberley, including action at Belmont operations in the Transvaal, West of Pretoria, to November, July 29th 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29th November, 1900, including actions at Linaley (27th June), Bethlehem (6th and 7th July), and Wittenbergen (ist to 2gth July) operations in Cape Colony, South of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in Transvaal, 30th November, 1900, to January, 1901 operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, September, 1901, to 31st May, 1902 operations in Cape Colony, North of Orange London River; Despatches, Gazette, September 19th, 1901. Queen's Medal with three clasps King's Medal with two clasps. Record of Service: ; ; ; ; ; [To face p. 40 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS most gallantly as attack. he dashed The Regiments on the to a left 41 renewed and right being unable to get near the line where the Munsters were fighting, the position became that of a forlorn fighting stuff Fusiliers are of hope ; but the which the Munster made, does not break. Their dash and coolness drew words of admiration from who were almost the Artillery officers observing, and the men, entirely rallied N.C.O.'s, abated courage. without officers or and fought with un- Only 300 yards away was the safety of the British trenches, but between that point and where the Battalion fought the gulf might as well have been as wide as eternity. The and the rain of bullets never ceased, and as the time went on and the Battalion was unsupported. hail of shells Major Gorham, then in com- STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 42 mand and wounded a message in the arm, sent back that the assault was held up by the great breaking superiority of the enemy's forces. Once again the heavy guns out, pitching shell after shell German lines, boomed into the and under cover of this protective fire the Battalion withdrew. Incidents of great self-sacrifice were many during the retirement. Sergeant Gannon wounded carried one comrades and four officer out under fire ; Private Barry, himself mortally wounded, and only a slight slip of a boy from Cork, brought in Captain Hawkes, one of the biggest officers in the Battalion. Hawkes was Captain in three and as places, severely and could he carried his wounded not move, officer to safety, Private Barry fell, dying heroically, his death a tribute to the feeling that so strongly existed between officers and men. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS So the their Munsters came day's in the again work Rue du 200 men and three almost superfluous to after formed they ; back 43 Bois, officers. up numbering It make any seems further comment. In a garden near a place called Windy Corner, Colonel Rickard is buried at the head of a line of graves. Gleeson wrote: gave their fully, have, "The As Father Munsters who lives so heroically even in death, and cheer- at their head, their kindly and loving leader, who so much inspired them and cheered us all." Honest and brave soldiers, the world must go on without you, and those who are left to mourn you must face what remains in life with a little of your own But your lives and your fine spirit. have enriched the story of great deaths 44 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS the world, the story of Ireland and the story of the Battalion, even though, through sounds of and will all life, the we voices and listen for listen still in vain. all the your voices, The Munsters at IIulloch Drawn by F Matania.] September 25th, 1915 [To face p. 45. THE MUNSTERS AT HULLOCH September 2 '^th^ IQ^S- "In a trench is upon a battlefield of France himself lying, And shall never set potatoes any more. Just himself and me together, in the spring and autumn weather, Will not set or dig potatoes any more." OoNA Below there with is a the chateau of wood which Ball. Vaudricourt closes it around a sense of security belonging to fir woods, and the zone of pines is dense and fragrant. On the night of September 2 3rd, 1915, the Royal Munster Fusiliers marched from the little village of Philosophe and bivouacked in the Vaudricourt domain. The battalion was on the march again, 45 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 46 and that dim, cloudy night they trooped in under the shelter and lighted their camp fires. The whole was mysterious and the things seen in dreams of luminous smoke soared unreal as effect ; columns upwards, illuminating the low strong branches of the trees, and around the fires the coats, men lay huddled grouped within in their great- the circles of flickering light. Just as the into blackness were dying down fires a little incident that memory dwells upon changed the Vaudricourt woods into an undying picture for those who saw stretched out it. of the men arm his lighted candle on a head, and One and placed a branch just over his though this simple act the memories and imagina- as appealed to tions of his comrades, in a woods moment Vaudricourt the became pine transformed into a forest of Christmas of STORY OF THE MUNSTERS One trees. flames another after appeared, and the burned 47 tiny hke a hundred little glittering shrines. God knows what memories of childhood and things that were far enough away from war it recalled to the hearts of these men. Yet the memory of the clouded night, the whisper of the wind in the trees, and the woods of Vaudricourt, bright with the soldiers' candles, comes like a gleam across the vast darkness and lights again the faces of the war-worn battalion once more on to way the fighting ••••• line. • On its September 24th the Munsters took up their position close to La Routoire Farm. Germans ridge of Beyond a occupied down land these trenches the ; long, sweeping a space of quiet scenery spread out to the horizon like On the German side were a calm sea. Auchy, Hulloch, and Loos, and on the STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 48 British Cambrin, Vermelle, Philosophe, Mazingarbe, and between them the desolate ground from which Uving and things are fenced and barred out. trenches divided the two main at right angles, and the HuUoch The roads road played an important part in subsequent Here and there over the operations. grass, piles of slag stood out like towers, black and desolate stubborn as some minor, haunting fragment of an evil dream. They masked the mines, and were treacherous', cruel defences on a poor, wasted land. The weather was gloriously fine, and under the heavy bombardment of the British guns the whole sky-line seemed to be in eruption. Huge masses of chalk-dust and smoke lifted hundreds of and rolled slowly away cloud drowsy trailing near the feet into the air, like a ground and reluctant " best of this all to depart worlds." possible from Major and Royal Munster J. W. Considine Fusiliers, killed while leading the Battalion at Hulloch, September 25th, 1915 1908. — Left Sandhurst in April, 1902. Mohmand Expedition, Took temporary France, April nth, 1915. King's Medal and clasp. of the 2nd Battalion, May loth. Record of Service : command [To face p. 49. