WITH THE OUTBREAK OF WAR IN AUGUST 1914, IT WAS DECIDED PRINCIPALLY BY LORD KITCHENER, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. THAT THE BRITISH ARMY WOULD HAVE TO BE MASSIVELY EXPANDED. NOW BEGAN THE ENORMOUS TASK OF CREATING A 'NEW ARMY' WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY END UP WITH THIRTY DIVISIONS.

INITIALLY, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS WERE REOUIRED AND ON AUGUST 21st. 1914 AN ARMY ORDER, NUMBER 324, WAS ISSUED FOR THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST SIX OF THESE DIVISIONS. ONE OF THESE WAS TO BE THE IOth (IRISH) DIVISION, WHICH INCLUDED IN ITS 30th BRIGADE THE: 6th AND 7th (SERVICE) BATTALIONS OF THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS. ALSO IN THE 30th BRIGADE WERE THE 6th AND 7th (SERVICE) BATTALIONS OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS, ALL COMING UNDER THE COMMAND OF BRIG-GEN. L.L. NICOL.

BOTH OF THE R.M.F. BATTALIONS WERE FORMED AT TRALEE DEPOT IN AUGUST AND TRAINING BEGAN AT ONCE AT THE CURRAGH. THE OFFICERS WERE TO BE MADE UP OF BOTH RETIRED REGULAR OFFICERS AND YOUNG MEN WHO WOULD BE GIVEN TEMPORARY COMMISSIONS. AMONGST THESE WOULD BE TWO OF MY GRAND UNCILES; TEMP, LIEUTENANT JOSEPH BAGNALL. LEE AND HIS BROTHER TEMP. LIEUT. ALFRED TENNYSON LEE. BOTH OF THE 6th BATTALION R.M.F. AND COMMISSIONED THROUGH TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, O.C.D. IN SEPTEMBER, 1914. JOE, AGED 27, WAS THE ELDER BROTHER AND HAD BEEN A SUCCESSFUL BARRISTER-AT-LAW.AND HAD PUBLISHED TWO BOOKS ON THAT SUBJECT.

WHILST OFFICER STRENGTH WAS SOON REACHED IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN RECRUITS FOR THE OTHER RANKS AND WARNINGS WERE GIVEN THAT IF NOT ENOUGH IRISH RECRUITS HAD ENLISTED BY MID- SEPTEMBER 1914.THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE AUGMENTED BY SURPLUS ENGLISH TROOPS. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE WERE TO BE SONS AND GRANDSONS OF IRISH MEN WHO HAD SOUGHT WORK IN ENGLAND IN THE YEARS BEFORE. THERE IS NO DOUBT, HOWEVER. THAT MANY BATTALIONS OF THE IOTH DIVISION HAD AT LEAST SOME TRANSFERS FROM ENGLISH REGIMENTS.

DURING SEPTEMBER, TRAINING BEGAN IN EARNEST AT THE CURRAGH. AT FIRST, MOST OF THE MEN HAD NO UNIFORMS OR WEAPONS AND THROUGH OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER TRAINING CONSISTED OF ROUTE MARCHES, TRENCH DIGGING AND MUSKETRY TRAINING. JUNIOR OFFICERS WERE EDUCATED IN THE DISCIPLINE OF LEADERSHIP. THE G.O.C. OF THE 10th (IRISH) DIVISION WAS LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR BRYAN MAHON, A GALWAY MAN WHO HAD BEEN COLONEL OF THE 8th HUSSARS WHO RELIEVED THE SIEGE OF MAFEKING IN THE BOER WAR.

AT THE END OF APRIL 1915. THE 10th DIVISION WAS READY TO LEAVE FOR BASINGSTOKE IN HAMPSHIRE FOR FURTHER TRAINING, BUT NOT BEFORE A DIVISIONAL COMBINED OPERATION ON THE CURRAGH PLAIN WAS HELD. EIGHT INFANTRY BATTALIONS, THREE ARTILLERY BRIGADES AND THE ROYAL ENGINEERS. SIGNALS AND CYCLISTS TOOK PART IN THIS GAME, IT WOULD NOT BE A GAME MUCH LONGER.IN MAY THE WHOLE DIVISION WAS CONCENTRATED AT BASINGSTOKE AND TRAINING INTENSIFIED. ON MAY 28th THE KING AND QUEEN INSPECTED THE DIVISION AND ON JUNE 1st LORD KITCHENER REVIEWED THE TROOPS. IT WAS OBVIOUS AT THIS POINT THAT THE DIVISION WOULD SOON BE ON ITS WAY, BUT TO WHERE? ON JUNE 27th, 1915, THEIR DESTINATION WAS REVEALED-GALLIPOLI.

