2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles

[bogarcher]

I'm trying to find out where the 2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles were in October 1914.

Also if they took part in any attacks during that month.

Hoping someone can help.

Cheers

Mick

[sotonmate]

Mick

They were with 7 Brigade of 3 Division,which was involved in the Battle of La Bassee from 10 Oct to 2 Nov 1914.

Sotonmate

[museumtom]

From the Irish Newspapers of the time;

Neuve Chapelle, which has been re-taken by the British after remaining in the enemy’s hands for over four months is a village consisting of a scattered group of workmen’s houses lying around the road between La Bassee and Estaires and about twelve miles S. W. of Lille. This was the scene of the heroic defence of the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles on the 25th and 26th October, when confronted by the flower of the German army they gallantly held their trenches against overwhelming odds. Their colonel and most of the senior officers had already been put by the action during the retreat from Omns and the battle of the Aisne, and the command devolved upon Major Daunt, who was also disabled at Neuve Chapelle.

During those three days the strength of the battalion was reduced from 700 to 400 men, an abnormal percentage being officers. The German attacks developed strength on the 27th. On the latter day the Germans gained the north part of the village, but towards evening the British had practically regained this, when fresh hostile reinforcements were brought up and the village was captured by the enemy.

Speaking of the fight on the 27th of October, the ‘”Times” of the 6th of November states;- The effects of our rifle and gun fire were stupendous, and the Germans had to throw the corpses of their own men out of their trenches as they came on, in order to obtain cover. Four successive attacks were made, each by a different regiment, and in this way the whole of one division was engaged piecemeal in about the same locality.

The only important was used as a field hospital. It was just behind the trenches of the Rifles, and as it was shelled by both friend and foe, the wounded had to be hurriedly removed.

[lostinspace]

Hi Mick,

According to Ray Westlake's "British Battalions in France and Belgium, 1914" the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles took part in several attacks: on the 15th at Rouge Croix and on the 17th at Herlies, but the majority of casualties seem to have been taken while holding positions around Neuve Chapelle from the 23rd through 27th, as a matter of fact, they were virtually wiped out. The Germans took the trenches held by B & D Companies and "no further trace of these companies could be obtained.", A & C Companies counterattacked but the next morning (27th)were driven back into Neuve Chapelle "only 2 officers and 48 other ranks succeeded in getting back.", the 2nd Bn. was then relieved and moved to Richebourg St. Vaast with a total strength of less than 200.

Regards, lostinspace

[connaughtranger]

Hi

There is a history of the 2nd RIR by James W Taylor (The 2nd RIR in The Great War) which can be had for a few pounds, usually on abebooks.com

If you need further info re October PM me

Regards

Martin

[swizz]

The Taylor book is good, and the period is also covered in Lucy's 'There's a Devil in the Drum' - wirtten by a former 'other rank' serving with the battalion at that time.

Swizz

[bogarcher]

Brilliant.

Thank you everyone who responded to my appeal for help.

The information you have provided is just what I needed.

Martin, if I need enything else I'll be in touch.

Cheers

Mick

[Desmond7]

From September to end October - source Falls.

Comfortable billets were a delight after the shelling and the sodden banks of the Aisne. The Battalion had them for three days, doing some digging on rear lines the while, but that hurt no one. Then it took its turn farther forward, moving up to Chassémy in support, and on the 27th was dragged from its slumbers by a false alarm that the enemy was crossing the bridge at Condé, the one point for many miles either way where his defence touched the bank of the Aisne. On the last day of the month it withdrew, not this time to its former billets at Augy, but to the neighbouring village of Couvrelles. On October 1st it marched south by night to Grand Rozoy, through which it had advanced to the Aisne three weeks earlier.

The reasons which induced Sir John French to apply to General Joffre to relieve him on the Aisne are well known, and need only be briefly recapitulated. The battle upon this front had ended in stalemate. On the other hand, it was in full swing up to the north, and he was anxious about the Channel ports, and that his forces should take part in their defence if they were threatened. Moreover, there were now three French armies on his left, across the lines of communication of which his own passed through Paris. The Battalion saw nothing of the relief, which was a good piece of staff-work on both sides, and was kept hidden from the enemy. For the first day or two it knew only that it was marching away from the scene of action.

On the night of the 2nd the 7th Brigade marched via Billy-sur-Ourcq and Chouy to Noroy, getting into billets at 1.30 a.m., five hours after the start, which was good marching seeing that the distance was fifteen miles. There, as usual, it spent the day in billets, moving at night through the Forêt Dominial de Retz and the hamlet of * Coyolles, old acquaintance of the retreat, on the skirts of Villers-Cotterets, to Vaunoise. Thence forward, on the 4th, to Verberies, and next night over the Oise by the bridge of boats at Port Salut to the station of Longueil Ste. Marie, where the Battalion entrained at 2 a.m. on the 6th. After halts at Amiens and Pont Remy, where the officers bought such luxuries as butter, the train reached Noyelles at 4.30 p.m., and there the Battalion passed the night in comfort.