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS In the of grey light opened furious a the morning of 25th the September fire, 49 British joined guns by the Withand machine guns. the Munsters or disorder rattle of rifle out fuss awaited the face a moment when pouring stream of they should bullets and charge into the teeth of the storm. Led by Major Considine,the Munsters pushed up the winding trenches to the front line, exchanging a word or two as they went, and relying, as all men do in time of crisis, upon those unexplained resources that stand for in a soldier. When all that is best they reached the the leading company was blocked, for the trenches were full of men, with their faces coloured an ashen front line and badges on Some were their coats turned green. dead and others unconscious, for they blue and the were the When E buttons helpless victims of gas fumes. the Munsters charged over STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 50 the parapet the Hulloch road was alive with troops racing towards the German trenches, but to the front all was quiet, and a number of khaki figures in blue gas helmets lay very still out over the grass towards the German lines, having so encountered that " last of all fine sights of half oblivion. The " from fire and greatest in the cold dimness the enemy's guns Munsters advanced with a yell, and the wire ahead of them was apparently unbroken. increased Leading sidine fell the as " A in " Company, Major Con- the advance, and as he down Sergeant-major Jim Leahy rushed forward to carry him into safety. sank He, a was hit through the heart by German bullet, and when he fell the too, advancing him as with them Munsters cheered they raced ahead, carrying the memory of the two men fallen so gallantly, into who had their fierce STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 51 Major Considine and Sergeant-major Leahy are buried on the battlefield almost where thev fell, 800 charge. Both yards west of Vermelles. Up the long-deserted, Hulloch road grass-grown came six batteries at a across the open gallop, wheeling boldly under heavy fire, the Munsters, in conat junction with the brigade, following Great volcanoes of black smoke a run. shot up immediately worked down the as the German bombers trenches. Lieutenant Denis Conran with six of his company occupied a support trench crowded with German troops, and for this small salient forty-eight hours held of the advance, waging a steady war determination with unwavering grit. The enemy were gmall handful, all around and this and from where they fought they could see the village of Hulloch being knocked to pieces like a card-house, and again on the right the STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 52 shell-torn havoc of the advance the chalk pit, and Hill 70. stride had been taken at men in their gas to Loos, The last, larger and the helmets with their five beard looked strange and almost Oriental as they advanced, growth days' receded, and of again advanced as the deadly conflict rolled onwards. Towards evening the weather turned bitterly cold fall. The and smell heavy rain began to of poison gas, shell fumes, and blood became almost over- powering. flotsam of Among war lay the torn bodies the unheeded in the mud. Innumerable blankets, rifles, caps, belts, and bloodstained dressings told that a memory was all that was left to many of those who had been alive and glad a few hours before, and everywhere there were dead, dying, and wounded men, and all the helpless misery of battle. The troops charged again, and the remnants of the Munsters raised another STORY OF THE MUNSTERS . cheer and rallied for the then the strain ended men rush, and last as 53 you may see pulled suddenly over at a tug-of- Four columns war. of German soldiers out of the trenches, holding their hands above their heads. filed The road from Loos to Hulloch v^as clear at a cost of 1,000,000 shells and A 50,000 men. right of way was established at a price that no one can ever tell, since broken lives and hearts are not entered into any honour, and this right of known roll of way was made good by the simple valour and indomitable constancy of the ordinary man. For them there is no return, for those who waited for them no more reason to cross the days off the calendar has intervened — the ; stillness stillness that marks the passing of the mortal to immortahty. Tears are life will The useless, broken hearts useless ; not alter because of these things. days go on, and we with them ; 54 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS those who " gone have bought Httle hour, and are not have eternity with a dead." And the road to Hulloch. is now clear from Loos THE STAND AT ETREUX being an account written by an officer of the r.m.f., prisoner of war Maintz-am-rhein, Germany, July i6th^ 1915- I the SEND now, by special permission, account of the engagement of full August 27th, 1914. The night of the 26th the Battalion Fesmy with B Company (Captain Simms commanding) on outpost duty at Chapeau Rouge (Sketch A). At 4 a.m. on the 27th D Company bivouacked at (Captain Jervis commanding) was sent up as a reinforcement. The role allotted was rear guard to the Army Corps, with the to the Battalion retiring 1st remainder of the Brigade 55 in support. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 56 Our general we were on direction was Guise, and the right of the Expeditionary Force, the French having occupied Bergues on our right on the 26th. At on the 27th, our scouts having reported the village of Bergues evacu8 a.m. ated, Major Charrier Woods with A Company About two hours sent to later the Captain occupy enemy it. at- tacked us here sharply, and on receiving this the information, Commanding Officer sent a troop of the 15th Hussars (placed together with i section 118 Battery R.F.A., under him for the day) reinforcement at the same time he sent one platoon of A Company as a ; Rawlinson commanding) (Captain assist his of to withdrawal from the East end Fesmy. With the exception of a portion of platoon under Captain Emerson, which succeeded in joining and this up with withdrawing Captain Woods, the e c°^ f^f^F HA • ^JoLa. 6ou6 Line of Withdrawal sxHHiiJ 1 M ILE Sketch A STORY OF THE IMUNSTERS 58 remainder of the Battalion rejoined Bat- morn- talion Headquarters ing. The enemy was now appearing in later in numbers North small the of Chapeau Rouge, and North-east of Fesmv. the cross roads at From Chapeau Rouge a good view of the surrounding country was obtainable, which was of a veryenclosed nature, the hedges being thick and high. Bv 1 1 a.m. B and D Companies were strongly entrenched, and a brisk action began near Fesmv, and we were soon busv with rifles, machine The guns, and our two i8-pounders. enemv seemed to be advancing mainly from the North-east and rapidly approaching the An village. over enemy's the aeroplane passed position shortlv before noon, our effort to bring it down meeting with no few minutes in torrents, enemy later the rain success. came down and under cover of collected to A attack it the Chapeau STORY OF THE MTXSTERS 59 This attack commenced at out our I p.m., and having carried obiect of delaying the enemy, the two Companies en'jaged withdrew on Fesmy Rouge. without loss, and having arrived there took up their position in support of the remainder of the Battalion, which had been hotlv en^a^ed some time. The two guns were tiring rapidly. Lieutenant Chute with his machine guns was having, as he expressed it, "the time of his life.'" A civilian might be pardoned for questioning whether lying full length in 6 inches of muddy water under hea\^- hre warranted the description. However, he undoubtedly had some and did remarkably well, and ammunition was not spared. excellent Some lage, targets of the a vers' enemv penetrated the vildashing voung German officer at their head he fell wounded, and some prisoners were taken. ; STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 6o At 2.30 p.m. the withdrawal recorri". menced, D Company as left flank guard, and the movement across the countrywas