THE DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, LARGELY CONCEIVED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL.TO DIVERT GERMAN RESOURCES FROM THE WESTERN FRONT WHICH WAS IN A STALEMATE POSITION AND TO HELP THE RUSSIANS, WAS AT THIS STAGE ALREADY A TERRIBLE FAILURE. THE ORIGINAL LANDINGS IN APRIL HAD COST MUCH IN HUMAN TERMS AND HAD ACHIEVED LITTLE. THE TURKS, WITH ALL THE ZEAL OF A PEOPLE DEFENDING THEIR HOMELAND HAD HALTED THE ALLIED ADVANCE VIRTUALLY ON THE BEACHES. THE 29th DIVISION. WHICH INCLUDED THE 1st INNISKILLING FUSILIERS, THE 1st ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS AND THE 1st ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS HAD ALL BUT BEEN WIPED CUT. AT "V" BEACH A COLLIER, THE RIVER CLYDE WAS BEACHED AND FROM ITS SIDES 0UT BURST THE DUBLIN AND MUNSTER FUSILIERS. THEY WERE CUT DOWN. THE SEA RUNNING RED WITH IRISH BLOOD. EVEN TO-DAY. EIGHTY YEARS LATER, TO VISIT "V" BEACH AND ITS ADJOINING CEMETERY IS A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR AN IRISH PERSON.

THE TWO R.M.F. BATTALIONS LEFT FOR LIVERPOOL ON JULY 9th 1915. WHERE THEY EMBARKED ON THE LINER MAURETANIA AS PART OF THE 10,000 TROOPS OF THEIR DIVISION FOR THE DARDANELLES. ON JULY THE SHIP REACHED HER DESTINATION, THE ISLAND OF MUDROS. IT NOW TRANSPIRED THAT NEW LANDINGS ON THE GALLIPOLI PENINSULA WOULD BE EFFECTED BUT THIS TIME FURTHER UP THE COAST, TO THE NORTH/WEST OF ANZAC AT A PLACE CALLED SUVLA BAY AND ON THE NIGHT OF 6th AND 7th AUGUST, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ATTACKS FROM ANZAC AND HELLES, THE 10th IRISH DIVISION WENT INTO ACTION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. CONTROVERSIALLY, THE DIVISIONS 29th BRIGADE HAD BEEN DIVERTED TO THE ANZAC SECTOR, WHERE THEY WERE TAKEN UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE 11th DIVISION. OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY QUESTIONS ASKED AS TO WHY THE DIVISION WAS BROKEN UP BEFORE THE LANDINGS, SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WHEN THE NOW FURIOUS G.O.C. LIEUT. GENERAL MAHON ARRIVED, HE FOUND HIMSELF ENTERING INTO ACTION WITH ONLY FOUR BATTALIONS UNDER HIS COMMAND, TWO OF THESE BEING THE 6th AND 7th MUNSTERS. AT 11am ON AUGUST 7th THE 6th RMF LANDED TO THE EAST OF GHAZI BABA PEAK FROM THE LIGHTER 'HAZEL' AND WAS THE FIRST ASHORE. THEY, IMMEDIATELY CAME UNDER SHELL FIRE AND THEY ALSO FOUND THE BEACHES SOWN WITH MINES. THE ORDER FOR THE 6th AND 7th MUNSTERS WAS TO CLIMB KIRETCH TEPE SIRT RIDGE AT ITS WESTERN END, TO PUSH FORWARD ALONG THE CREST AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND TO MEET UP WITH THE 11th MANCHESTERS. THE 6th RMF ADVANCED AS BEST THEY COULD OVER VERY DIFFICULT TERRAIN WHICH INCLUDED GULLIES COVERED WITH DENSE OAK AND HOLLY SCRUB, BUT BY NIGHTFALL THEY HAD MANAGED TO ADVANCE TO WITHIN ONE HUNDRED YARDS OF A TURKISH POSITION. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A HUMAN COST TO THIS ADVANCE AND 13 MEN AND ONE OFFICER WERE KILLED. THAT OFFICER WAS TEMPORARY LIEUTENANT JOSEPH BAGNALL LEE, THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE RMF TO BE KILLED IN ACTION. BUT HE WOULD NOT OF THE LAST.