III. - THE BATTLE OF LA BASSÉE.

At once the Division was moved up to meet the enemy, the Battalion having two marches, which brought it to Hesdin, and then being packed into motor-buses and taken to Floringhem, when it took up an outpost line. After billeting on the night of the 10th [October 1914] in Pernes, it marched next day to Hinges, and the day after to La Couture, where French cavalry was engaged with the enemy.

The Battle of La Bassée is an action which has been largely overlooked by the general public. It is overshadowed by the still more tremendous fighting which developed farther north. But it is a most critical moment in " the race to the sea."

Its results were disappointing, for with a shade of luck it would have succeeded at least in the consolidation of the Aubers Ridge, which would have had an important influence upon the future campaign on the new British front. The three British corps were being directed, the II on La Bassée, the III upon Armentières, the I upon Ypres. The II Corps was to drive the enemy, not yet assembled in any considerable strength, from La Bassée and press on to Lille. The 3rd Division had deployed along the Aire Canal, its right on Hinges, where it was in touch with the 5th Division. On its left was the French Cavalry Corps of General Conneau, which was also forming a screen in front, and had detachments, already hard pressed, in La Couture and Richebourg St. Vaast.

The orders issued by the Division at half-past two in the afternoon were for the 8th Brigade, on the left, to advance in the direction of Herlies, on the Aubers Ridge, and the 7th to move into La Couture. The movement was to be a right wheel of the left flank to turn the flank of the enemy engaged with the 5th Division. Hardly had the 2nd South Lancashire entered La Couture when the enemy in his turn attacked. Company by company, the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles was drawn in. The attack was beaten off, the Battalion having few casualties, among them Captain Master killed and Major Goodman, Captain Smyth, and 2nd-Lieutenant Fitzgerald (Leinster Regiment) wounded. The 8th Brigade had been held up, and was still at Vieille Chapelle.

At dawn on the 13th the wheel began in earnest, the Battalion advancing on the left of its brigade line. The enemy, consisting of dismounted cavalry and the Jäger battalions attached to German cavalry divisions - admirable troops - fought desperately, and every foot of the advance was contested. By half-past twelve the 3rd Worcestershire had Richebourg St. Vaast, from which the French posts had been driven, with the 2nd South Lancashire on its left. Then came the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, which had reached the cross-roads of Croix Barbée, but was held up by machine-gun fire from houses just beyond. From this position it was withdrawn for the artillery to shell the village, moving up again after the bombardment. Here Lieutenant A. N. Whitfeld was killed and Lieutenant Heron wounded.

On the 14th there was a pause in the advance, due to enemy counter-attacks and possibly to the death of the 3rd Division's able and popular commander, Major-General Hubert Hamilton, a grievous loss to the British Army. But at 2 p.m. on the 15th, after a bombardment lasting all the morning, the wheel continued. The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, in touch with the 8th Brigade on the left, poured through Croix Barbée and reached the main Estaires - La Bassée road at Rouge Croix. Not many casualties were suffered in this day's advance, at the end of which the troops dug hasty entrenchments and pushed forward a line of outposts. October 16th dawned in fog, which considerably hampered the advance. Pivoting on the 2nd South Lancashire, the Royal Irish Rifles swung its left well clear of the main road, and, feeling its way forward in the mist, halted at 11.30 a.m. on the Neuve Chapelle - Fauquissart road. Then, at 2 p.m., the Battalion went forward again. The Des Layes stream was crossed, and by night its line ran from the north-east corner of the Bois du Biez, in touch with the 2nd South Lancashire. This battalion was relieved by the 1st Wiltshire at dark.

The 17th was perhaps the most successful day of the battle, but it was also that which saw the arrival of heavy German reinforcements. The 9th Brigade, which had come up in place of the 8th, drove the enemy out of Aubers, while the French cavalry on its left took Fromelles. The Royal Irish Rifles took Haut Pommereau, on the slopes of the Aubers Ridge.

Then for a moment German resistance seemed to crack. Pressing forward in irresistible fashion, the 9th Brigade took Herlies, beyond the ridge's crest, with the bayonet. But before it had been taken, large bodies of the enemy had been seen moving down from Fournes to La Bassée. It was evident that hotter work was preparing.

In the early hours of the 18th the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd K.O.Y.L.I., [Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry] and moved to Pont Logy, where it had a few hours' rest, being brought back in the evening to east of the Bois du Biez. That day marked the first serious check to the turning movement, an attack upon the village of Illies [illies] by the K.O.Y.L.I. being beaten off. It was, in fact, the turning point of the battle, though Le Pilly was captured next morning, when further efforts of the 7th Brigade to force its way into lilies were unavailing. At night the Battalion again relieved the K.O.Y.L.I. on its outskirts. On the right was the 1st Wiltshire; on the left, the Lincolns, of the 8th Brigade.