very difficult and slow, gaps having to be hacked in the hedges as the Battalion We fell were back. quite pleased with the result of our first brush with the enemy, all which B cost only six or eight wounded. Company was detailed as right flank guard and occupied a group of farm buildings some 1,500 yards from Fesmy. We thought our troubles over for the day, but Major Charrier, who took no chances, issued careful orders for the continuation of our withdrawal, Company in We rearguard. fired at advance and a B C Company passed through Oisy, few Cavalry, C Company by remained behind to hold the village of " " made the rise Oisy while we good to the South. We were hardly clear when the enemy attacked again, Cap- STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 6i Rawlinson holding the East and Lieutenant Awdry the Northern exits. tain Our two guns and two Maxims repHed vigorously, and the cross-fire which must have been pretty damagOffers of assistance were refused, resulted ing. and C Company withdrew and proceeded could do this successfully Before they to rejoin. heavy fire from rifle and Maxim guns was opened on us from East and South, and it became obvious that a we were cut off. Our guns galloped South for the purpose of coming house into action a shell ; as they passed a crashed into them and a second struck the team, knocking out three or four gunners and two horses; the remainder dismounted, and in the face of a murderous fire brought their In addition to the guns into action. artillery a raking and rifle rifle fire from the East, took us in flank from fire the environs of Etreux, and it was this 62 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS the position Lieutenant O'Malley cided to attack. was sent to to Officer de- Commanding C Company them to direct keep the road clear as Lieutenant Chute was to open fire with his machine guns at the enemy advancing from North. Lieutenant O'Malley bicycled back under heavy ammunition couple of fire, carts and a came up to us at a gallop before the horses shot, indeed a gallant feat. B Company, with half in support, shook out were A Company to attack. The enemy was located in a loopholed house on the West side of the road (see Sketch On the B), and also in the near fields. other side of the road a farmhouse had caught fire and blazed furiously. The Commanding Captain Wise, Mosely succeeded in Officer, and Lieutenant within yards of this house, creeping along a ditch fol- approaching lowed by to their men. fifty The enemy's fire * y off sKeCcfi <l^ O ,L E-neiny J) 6'^ X ^ 't^^cna Sketch B t i 8 « cc°y J 64 was STORY OF THE MUNSTERS intense, and though Captain Wise succeeded in reaching the house, the whole party was put out of action. Major Charrier renewed the again later made a third attack, attack, and with determination, but was shot dead at close range in the last charge. his usual B Company was heavily engaged from the road, and Captain both sides of Simms was killed gallantly leading the Company reinforced this attack. C position, and D Company, which was in the orchard East, converged into the open and was met by a flank attack from the enemy holding the cutting. Aided by the fire of a platoon of A Company, D Company advanced by alternate rushes to within 70 yards of the hedge, where the officer in command (Captain Jervis) ordered a charge. The men sprang up with a cheer, fixed The enemy's bayonets and charged. fire redoubled, and Lieutenant Phayre STORY OF THE MUNSTERS fell, shot through the heart. Man 65 after man went down, and only Captain Jervis reached the alive, falling hedge into the subsequently hands. enemy's remnants of the Battalion fell The back to the orchard where wounded. Captain Hall was Lieutenant Gower organised a defence facing N.S.E. and West. The ammunition was exhausted and most of the gunners killed. Major Bayley wounded. The enemy had entirely surrounded the Battalion, but, encouraged by the few remaining officers, the men fought on until 9 p.m. Sounds of ap- proaching help were listened for in vain, and the Battalion, reduced to 4 officers and 256 N.C.O.'s and men, surrendered. The Battalion was engaged against 7 Battalions German Cavalry and many Infantry, 3 Batteries, Maxim guns. •a ON < D a H z < O a, a <: z o e c o fa z CI K o 175 a u b O APPENDIX Letter from Captain H. S. Jervis, 29TH August, 1914, to Mrs. Charrier France^ August My dear Mrs. Charrier, It have to 29M, 1914. is inexpressibly painful to to write to you to tell me you that the Major, our splendid Commanding Officer, fell in action the day before yesterday, most while leading gallantly against his regiment overwhelming odds. The regiment was for several hours left fell behind, and back fighting under the personal direction of your husband, who, although well aware of the impossible nature of his task, issued 67 68 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS his orders and with the well made all arrangements precision which made him so known in Aldershot. Eventually round the to the rear Germans worked and cut us off com- pletely, the key of their position being The Major pera loopholed house. sonally led two charges in a magnificent In the first of attempt to capture this. these he was wounded, but insisted upon retaining command and cheering us on. Shortly afterwards he was wounded still again, but even this did not keep him duty. He heroically continued the direction of the six hours interaction till after sunset from what he considered his — mittent fighting. Mr. Gower came up to make a report him and found him near one of our guns which had been put out of action. In reply to Mr. Gower he said, "All right, wc will line the hedge; follow to me." Still leading and setting an example APPENDIX to he was shot a third time, and all, He mortally. fell in we Yesterday men 69 the road. sent out a party of our and bury the dead, and they found Paul Charrier lying as he had fallen, head towards the enemy. The to collect Sergeant told me he looked as if They buried him, asleep. eight other officers of the regiment was were killed, in a he with who grave separate from the men. personally received orders and made entire day, reports to him during the and never for an instant did he lead mc I to suspect worried The loss that as to our eventual action, an of wounded, and on by some he was in involving entire a highest praise that able by a did the it may killed, be looked disaster, I way safety. as battalion, prisoners, as any and the can think attain- commanding in that in spite of this officer was his, he retained the STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 70 entire trust and confidence of all ranks to the last. The nearest village to the action Etreux, I think. is All his personal trinkets were buried His heavier kit was on the with him. regimental transport. I believe this got away. Six of us, officers, are prisoners here, and 500 men of the battalion, many whom of officers are wounded. My and the N.C.O.'s and the battalion ask me brother men of tender to you to and your family our deepest sympathy in your irreparable felt of loss, which will be throughout the Division, but most all in the old regiment. Believe me, etc.. Yours very sincerely, H. S. Jervis. APPENDIX 71 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, to the father OF Lieutenant Carol Awdry, who was KILLED AT EtREUX, 27TH AuGUST, I9I4 Letter from Captain Jervis, As the senior of the surviving officers of the action fought by the regiment on August 27th, it is my sad duty to have to write and inform you that your boy lost his Ufe that