THE 6th RMF WAR DIARY FOR THIS PERIOD IS NOT VERY DETAILED, BUT THE LAST ENTRY FOR AUGUST 7th STATES, "22.00 RETIREMENT COMPLETED, BATTALION ENTRENCHED S.SLOPES OF PT. 165. CASUALTIES LT. J.B. LEE KILLED. LT. G.W. HAYNES WOUNDED. (OTHER RANKS KILLED. 'WOUNDED. MISSING). THE DIARY STILL EXISTS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE IN KEW, LONDON, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW IT FELT TO BE THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY EVER TO SEE THIS DIARY ENTRY, 75 YEARS LATER. IN 1993 I FOUND MYSELF ON WEST BEACH STANDING PROBABLY SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO WHERE MY TWO GRANDUNCLES STOOD. LOOKING AT THE KIRETCH TEPE SIRT, MY THOUGHTS CONTINUALLY WANDERING BACK IN TIME TO THAT FATEFUL AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 7th 1915. TRYING TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THOSE TWO YOUNG MEN FROM DUBLIN, WHO. LIKE THEIR COMRADES, HAD NEVER BEFORE SEEN WAR OF ANY SORT, LET ALONE THE HELL THEY WERE NOW EXPERIENCING. THEN I TRIED TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ALFRED TENNYSON LEE WHEN HE HEARD THAT HIS BROTHER HAD BEEN KILLED. ALFRED TENNYSON LEE WAS WOUNDED ONLY TWO DAYS AFTER HIS BROTHERS DEATH.

THE ADVANCE WAS MADE ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY HAD NOT BEEN SENT WITH THE DIVISION, IT SEEMS IT WAS STILL IN EGYPT, AND ENGLAND, AND WHAT FEW GUNS WERE LANDED BROKE DOWN. BUT PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT MISTAKE AND THE MOST UNFORGIVABLE WAS THE COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF WATER FOR THE PARCHED TROOPS. THIS WAS DUE TO ABYSMAL ADMINISTRATION AT G.H.Q. AND TO THE FACT THAT OF THE FIVE LIGHTERS AVAILABLE, ONLY TWO ARRIVED ON THE 7th, WHICH IMMEDIATELY GROUNDED ON A SANDBANK ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE SHORE. No WATER WAS AVAILABLE TO THE MEN UNTIL NEXT MORNING AND EVEN THEN ONLY A TINY AMOUNT, BECAUSE OF THIS THE MEN SUFFERED TERRIBLY, UNFORTUNATELY, THE INITIAL GAINS OF THE 7th  WERE NOT BUILT UPON AND THERE WAS LITTLE FIGHTING ON THE 8th (SUN). THIS WAS DUE TO A LACK OF FIRM LEADERSHIP AT A HIGH LEVEL AND BECAUSE OF THIS THE TURKS WERE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE AND REINFORCE THEIR POSITIONS BEFORE THEY WERE ATTACKED AGAIN. THIS WAS A FATAL MISTAKE AND SPELT THE DOOM OF THE SUVLA CAMPAIGN.

ON THE 9th, THE BATTALIONS AGAIN ATTACKED ALONG THE KIRETCH TEPE SIRT, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS HEAVY OPPOSITION, HOWEVER. THE 6th RMF. WERE ABLE TO REACH A TURKISH POSITION ALONG THE RIDGE AND TAKE IT. THE COMMANDER OF THIS SUCCESS WAS MAJOR J.M. JEPHSON AND THE CAPTURED HILL WAS NAMED AFTER HIM� 'JEPHSON'S POST'. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW CASUALTIES HOWEVER INCLUDING CAPTAIN EDGAR P. CONWAY. A REGULAR OFFICER AND ALSO WOUNDED WAS MY OTHER GRANDUNCLE, ALFRED TENNYSON LEE. WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT ARM). SIR IAN HAMILTON, IN A REFERENCE TO THE FIGHTING OF THE 7th, SAID IN HIS DESPATCH OF 11/12/1915, "THE 6th RMF HAVE BEEN NAMED AS WINNING SPECIAL DISTINCTION HERE. THE WHOLE ADVANCE WAS WELL CARRIED OUT BY THE IRISHMEN OVER DIFFICULT GROUND AGAINST AN ENEMY -500-700 GENDARMERIE-FAVOURED BY BY THE LIE OF THE LAND". FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS NOT MUCH ACTION WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE 6th RMF EXCEPT ON AUGUST 12th WHEN COLONEL WORSHIP ORDERED A PARTY LED BY CAPT. R.W. OLDNALL TO ATTACK AND TAKE A TURKISH ADVANCE POST. THIS THEY ACHIEVED BUT THEY LOST LT. G.A. GAFFNEY AND NINE OTHER RANKS. ON AUGUST 14TH REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVED CONSISTING OF THREE OFFICERS AND 174 MEN AND THESE WERE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE 6th AND 7th RMF. SUNDAY 15th AUGUST, SAW THE 6th AND 7th BATTALIONS TAKE PART IN A GENERAL ADVANCE ALONG THE KIRETCH TEPE SIRT RIDGE. THERE WAS MUCH HARD FIGHTING AND LITTLE HEADWAY WAS MADE. THE 6th  RMF WAS IN THE INITIAL ATTACK, WHICH WAS HELD UP FOR TWO HOURS, BUT AT 6pm  WITH THE HELP OF THE 6th RDF., 250 YARDS WAS GAINED. THE 7th RMF. WAS RELIEVED FROM THE LINE BUT THE 6th RMF HAD TO REMAIN AT JEPHSONS POST OVERNIGHT AND ON MONDAY, 16th, THE BATTALION WAS ORDERED TO TAKE UP POSITION FROM JEPHSON TO THE SEA. LATER THEY WERE RELIEVED BY THE 6th INNISKILLINGS EXCEPT AT JEPHSONS POST. THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES REQUESTED THE ASSISTANCE OF OFFICERS THAT MORNING AND CAPT. J.B.T. GRANT AND LT. COMERFORD WERE SENT FROM THE 6TH RMF. LT. COMERFORD RETURNED WOUNDED BUT CAPTAIN GRANT WAS NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN
 