The 20th saw the German reserves thrown in with a vengeance in counter-attacks all along the front. The 7th Brigade by afternoon had all its battalions in line, but it held its ground. At night the Battalion was ordered to fall back on Halpegarbe, leaving "C" Company to hold its old position till it was entrenched on the morning of the 21St. That day was desperate fighting, though little of its weight fell upon the Royal Irish Rifles. Under cover of the mist, the Germans penetrated the front of the South Lancashire, on the right of the Brigade line, which was restored by a counter-attack of the 3rd Worcestershire and Royal West Kent. Away to the left the Germans had retaken Le Pilly. The 7th Brigade was obliged to make another slight withdrawal at night.

On the 22nd the battalion of Chasseurs Alpins holding Fromelles was forced out of the village. It was evident that the enemy, at the beginning in an inferiority, was now in a considerable superiority. The commander of the II Corps therefore ordered a further withdrawal at midnight. The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles found itself told off to hold the village of Neuve Chapelle. Three companies dug trenches round the eastern skirts, while the fourth was held in reserve in the school. On the left the line of the 8th Brigade was echeloned back, which constituted a serious weakness. The Battalion's patrols were greeted with volleys of musketry from the 8th Brigade front whenever they ventured too near during the night.

The 24th passed quietly till about dusk, though the Battalion's position in Neuve Chapelle was particularly unpleasant, as the village was the principal target for heavy German artillery about La Bassée. Under this fire, which caused a good deal of loss, the men worked hard in improving the position. Two field guns had been dug into the first line trench, of which, however, one had its recoil spring broken and was put out of action. Then about 5 p.m., after a heavy bombardment, the Germans attacked Neuve Chapelle. It was a wild evening of volleys fired at the flashes of the enemy's fire or at dim figures distinguished in the darkness, with ever and anon a momentary break-through, men meeting with shouts and oaths on the wet, slippery ground, thrusting at one another with bayonets. For an hour the affair was doubtful.

Then gradually the enemy was shaken off, and by 6 p.m. the attack was definitely repulsed. It had been a fine exhibition of obstinate courage and endurance. Heavy losses had been inflicted on the enemy, to judge by the noise of the wounded in front of our lines, as the Diary grimly remarks. Those who have heard that sound remember it.

But, unfortunately, the enemy had captured some houses on the left flank, from which, working down before light, he took the left part of the Battalion's trench and its remaining field gun. The remains of "B" Company in reserve, three-fourths of which had gone forward to replace casualties, with a platoon of the Lincolns, made a most gallant counter-attack and retook the trench. And then came another taste of the maddening ill-luck that dogged the whole action. Our own artillery, ill informed as to the position, shelled our men out of this portion of the trench.

The Battalion still clung to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now in grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, "A" and "C," were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th.

This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. "B" and "D" Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30 p.m. a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line. South-east of the village their splendid colleagues of the Wiltshire had clung to their trenches even when the enemy was behind them.

On the morning of the 27th the enemy turned the left flank of the Battalion. After terrible fighting from house to house, in which little groups were caught by the oncoming enemy like rocks flooded by a rising tide, Captain Dixon withdrew his handful to the western outskirts in an effort to save his brigade's flank. The battle had become at this point what the soldier aptly calls a "dog fight," a wild fury of rush and counter-rush. By evening there was half a battalion of the 47th Sikhs, hastily moved up, Lincolns, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers, remnants of the South Lancashire, and French Cyclists sent by General Conneau, clinging to the western edge of Neuve Chapelle, now in flames.

And then at last, after ten days' fighting, the last remnants of the Battalion were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast. Captain Davis had been killed, Lieutenants Mulcahy-Morgan and Jonsson [sic] were wounded and missing. The body that retired to Richebourg consisted of two officers and forty-six men.

It saw nothing of the bitter fighting on the morrow, when fresh attacks by Indians, French, and odd units of the 3rd and 5th Divisions, with regiments of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, fought their way once more through Neuve Chapelle. On the 29th it was withdrawn to La Couture, and the 7th Brigade was finally relieved by the Lahore Division. On the 30th it withdrew to Doulieu, and on the last day of the month the whole of the 7th Brigade marched to Merris.

CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLE OF LA BASSÉE

The II Corps had - though, as has been said, the fact has not fully been realized - met very much the same experience as the I Corps at Ypres. The difference, which caused the fighting farther north to be even more terrible, was that there the Germans continued their effort longer and threw in greater forces. But, like Sir Douglas Haig, Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien had taken the offensive and then found himself turned to a desperate effort to hold off greatly superior forces seeking a break-through. Neuve Chapelle was eventually lost, and it wanted a very costly battle next year to retake it.

But by that time the crisis was past. The British line had held. The nation has recognized its debt to the men of Ypres. It is time it should understand that it owed the safety of the Channel ports no less to those who, in those horrible mauls amid the burning ruins of Neuve Chapelle, stood and died that the enemy might not pass.