day while leading his men against overwhelming odds. The Army was, at the time, withdrawing, an and the battalion was occupying important position covering the movement. In order the better to safeguard the retreat of the remainder, our withdrawal was delayed by some hours. We attacked on three sides, and when we were moved off finally it was found that the greatly superior forces of the Germans had enabled them to cut us off from our main body. Faced by odds or we eight to one, of six put up the best STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 72 fight we from all — to could until compelled by rear E Company sides to surrender. which your course — was chosen the (on withdrew Rawlinson fire son belonged, of to watch our right N.E.) as the battalion South, and Captain selected your son to take to the his platoon out to an exposed position, the far end of a village named Fesmy, through which our line of retreat lay. the duty in a most He performed manner, and although harassed with a nasty fire, he held on until the battalion withdrew, and then rejoined able with his little force intact. It was commendable performance, worthy one of a of greater age and experience than your son. His Company then continued the withdrawal until we came far to the next village detailed to act (Oisy), when it was as rearguard. Again were they sharply engaged, by largely increased forces this time, but they APPENDIX gallantly held their 73 own, your son again detached position at important cross-roads, and again the battalion was holding in safety. Your boy's last to come in, and withdraw able to party a was the few men he saved many more. It was now six o'clock (p.m.), and it was then discovered that they were cut off from the main body. The battalion shook out to the attack though he lost a endeavour to break through, every officer doing good work, your son no less than the others. With sword in an drawn, he led his men in support of the attack, which was in progress in front (to the South), and as he advanced he shot through the lungs. His was painless and practically instantaneous. He was buried with his fell, death eight brother officers, day, in one grave. who fell the same 74 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS Letter from Captain Jervis, 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, to Mrs. C. T. F. Chute The regiment was left in a somewhat orders for a exposed position, and the withdrawal seem to have gone astray. handled Chuty, with his guns, which he during the day with really wonderful skill, covered company the withdrawal of at my was pouring It mid-day. with rain, and with entire disregard to of him, personal comfort, characteristic down in six inches of water to he lay better. manipulate his guns the Germans were The crossing the front, and he never neglected an opportunity of delaying their advance. He withdrew them from one all position to another, escort to the day forming an invaluable we had attached to us. two field The village, guns withdrawal continued through a at about 5.30 p.m., and at the other side of it he came into action APPENDIX 75 down the road, on again, firing right both edges of which Captain Rawlinson's company was withdrawing. Owing your husband's guns the company got safely through and rejoined The enemy was now the battalion. to the help of on three sides of us, fire. opened guns back under a a and their artillery his machine Chuty brought at the gallop along the road positive hail of lead. splendid feat and was It was successfully accomplished, and once again the guns were placed in position. We were now completely surrounded, and your husband tried to cross the road to try and find As he crossed he a target to aim at. was shot in the right side and thigh and fell Up dead. he was cheery and full in fact, he was the life ever to the last of spirits as ; and soul of the mess. It is impossible to realise that we'll never hear his voice again. He will leave a large gap, not STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 76 but in each and only in the regiment, It all of his brother officers' hearts. may be some to know that small consolation to you before the action he was looked upon as the best machine-gun Brigade, and his work during the day only served to confirm this view. Yesterday, the 28th, the of officer the Germans allowed us to send out a burial and they found party of our own men, Chuty, and buried him, with the eight other officers of the regiment killed, in a grave separate He was buried with effiscts on him. all who were from the men. his His heavier personal kit is with the regimental transport, the only part of the regiment to escape. May officers I, on behalf of the surviving and prisoners in most sincere we know men of the regiment, now German hands, tender our sympathy which one which for a loss only too well can never be replaced. is APPENDIX 77 Extract from a letter from Lieutenant Thomas written to his mother Havre on 12th August, and we stayed in camp two days. After that we came a long way by train to Le Nouvion, and marched to a little place called Boue, where we went into billets. I stayed in a lovely landed I at the people were and fed me on the old farm house, and awfully good to of best me were marched right up — about days two called then Well, everything. fifty to Belgium we in miles, to a place Grand Rong, and second the the next day we fought a small battle just on the frontier, without any losses, and returned right day thirty-two miles away back we started to all ; Fesing, just near where then the the machinery real fighting started. ; The first I knew was being roused at 3 a.m. by an orderly from Headquarters, to pro- of it STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 78 with ceed another my Company being attacked ; to reinforce on outpost who were platoon there we fought we thought for two days, and just as all was over we found we were surrounded, and a desperate battle began. not describe the horrors of but we were it I could on paper, three-fourths of a Battalion German Battalions, without chance of rehef, and I think we any We had a section really did our best. of artillery and two machine-guns with fighting six which helped a lot, but they were Our Colonel i very soon knocked out. was a wonder to see. He had absolutely us, no fear, him and all I I followed him and helped could in every charge, but he to pieces in the end by a was blown We shell. killed and had, I think, ten officers wounded, and the mainder prisoners. I was wounded 1 in This five refers to command Major P. of the Battalion. A. Charrier, re- in who was APPENDIX two places throat and — 79 a bullet right all my left blown away by a piece of shell. throat, of course, is some. me in to breathe, drink, but My a tube and so as to can eat and I can't speak. All the officers sent off to Germany yesterday, and were I the men who were am alone for three town among the Germans, men, who are very bad. about the is able to travel, so just one big hospital ; full of wounded, and flies, awful. beaten, I We Well, believe I except This Bandon, and every house is size of is are arm bad and very trouble- They put allow my through the biceps of and the smells we were good as we although we gave as and wounded a great got. many Germans, and they say themselves that killed we made When a fight of it. I will be able to gallant come home tell you some strange tales, but I can't write it all. Our fellows who were in I the South African War say it was child's STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 8o play battle