THE BATTALION MADE NO ADVANCE THE NEXT DAY, BEING HEAVILY BOMBED AND AT 7pm THEY WERE RELIEVED IN THE LINE. THEY THEN PROCEEDED BACK TO 'A' BEACH, WHERE THEY RESTED. ON THE 20th THE BATTALION MARCHED To LALA BABA WHERE THEY THEN BIVOUACED. AT THIS STAGE THE 6th RMF NUMBERED 9 OFFICERS AND 510 OTHER. RANKS. ON AUGUST 21st THE BATTPLION OCCUPIED THE: TURKISH TRENCHES WHICH HAD BEEN CAPTURED EARLIER IN THE OPERATION, LT. COL. V.T. WORSIP DSO BEING WOUNDED IN THE FOOT. NINETEEN OTHERS WERE ALSO WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL. THERE. THE BATTALION REMAINED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 5th, WHEN THEY WERE RELIEVED. FROM THEN ON THE 6th BTN, RMF HAD A RELATIVE MINOR ROLE AND NO GREAT ACTION WAS SEEN AGAIN. THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE 10th DIVISION WAS AT HAND AND ON OCTOBER Ist THE 6th AND 7th BTNS. RMF AND THE 6th BATTALION RDF SAILED TO THE ISLAND OF MUDROS.

THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT NOW, WITH HINDSIGHT, THAT IF THE 10th DIVISION HAD CAPTURED AND HELD  THE KIRETCH TEPE. SIRT ON THE 15th AND 16th OF AUGUST THAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD A FINAL DECISIVE VICTORY BUT ALAS THIS WAS NOT TO BE. ALSO, IN ONE WEEK,FROM THE LANDING ON THE 7th AUGUST, THE 6th  RMF LOST HALF OF THEIR STRENGTH. THEY WOULD NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THESE LOSSES AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE WAR.

I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO POINT OUT, IF INDEED IT 1S NEEDED, THAT THESE BRAVE MEN WERE ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM NON-MILITARY BACKGROUNDS AND WERE ALL VOLUNTEERS, THE FINEST OF MEN. THEY HAD MINIMAL TRAINING AND WERE SENT TO A FAR AWAY PLACE WHERE, UNDER INTENSE HEAT AND LACK OF WATER THEY WERE EXP0SED IMMIDIATELY TO ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC BATTLES OF THE GREAT WAR. THOSE MEN OF THE 10th DIVISION, AND THEIR SACRIFICE, HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY IGNORED FOR TOO LONG, THEY DID WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE THE RIGHT THING. THEY WERE SUPREMELY BRAVE, THE FINEST OF THEIR DAY, OR ANY DAY. THEY WERE A LOST GENERATION, BUT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
 
 SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

THE 10th IRISH DIVISION IN GALLIPOLI BY BRYAN COOPER (HERBERT JENKINS 1918)

HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS, VOL. 2 BY S. Mc CANCE (GALE & POLDEN 1928)

6th  R.M.F. WAR DIARY FOR PERIOD 6/8/ '15 TO 13/9/ '15 (PRO LONDON REF. WO. 95. /3496)

I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE, T0 THANK MARTIN STAUNTON FOR ALLOWING ME TO QUOTE FROM HIS UNPUBLISHED THESIS, THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS 1914-18.

BY MICHAEL LEE

JOURNAL NO 7 AUTUMN 1995

THE WAR SERVICE Of JAMES MEEHAN. 7460. Sgt R.M.F.

BY MARTIN STAUNTON.

JAMES MEEHAN WAS BORN ON THE 16th OCTOBER 1884 AND ENLISTED IN HIS HOME TOWN OF LIMERICK ON THE 16th MARCH 1903 AND EVENTUALLY SERVED WITH THE Ist MUNSTERS IN INDIA BEFORE LEAVING THE THE ARMY IN 1911. HE THEN EMGRATED TO CANADA AND ENDED UP WORKING AS A JOURNALIST IN THE CAUSE OF SOCIAL REFORM ALONG ITS WESTERN COAST AND THAT OF THE UNITED STATES. A ROLE IN WHICH "HIS BRILLIANT AND DESCRIPTIVE ARTICLES .... EARNED FOR HIM A WELL DESERVED REPUTATION IN HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY". MEEHAN CONTINUED HIS JOURNALISTIC ROLE WITH A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON HIS EXPERIENCES AT THE FRONT UNDER THE PEN-NAME OF PATSY WHICH APPEARED IN THE "CORK EXAMINER" DURING JANUARY TO JULY 1916.

AS A SOLDIER.HE WAS A LUCKY SURVIVOR OF THE BATTLE IN WHICH THE MUNSTERS SUFFERED THEIR HIGHEST NUMBER OF FATALITIES IN ANY ONE DAY OF THE WAR WHEN 11 OFFICER AND 140 MEN WERE KILLED IN ACTION ON THE 9th MAY 1915 AT AUBERS RIDGE. AT THE BATTLE OF LOOS LATER THAT YEAR, MEEHAN RECEIVED A GUNSHOT WOUND IN HIS LEFT LEG WHICH HE NARROWLY MANAGED TO AVOID HAVING AMPUTATED.

UPON RECOVERY HE WAS SENT HOME TO THE 3rd MUNSTERS, WHO WERE STATIONED AT AGHADA CO CORK FROM MAY 1915 To AUGUST 1917. AND FOR THE "CORK EXAMINER" WHICH PUBLISHED A CAPTIONED PHOTOGRAPH OF HIM ON THE Ist JANUARY 1916.FULLY RECOVERED, MEEHAN EMBARKED FOR FRANCE ON THE I5th JUNE 1917 AND JOINED THE 1st MUNSTERS ON THE LAST DAY OF THAT MONTH IN FLANDERS. SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING THE LINE HE WAS TREATED FOR TRENCH FOOT AT THE 113 FIELD AMBULANCE AT YPRES ON 4th AUGUST, REJOINING HIS UNIT EIGHT DAYS LATER. FOLLOWING HIS BRAVERY IN LEADING A RAIDING PARTY THAT YEAR, MEEHAN WAS COMMISSIONED INTO THE 6th BATTALION ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT ON THE 18th OCTOBER 1917 AND JOINED THAT UNIT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THIS BATTALION WAS DISBANDED IN FEBRUARY 1918 AND ITS PERSONNEL ALLOCATED TO OTHER UN ITS.

THIS PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED ACCOUNT LIES WITH THE RECORDS OF HIS REGIMENT'S OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION IN THE NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM LONDON, AS A RESERVIST, MEEHAN HAD RETURNED FROM CANADA IN NOVEMBER 1914. WAS SENT TO FRANCE IN FEBRUARY 1915 AND JOINED THE 2nd MUNSTERS ON THE 6th MARCH, AT WHICH TIME HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HIS WAR SERVICE STARTS. "I ARRIVED IN FRANCE EARLY IN THE YEAR 1915, ABOUT FEBRUARY, I THINK, AT LE HARVE, AND WENT TO A CAMP SOME DISTANCE FROM THE TOWN. IT WAS INTENSELY COLD AND THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. AFTER SOME DAYS WE WERE DRAFTED UP TO OUR UNIT, THE 2nd BATTALION ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS. 3rd BRIGADE, Ist DIVISION. THE BATTALION WAS HOLDING THE LINE AT FESTUBERT ON THE BETHUNE-LA BASSE CANAL. WE WERE WEAK IN MAN POWER. THE BATTALION WAS FAR BELOW FULL STRENGTH. LATER WE WERE RELIEVED BY, I THINK, THE CANADIANS, BUT I AM NOT SURE AS TO THIS. HOWEVER, WE MOVED BACK FOR A REST TO BILLETS NEAR BETHUNE, LA TOMI WILLOT, IF MEMORY SERVES. FROM THERE WE WENT UP TO THE FRONT LINE AND TOOK OVER A SECTOR NEAR NEUVE CHAPELLE. DUTY CONTINUED FOR A MONTH OR MORE AND THE GROUND DRIED. THE TRENCHES WERE NOT TOO BAD AND LIFE TO SOME EXTENT BEARABLE EXCEPT FOR VERMIN (BODY). WE WERE DOING AS WELL AS COULD BE EXPECTED.