to and there never was this, as fierce knocked out as the one we a were in. CONAN DOYLE AND THE BATTLE OF MONS SIR A. March 191 5 Sir A. Conan Doyle " The Great Battles gave an address on of the War," in the Usher Hall, Edin- In burgh, to a vast and enthusiastic assem- The following extract from the Scotsman of the next morning refers to blage. the Munsters Sir Arthur, Battle of : — commencing with Mons, pointed out the real impact of the the that there German army upon two Brigades of the British. It was true that the British had fallen back from the defence of a peninsular " a sweep of the canal, which created " regarded from the dangerous salient fell APPENDIX outset when as tactically 8i indefensible ; but, the British Commander-in-Chief received from the French the fateful telegram which compelled his retirement, the battle was in a state in which was difficult who had lost. it to say who had won and The outstanding incidents in the masterly-conducted retreat were finely told the forced marches " who had the of the fatigued troops, depression of defeat without understand- — ing why they had to retire " ; the heroic rearguard actions fought, notably by the Cheshires, the Gordons, and the Munsters the 9th the saving of the guns by the hopeless odds Lancers ; ; which General Smith-Dorrien encountered of three to one in to one in artillery, men and six and the dauntless defence by the remnant of L Battery. It was one of the misfortunes of a widespread action, he said, that difficult to keep in it touch with was very all units ; 82 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS they never knew what might become Three times in messengers. the course of the Mons retreat, first in of their the case Gordons, Cheshires, then the thirdly the Munsters, the of and were left without orders. Messengers were shot down, and orders regiments to retire units, after never reached these gallant which fought on and on, long their comrades had retired, until, utterly exhausted in strength and material, the remnants had to surrender. If ever the world surrender was justifiable, he remarked, it was under these circumin In the case of the Cheshires, Gordons, and the Munsters, the stances. the same thing great attention should happened, showing that be paid to the point as to how far troops lying at a distance should be notified as to what was going on. APPENDIX 83 Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel G. D.S.O., TO A Friend J. Ryan Yes, disaster again, eight of our best officers, including those you knew — Thomson, Durand, Day, O'Brien and Pcmberton — killed while gallantly lead- three others, including ing their men the Colonel, wounded, and two hundred men killed and wounded. A sad story ; when we think too, of bravery I will first of those, but a tell you occurred, and then go on which you First story, and endurance. want Division marched will notice, at 6.30 p.m., on briefly what to give details to hear. at The one hour's the night of Sunday, December 20th, lay down for three hours before dawn, marched out at dawn on 21st, a halt at 9 a.m. in heavy rain and cold for breakfast, and on again. The leading Brigade deployed at STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 84 2 o'clock for an attack in relief of the Indian Division. The Third Brigade followed, and were put in first after 2 p.m., the Welsh Regiment and the Gloucesters, supported by the Munsters and the South Wales Borderers. By dusk the Munsters were taken from support, and put out to the right to fill a gap between the Gloucesters and the next Brigade of the Division. No with was food or rest came to the men and all that night nightfall, spent in endeavouring to recover trenches originally held by Indians from which they had been forced to Before dawn came the order retire. trenches not retaken, originally in British possession, must be captured, that all the general attack to continue at 7 a.m. Still no food or rest for men continually under arms since Sunday night. By gallant advances, often in the open, under heavy fire, in swampy, boggy APPENDIX 8s country and drenching rain, the advance continued. The the line was straightened enemy contested every only retired w^hen he saw was serious, From to his out, but foot, the attack trenches. original that a continuous heavy brought to heavily tried bear on troops, fire when was and exhausted but and night came on Tuesday, 23rd, the Division was firmly established in its lines, and not one foot of trench has been given up since, nor was a single British taken. The Third Brigade and the Munsters worst of all, an open bit, with dykes full of The water, old trenches and bog. attack began at 7, and by 9 they came prisoner had a nasty bit, wicked fire. The men went gamely on, most splendidly led by their Officer officers, but it was no good. after officer was killed, and the com- under a panies, pinned to the ground by fire, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 86 up and extended. There they layall Night came, no orders not day. a man back, except some wounded who trickled back. By midnight came the order to get word out to the Munsters — split to their get and safety Colonel parties companies retire. in at had 4 I to a only place of got the two search He had him. a.m., after failed to find been lying there badly wounded since 10 a.m. the previous day, and so the companies got back one by one. I will you how it came about not touched myself. had been out the whole I I was now tell of the night before with Major Thomson. He and I insisted we would not go on into nothingness to be cut up We went out in the dusk piecemeal. towards the enemy's trenches, made a good line about a thousand yards out, sent good, back left for spades, dug in, made one company out, and were APPENDIX 87 back about 4 a.m. and reported to the Colonel, who was in Reserve with the two other companies or an hour lay ; down to and the " Orders Colonel woke us saying just the attack must be continued come for rest so, : ; at a.m., 7 and trenches formerly Indians must be re- all occupied by the taken." Soon with to after 6.30 I all the rest, move off, when me " : on out this front of taking every are us. I going or what have no time You must go back write. man show, and nobody quite knows where we in the Colonel said to am I Ryan, was just going out and the men ready the see to is to Brigade and General, Headquarters, and transarrange about ammunition anything you can and the Battalion is report where and how the whole Brigade attacked, gone Collect port. ; much split up." I collected six men, STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 88 all I could find, got back to Brigade all Headquarters, was and sent stretcher under to bearers, fire, reported, fetch up doctor, ammunition, food, and stragglers, everything having disappeared in the furious advance of the day and night. The men were without food or water for 46 previous hours, except what they had on them. By 1 1 o'clock I was back at Brigade Headquarters, reported I the that could, I had done Regiment had — not appeared nothingness — heavy them — no into of reports in everywhere. We all dis- a trace firing were the right regi- ment on I of the Brigade, the first Brigade our right, and pushed into a gap. my kept the locate using my men. I the men and went six Battalion glasses sized by yelling out, and meeting wounded up trouble. Brigadier and reported. no help out to to give, no men left I went to He had to put in. APPENDIX 89 sent out again, splitting my men into patrols of two each, promised them I they could get to the companies and get reports. They went out and were back again anything by if 8 o'clock them under few officers under fire, (it fire, left, was dark at all 4) " with reports. of Very companies lying out search-lights of the enemy no orders, going up, many casualties, Colonel wounded, two Senior Majors killed. Send us orders, please." I reported to the Brigade again, saying something must be done, for, if still there when daybreak came, not a man would be left. All this time they were no getting support from any regiment on their right or left, in a bad gap of bog, and dyke and mud. By 9 a.m. no orders had got to me to try and get them back. The Brigade people, quite unable to communicate with them themselves. 