IT WAS SOME TIME IN APRIL 1915 WHEN I WAS ONE OF THOSE SELECTED BY THE COMPANY COMMANDER TO SECURE A GERMAN PRISONER ALIVE. IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED.  BUT IT WAS RECOGNISED BY THE ENEMY THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL WAS AMISS IN THEIR FRONT LINE AND THEY OPENED UP MACHINE GUN FIRE ON OUR LITTLE PARTY OF THREE MEN AND ONE OFFICER, AND DESPITE HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO US TO STICK CLOSE BY HIM AND NOT TO ENGAGE COMBAT, I BECAME SEPARATED FROM THEM.

I WAS LOST BETWEEN THE LINES AND LOST ALL SENSE OF DIRECTION AS TO THE ENEMY LINES AND OUR OWN. ANYWAY WHICH I MIGHT TRAVEL BETWEEN THE LINES IN ORDER TO REACH OUR OWN LINES MIGHT, AND AGAIN MIGHT NOT, BE THE PROPER WAY. THE NIGHT FOGS AND MORNING MISTS OBSCURED ALL SENSE OF DIRECTION I LAY DOWN IN IN A SHELL HOLE AND SLEPT FROM SHEER EXHAUSTION. I HAD NO RATIONS OR WATER WITH ME. FOR TWO DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS I LAY STUPIFIED BETWEEN THE LINES NOT KNOWING WHERE LAY OUR LINES OR WHERE LAY THE ENEMY LINES. ALL SENSE OF DIRECTION HAD VANISHED. FEAR GRIPPED ME AND THIRST TORTURED ME. I LICKED EVERYTHING THAT WAS DAMP. MY TONGUE SWELLED IN MY MOUTH AND EVENTUALLY I COULD NOT CLOSE MY EYES. I FOUND A SHELL HOLE AND URINATED IN IT, ALSO I SCRAPED SOME OF MY EMERGENCY RATION (SWEET COCOA. I THINK) INTO IT AND DISSOLVED IT IN THE URINE. THIS I DRANK TO ALLAY MY THIRST. IN A DIM WAY I REMEMBER MY RAVING.

I WAS RESCUED BY A SEARCH PARTY ON THE THIRD NIGHT AND BROUGHT BACK TO MY UNIT. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS GIVEN ME AND I WAS FIT FOR DUTY IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS. DUTY CONTINUED. AT THE ACTION IN FRONT OF THE RUE DE BOIS ON THE 9th MAY 1915, I WAS AMONG THOSE WHO SUCCEEDED IN REACHING THE GERMAN LINES WHERE WE WERE ENGAGED FOR ABOUT ONE AND A HALF HOURS. THE ATTACK WAS A FAILURE. ALL ATTACKING UNITS WERE FORCED TO RETIRE. SUPPORTING UNITS WERE UNABLE TO COME TO OUR ASSISTANCE. THE SITUATION WAS HOPELESS. ALL OUR OFFICERS WERE GONE AND I ALONE IN THE GERMAN TRENCHES FOUND MYSELF IN COMMAND. I WAS THEN A LANCE/CORPORAL. OF THE EIGHT MEN WITH ME BUT THREE RETURNED. I GOT OFF THE FIELD THAT NIGHT BETWEEN 8 AND 9 O.CLOCK. MY UNIT HAD BEEN RELIEVED AND I WAS ORDERED TO REJOIN THEM AT OUR OLD BILLETS NEAR BETHUNE. THIS I DID  AND REPORTED FOR DUTY THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE BATTALION THEN NUMBERED ABOUT 200 MEN.