90 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS the rest of the attack hung up by and things looked rotten. I had collected odds and ends I cookers, everything wit's end to could know what to — — but do fire, food, at my real- as I ized only too well the impossible posiWounded tion the Regiment was in. came in trickling ; to make matters was pitch black night and rain not a beastly cold, with heavy worse, it — a road or a path, only light or a sign or dykes, knee-deep in always the German intermittent, and mud rifle and slime, and fire and ours, flames shot like up rockets by them. It was lo o'clock before the Brigadier's orders got to me to get orders out to them had not to retire, a single and even by then unwounded man I left of the four companies that had gone out at 7 a.m. to show me where they all had got to. trusty six Once more who I called on had located them at my dusk. APPENDIX and sent them out with 91 in three parties, again definite orders to come back to mc point where I was alone but few stray men and no officers. at a certain for a to By midnight, remnant my of the four rehef, companies and starved, cers had fallen and many out, scattered, advance. All follow guides my I men and took worn in the do was to fed Result put them away. and some others left out. volunteers in, as their offi- they could in. got the I them and — wounded I called for a party out with stretchers and got some in, but we drew a blank for the Colonel and Major Thomson. The Adjutant had come in not wounded, but dead beat, and could not quite say where the Colonel was. At 2 a.m., or nearly 3, I think it went round again and collected the exhausted non-commissioned officers who had come in, called for volunteers was, I again, put the machine-gun officer in 92 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS not come back charge, and said, "Do without the Colonel and Major Thomson." had some bad suspense until I the party returned carrying the Colonel wounded and poor Thomson dead. All work was done under and many wounded brought in. the rescue fire we next day ground so All could not get more, the swept by moved them rifle to a At dusk fire. village ij- miles I in From that Brigade Reserve. day on we have two companies out of four at a time always in trenches of rear about one mile from our disaster; eternal sniping and shooting, no one can move up had to the trenches fallen knee - many night in deep Rain in torrents, the trenches water. I have had Last sick since Christmas Day. I had three killed in relieving. To-night companies road still, by day. into I took the two relieving up myself, right ofF the bog and dirt, but off APPENDIX beaten the and track, 93 got rehef the through with no loss. The Colonel is Of at Boulogne and doing well there. the officers the last two regulars left have knocked up since Christmas and must go home. I am keeping fit and well, having what I want, responsibility and com- mand, and have do just got to my best to get officers and men through, now that the best of our officers are gone. same, the in- are the Night and day in the most utterly part spent be-shelled and ruined village you can door imagine, and every other or bullet hole. I mark a shell had eight of the sad- home, besides three the wounded, but have dest letters to write others of news of not had time to write a full account to until anyone but you, and that not fitter and not night, when I feel tired, to but you will know — all who tell all toso who want care for the Regi- 94 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS mcnt and for feel the losses — all they that the to be hear, Regiproud may ment did all and more than they could ; the officers killed died most gallantly all leading their men, and the men did all that men could do played up splen- — didly. I have never much, and I am known men do so very proud of them. In a special order by Sir Douglas Haig he mentioned the order. He said : Munsters in first — " Seldom have troops nobly responded to such a their bravery and endurance." so of test Letter from Q.M.-Sergeant Wainwright, 2ND R.M.F. (since promoted 2ND Lieutenant FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE field), TO Colonel D. G. Johnston, late R.M.F. 27^/2 We w^ere January^ 191 5' making preparations for spending our Christmas at this place, and giving the men as good a show^ as APPENDIX On possible. December, at march order to 95 the evening of the 20th 6 p.m., we received the at 6.15 p.m. It was a bit of a rush, but in spite of short notice we marched to time. The night was very cold, and about 10 p.m. it started to rain, which added very much to the men's discomfort, as the roads were in a fearful state and over ankle deep in mud; about 2 a.m. on the morning of the 21st December we two hours halt and rested in a broken-down factory as best we could. got a Marching again at 4 a.m. we kept on the move until 10 a.m., and were then kept lying about the road soaked to the skin as the rain had not ceased since — the previous night move — waiting orders to These orders came about 3 p.m., when we found that we were to go into the trenches. on. Early on the morning of the 23rd, the order came that the trenches which 96 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS had once been occupied by our troops, and were at this time in the enemy's hands (having been w^ere to be taken lost at by native troops) any The cost. attack started at 7 a.m., led by Colonel Bent, Major command. Thomson being second in The following officers were — commanding companies " A " Company Captain Woods " B " " C " Company Major Day — : — Company — Captain Hugh O'Brien; D Company — Major Ryan, D.S.O. ; ; *' " The ground to be crossed open country, and owing was very to the heavy rains a very sea of mud. From this you will understand the task the Munsters were put to. Two nights and with only two hours rest, and Add case very little food. wet and The trolled, cold, attack which was was carried a day in this to this the intense. out, well con- and the trenches reached, but with very heavy loss ; eleven officers — APPENDIX all of whom we could — and 240 rank and On the 11.30 p.m., night all afford to lose file. of we ill 97 the about 23rd, could muster were Major Ryan, one carriage machine-gun Search parties officer, and 150 men. were organised and sent out. Captain Pakenham was brought in wounded in three places. Captain Emerson exhausted and frost-bitten. By dawn on the morning of the 24th all who were left, including the wounded, were brought into the village, under heavy fire, in a The thoroughly exhausted condition. communication trench was waist-deep in water and mud, and some of the poor wounded had to be actually dug out of this quagmire. The following day we moved to a different part of the line, and were in the trenches until the 8th January, when we were relieved for a rest until the 13th, H when we again came up to the 98 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS trenches, where we with not much are now hard at it, likelihood of another some days to come. Since the 13th, up to date 27th, we have lost, including a few men to hospital, one rest for (Major Ryan, D.S.O., shot dead) and 140 men. officer On the 25th the enemy made a general attack along the whole of our line. This was evidently paving the way for the surprise birthday gift to the Kaiser on the 27th. About 6 a.m. on the 25th the attack was started with a heavy then rifle all and machine-gun fire, and our positions were shelled with heavy guns. Under the fire of these the attack was pressed home, but although some Regiments had to vacate their trenches owing to force of numbers, counter attacks were made and the positions re-taken. You will be glad to hear that in this attack made by the enemy the Munsters APPENDIX did not lose an inch^ but ground in spite of the 99 hung to their heavy cannonade, which lasted some five hours. We were congratulated by the Brigadier and Sir John French for the splendid work done, and were fortunate enough to lose very few men, and mostly slight wounds. Major King, who is at present commanding, slightly wounded by shrapnel in the arm, and also two young officers just joined Regiment, but not belonging to the cuts from Major Ryan was killed received shell splinters. slight returning from his visit to the trenches about II a.m. on the 23rd. After he was hit he only lived some few minutes, but was unconscious to the end. He was an officer of exceptional abilities, and when the news of his death spread everyone in the Brigade, from the General down, owned to having lost one of the best men here. He never H 2 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 100 spared himself for a minute, and was always doing all he could for the comfort of his time On men — spending in the trenches a lot of his among the men. returning from one of these visits he was shot. I have not given you the names of the ofhcers who fell on the 23rd, as they have already appeared in the Gazette. Colonel Bent was hit in the front line Major Thomson, who the trench when wounded of trenches, also fell across ; he would not allow himself to be moved, but lay there directing operations until late in the evening, when he was again hit, this time the wound being fatal. Captain O'Brien was hit first badly, but " Now is turned to his men saying, your own back, boys." He fell forward and died facing the enemy. Major Day was also killed leading his men and died fighting to your chance the end. to get APPENDIX ()th I had loi February^ IQ^S* to stop writing this letter on 27th January, owing to another attack on our hnes, followed by a counter attack, in which our troops the succeeded in dislodging the enemy, inand taking some flicting heavy loss ground. few days Our Brigade was We are now after. relieved a in a village The billeted, resting and reorganising. regiment was again addressed by the yesterday and thanked for their work, and before going the General Brigadier said from the look of the men would only a few it hardly be credited that hours ago they were in the trenches in very severe weather and trying conditions. It is wonderful to see the great change a few days' rest works on our men, and they now look fit for anything. Major Rickard arrived yesterday, and STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 102 command of the Bat- from Major King of the has taken over taHon 4th Battalion. At we are having very fine weather, and we all hope it continues, as it will give the men in the trenches a chance to dry themselves and make their trenches more inhabitable. The present have been so heavy, add to this the sudden bursts of thaw and frost, the rains country is like a large jelly, and it is almost impossible to keep the trenches from falling in, especially under heavy shell fire, and one has to be constantly throwing back the falling earthy liquid with scoops and improvised ladles made of old tin biscuit boxes, etc. spite of all this hardship the in wonderful spirits, and laugh through it. ; yet in are men and joke APPENDIX AT FESTUBERT OFFICERS IN ACTION Lieut.-Colonel A. Major E. Major F. Major G. P. I. M. Bent, wounded. Thomson, Day, 103 killed. killed. J. Ryan. Captain A. Gorham. Captain G. A. Woods. Captain H. C. H. O'Brien, Captain W. Emerson. Captain R. E, wounds. Captain F. killed. M. Pakenham, died of W. Durand, killed. W. Grantham. Captain F. Captain O. Pemberton, killed. Lieutenant J. F. O'Brien, killed. Lieutenant H. H. Lake. Lieutenant W. E. Molesworth, wounded. Second Lieutenant C. H. Carrigan. Second Lieutenant R. A. Young, killed. Second Lieutenant T. Price. Second Lieutenant W.J. King, wounded. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 104 Officers not in the action but present with the BattaHon at the time : — Major A. E. King (Regimental Transport Officer). W. Lieutenant J. Hewett (Temporary Brigade Transport Officer). Lieutenant P. Devanney (Quartermaster). TOTAL CASUALTIES Officers Killed ... 8 Wounded N.C.O's. AND Killed . . Wounded and .21 Letter 3 Men Wounded Missing Missing ... : . . . ... 105 5 61 from Sergeant-Major Ring, 2nd TO Colonel A. M. Bent, C.M.G. R.M.F., The to Battalion had about eight miles march to the trenches, and the Brigadier rode with Major V. G. H. Rickard at the head, and was delighted APPENDIX 105 with the men and the high spirits they were in. At 5 a.m. the artillery started which the bombardment, lasted half an hour, to cut the wire in front of the Germans' forward The first line. to attack the infantry went the Welsh — Regiment and ours were the assaulting At 5.30 the assault took Battalions. When CO. gave the order for the attack, every officer and man mounted the parapet with a cheer. It place. was they the to see the way really magnificent attacked every man tried to beat ; the others to get there first, and were splendidly led by their officers. Rickard was the so delighted men went about their at Major the work way that he could not stay, as he had arranged, to He go forward with the second line. cleared the parapet, but did not go far, he was hit by through the Death was spinal column of the neck. as instantaneous. B a bullet Co., led magnificently STORY OF THE MUNSTERS io6 by Captain Dick, 5 and 6 Platoons, led by Second Lieutenants Price and Horscharged and succeeded in reaching the German trenches, under a hellish fall, from fire artillery he reached the parapet the enemy's trenches, turned and Captain Dick, of and machine-guns. waved as his cap, encouraging his men, and then went forward again, and just as he was about to enter the trench he was hit, and tumbled into the trench. Another brave ofhcer his fate is unknown at present. Second Lieutenants Horsfall and Price, with what was left — of the platoons, cleared the first line of trenches and went to attack the second They were line. and B all Co.'s, their not seen again. who were ofhcers A assaulting, lost and N.C.O.'s before covering half the ground. The sup- porting companies, C, D, came under a terrible and a fire, and lost all their officers good many N.C.O.'s, so eventually APPENDIX had of Out to retire. B Co. who of the 107 two platoons succeeded in doing their job, only three men came back. way the Battalion behaved under terrible fire directed against words artillery We were who were officers the them drew from the of admiration The observing. the only regiment in the Brigade who succeeded in doing the job we were put to do, but eventually as three left officers found ourselves we the same place started, in with only — Captain Filgate (Adjutant), Lieutenant Carrigan, and Second Lieutenant Harcourt (machine- gun officers). relieved Brigade. in About the first 12 noon line we were by the Major-General Haking, manding the ist Com- Division, expressed his appreciation of the splendid conduct of the Battalion in the following terms : " The G.O.C., Infantry Brigade.