THE FOLLOWING DAY WE MOVED TO ANOTHER SECTOR EAST OF BETHUNE AND MORE IN FRONT OF LA E3ASSE WHICH WE COULD SEE QUITE WELL. IT WAS THEN IN ENEMY OCCUPATION. OUR POSITION WAS AT THE BRICK FIELDS NEAR GUINCHY AND CAMRAI. DUTY CONTINUED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER WHEN IN THE FIGHT FOR LOOS AND HULLUCH I WAS BADLY WOUNDED IN THE LEG. I SHOULD MENTION HERE THAT 1 WAS NOW PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT BY THE CORPS COMMANDER.GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG FOR WORK DONE ON MAY 9th. J GAVE MY STORY TO CAPTAIN GORT V.C. OF THAT DAYS PROCEEDINGS AND GENERAL HAIG SEEMED TO BE IMPRESSED. I REACHED A DRESSING STATION AT VERMELLES PHILOSOPHE AFTER BEING WOUNDED ABOUT 7.30 THAT MORNING AND RECEIVED NO MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN WE WERE TAKEN TO FIELD HOSPITALS SOME CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE BEHIND THE FRONT LINE. GANGERINE WAS SETTING IN. THREE DAYS LATER I WAS AT ROBEY STREET HOSPITAL. MANCHESTER, WHERE IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT MY FOOT SHOULD BE AMPUTATED. THIS I RESENTED AND DEMANDED THAT THEY SAVE MY FOOT FOR ME AS IT WAS MY INTTENTION TO RETURN TO CANADA (WHERE I HAD BEEN ON RESERVE PREVIOUS TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR) AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. I ALSO INTIMATED THAT I WANTED TO GO BACK TO FRANCE AGAIN. A CANADIAN MEDICAL OFFICER ATTACHED TO THE HOSPITAL TOOK A DEEP INTEREST IN ME AND SAVED MY FOOT.

LATER I REJOINED MY RESERVE UNIT, 3rd ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS AT AGHADA, CO. CORK. IRELAND. THIS WOULD BE SOME TIME IN THE YEAR 1916. CONVALESCENCE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION SUCCEEDED IN MAKING ME WELL ONCE AGAIN AND AND THE FOLLOWING SUMMER I WAS BACK IN FRANCE FOR THE SECOND TIME WITH THE 1Sst BATTALION OF MY REGIMENT. DUTY CONTINUED AND ON THE 31st JULY 1917 WE TOOK OUR PLACE (16th IRISH DIVISION- 47 BRIGADE) UP AT YPRES AND WERE ENGAGED IN THE THIRD BATTLE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS. I HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE TRENCHES AND BACK TO A FIELD HOSPITAL AT VLAMERTINGHE WHERE I RESTED FOR ABOUT, TWO WEEKS. THE BOOTS HAD TO BE CUT OFF ME, MY FEET WERE BLACK. I HAD NO FEELING IN THEM AND COULD NOT WALK. TREATMENT SOON PUT ME TO RIGHT AND I REJOINED MY UNIT. WE WERE RELIEVED, AND THE DIVISION (16th) UNDER GENERAL HICKIE WAS SENT TO THE SOMME WHERE DUTY CONTINUED IN FRONT OF BOURLON WOOD, CLOSE TO ALBERT, ON THE ALBERT-BAPAUME ROAD.

AND NOW I AM OBLIGED IN THESE NOTES TO WRITE SOMETHING WHICH I IMAGINE SHOULD BE BETTER LEFT UNSAID. IT IS THIS, FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHATEVER I FOUND MYSELF ON THE SPOT WHERE I SHOULD N0T HAVE BEEN. A RAID WAS TO TAKE PLACE FROM THE POSITION WHICH MY PLATOON HELD. I  WAS ORDERED TO TAKE IT BACK, MY PLATOON, TO THE RESERVE TRENCH. I SHOULD MENTION THAT WE WERE SCARCE OF OFFICERS AT THE TIME AND I WAS IN COMPLETE COMMAND. AS I SAY,I TOOK MY PLATOON BACK TO THE RESERVE TRENCH AND I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WHILE OUR RAID ON THE GERMAN TRENCHES WAS IN PROGRESS. I DID NOT. I WENT UP TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE FRONT LINE AND GOT THERE AS THE BARRAGE OPENED UP AND THE MEN ALMOST ON THE POINT OF GOING OVER THE TOP. THE TWO OFFICERS DETAILED FOR THE RAID BECAME CASUALTIES AS THEY WERE LEAVING THE PROTECTION OF THE TRENCHES AND THE MEN WERE UNAWARE OF THIS.  AWAY THEY WENT. WHAT COULD BE DONE?  A RAIDING PARTY WITHOUT ANY ONE IN COMMAND MIGHT SUFFER DISASTER AND ACHIEVE RESULTS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED. A TRAGEDY WAS ABOUT TO BE ENACTED BEFORE MY EYES AND SEEMINGLY NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT EXCEPT TO TAKE COMPLETE COMMAND MYSELF. THIS I DID. IT WAS A TWENTY MINUTE AFFAIR. SO MUCH AS I WAS AWARE OF BUT WE REMAINED IN THE GERMAN POSITION FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS, CAPTURED FOUR MEN AND A BOY AND INFLICTED AS MUCH DAMAGE AS WE COULD. THE RAID WAS A SUCCESS, ONE CASUALTY ON THE LIP OF THE GERMAN TRENCH AS WE WERE VACATING WHICH I MANAGED TO BRING BACK WITH ME. LATER GEN. HICKIE AND GEN. DAVIS AS WELL AS THE C-IN-C. GENERAL SIR DUOGLAS (HAIG) WERE VERY NICE ABOUT IT ALL. BUT THE RESULT WAS THAT I LEFT MY GRAND OLD REGIMENT THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS. I WAS GAZETTED INTO THE 18TH FOOT. THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT AND AWARDED A REGULAR COMMISSION BY HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V.