— ... I wish you also to convey to the CO., 2nd Battalion Royal Munster STORY OF THE MUNSTERS io8 my Fusiliers, set example appreciation of the fine to the Division by the successful assault of part of the leading a feat of arms which the Battalion line — must always be proud of, as this Battalion was the only one in the Brigade whose men succeeded in storming the enemy's breastworks." For great gallantry and think Captain Dick, Second Lieutenants Price and Horsfall, also the leading, I men N.C.O.'s and that followed them, deserve the greatest distinction going also, if any one earned a V.C., Sergeant ; Gannon (machine-gun Private Barry went out did. several wounded men Private Barry, and Sergeant Gannon times and brought wounded officer although wounded twice, in, also a brought in severely wounded ; Captain Hawkes, could not move. in three who was places Poor Barry lost and his he was hit again while bringing Captain Hawkes, and died from life, as in sergeant) APPENDIX wounds. in Except 109 few a exceptional gallantry, every a and hero, I this hope cases of man was time will meet with the recognition they deserve. The casualties are as follows total ranks) : — 46 Killed, missing, 128 ; total, ; (all wounded, 205 ; 379. Extract from Letter to Mrs. Victor Rickard FROM Sergeant Louis Moore, dated Midnight, 25TH May, 1915 Dear Madam, have just returned from the trenches, and Captain Filgate told me I you would Since this me to write you. terrible war commenced like we have had many losses, as you know, but I do not believe any one has been as severelv missed as he has. I believe Captain Filgate told you all about the funeral, and the spot where he was visited the little graveyard and saw everything was well. yesterday buried. I no STORY OF THE MUNSTERS Later intend to get a photo of it and will send it on to you. The cross is I marked in paint and inscribed R. VICTOR — P. I. G. H. RICKARD, Commanding 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, Killed in action^ ^/^\'^^^5' anything should happen to have marked the exact place on In case me, my I Did Captain map. how nice he looked not let war I much me tell you. peace. As tell death Through you ? If all the who looked so in life, he looked have seen no one at Filgate after I know, and am certain, that bonny. he met his death in friendship with the whole world. That he was happy at the moment I also know, for when he saw the way our brave men jumped from the breastworks and started the charge, he was overjoyed. It was I am enclosing two pictures. APPENDIX III when I took them. Howknow you will like them they quite late ever, I ; were the last he had taken. Perhaps you would like to know the names of the officers. Front row (sitting) to right left : — Lieutenant Horsfall (missing, believed killed). Lieutenant Keating (wounded), Captain Hewett (killed), Lieutenant Harcourt, Lieutenant Page (killed), Lieutenant Carrigan, Lieutenant Dennys Seated (killed). (killed). — Captain Grantham Captain Dick (missing, believed wounded), Major Gorham (wounded), Captain Filgatc, Captain Fitzpatrick (wounded). Captain Hawkes (wounded). Standing King (left (killed), to right) — Lieutenant Lieutenant Parker (killed), Lieutenant Conran, Lieutenant Wainwright (wounded). Lieutenant Rabone, Lieutenant Moore (wounded). Captain (wounded), Lieutenant Stokes, Lieutenant Pottinger (killed). Lieu- Daly STORY OF THE MUNSTERS 112 tenant Price (missing), Captain Jeffries, Lieutenant Steward (believed killed). Note. Regretted that the death of — the following ascertained : officers since been has — Captain Dick, Lieutenant Stewart, Lieutenant Horsfall. Extract from Letter from Sergeant Louis Moore, 2nd R.M.F. On his way up to our position on that Saturday evening, and just before reaching our trenches, we passed one of those little The Major shrines. halted Regiment, and the Father, still mounted, gave the whole Regiment a his general absolution. sang the Te Deum. After that they know you can The semi-light, I see the whole picture. the Major on his horse in front, and the whole Regiment uncovered. It was a I rememsight never to be forgotten. ber once seeing such a picture of the APPENDIX Irish 113 Guards praying before they went into action. Rue du Bois, gth May, 1915. Congratulations from the General Officers COMMMANDING 1ST CoRPS AND 1ST DiVlSION, TO THE 3RD Infantry Brigade The G.O.C., 3rd Infantry Brigade. am directed by the G.O.C. Army and the G.O.C. ist Corps, I ist to express to the Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men of the 3rd Infantry Brigade their deep appreciation of the efforts of all ranks to carry by assault the enemy's defences in front of the Rue Du Bois on the 9th May. On my own you will inform tell their behalf I Commanding Battalions be glad shall if Officers to that nothing could have exceeded the gallantry displayed by Officers and other ranks in the assault. 114 STORY OF THE MUNSTERS deeply regret the casualties which occurred, but they were not in vain. I The men who a fine fell afford the rest of us how such delivered. From example should be of an assault a military view the attack was of the value, because it drew away point of greatest hostile reinforcements to repel the successful urgently required French attacks the South. to These reinforcements comtowards our front formed an ing up excellent target for our heavy guns, who fired (Sd) on them with great effect. R. FIaking, Major-Gencral, Comdg. H.Q. May^ 19 15. 1st Division iith 1st Division. APPENDIX IIS Order of Thanks to all Ranks serving under HIM FROM THE BrIGADIER-GeNERAL COMMANDING 3RD Infantry Brigade BRIGADE ROUTINE ORDERS, BY BRI. -GENERAL H. R. DAVIES, Commanding 3rd Infantry Brigade, nth Ma)\ 1915. Brigadier-General Davies wishes to thank all Battalions of the Brigade for splendid manner attacked on the 9th the which they May. Though in the attack did not succeed, it has been recognised by all the higher Com- manders that the Brigade did all that could have been done. The loss of so many gallant officers to the and men testifies It courage of the troops. a of which all can be day proud, the Brigadier fine spirit is will was and confident that the same be displayed in the future. (Sd) C. Berkeley, Captain, Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade. STORY OF THE MUNSTERS ii6 Appreciation of the Gallantry of Munster 2ND Battalion Royal from their Divisional ComFusiliers, Special THE mander The G.O.C., 3rd Infantry Brigade. wish you also to convey to the O.C. 2nd Battalion Royal Munster I Fusiliers, example my set appreciation of the fine to the Division by the successful assault of part of his leading a feat of arms which the Battalion line ; must always be proud of, as this Battalion was the only one in the Brigade whose men succeeded in storming the enemy's breastworks. (Sd) R. Making, Major-General, Comdg. 1st Division. Printbd in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, brunswick st., stamford st., s.e. i, and bungay, suffolk. THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. Series 9482 3 1205 00550 5779 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL UBRARYJ^ACI^ AA 000 297 356 8