AT THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI I WAS AGAIN TAKEN OUT OF THE TRENCHES AND BACK AGAIN TO HOSPITAL. THIS TIME TO SOMERFIELD HOSPITAL AT OXFORD. STOMACH TROUBLE, GASTRITIS OF A SEVERE NATURE. I WAS TOLD TO AVOID ALL ALCOHOL IF I WANTED TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE, I DID SO AND ONCE AGAIN FOUND MYSELF IN FRANCE FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHERE I CONTINUED ON DUTY UNTIL FEBRUARY 28th 1919. WHEN ALL REGULAR OFFICERS WERE ORDERED BACK TO ENGLAND. I RETIRED FROM THE SERVICE IN DECEMBER 1919 ON RETIRED PAY.

(SIGNED J.S. MEEHAN, LIEUT. R.P. LATE THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT)

JAMES MEEHAN HAD MARRIED HIS WIFE. JOSEPHINE FRANCIS, IN JUNE 1918 AND IN 1920 HE RETURNED TO CANADA TO RESUME HIS JOURNALISTIC CAREER. THERE HE CONTINUED TO SUFFER STOMACH AND NERVE TROUBLE, AND THIS CONTINUED TO AFFECT HIM AFTER HIS RETURN TO IRELAND IN 1936. THE MEEHANS ONLY CHILD NOEL,  DIED AFTER BEING SHOT DOWN WHILE SERVING WITH THE: R.A.F. IN 1943, AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH FROM CEREBRAL THROMBOSIS ON THE 17TH JANUARY 1963. MEEHAN WAS RESIDENT IN WHITEGATE CO. CORK. HE IS BURIED LOCALLY THE UPPER AGHADA CEMETERY WHERE LIES ALSO THE GRAVE OF SGT. WILLIAM COSGROVE V.C, THE FIRST SOLDIER TO WIN THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR THE MUNSTER FUSILIERS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

REFERENCES-THE NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM CHELSEA: LONDON. ENGLAND. WHO ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE O.C.A. RECORDS OF THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS

 LIMERICK SOLDIERS TRIBUTE TO BRAVE IRISH PRIEST.

RESEARCH, T.MOLONEY.

LETTER FROM THE FRONT (LIMERICK LEADER WEDNESDAY EVENING MAY 19TH 1915). THIS MORNING'S POST BROUGHT US THE FOLLOWING LETTER. WRITTEN IN HOSPITAL AND DATED MAY 15TH. FROM PRIVATE J DANAHER. A LIMERICK MAN IN THE 2ND R.M.FUSILIERS. NOW WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCES IN FRANCE:-

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIMERICK LEADER

DEAR SIR--WOULD YOU BE S0 KIND AS TO HAVE THIS LITTLE SLIP OF DIARY PUBLISHED IN A VACANT SPACE IN YOUR PAPER ON BEHALF OF THE MEN WHOSE NAMES ARE SIGNED BELOW. ON THE 8th MAY WE WERE FORMED UP IN A RING OUTSIDE OUR BILLETS, IN COMPANY WITH FATHER GLEESON, SINGING HYMNS. WHEN THE ORDER CAME TO MOVE TO THE FIRING LINE. ON SATURDAY NIGHT, 8th MAY, WE MARCHED OFF, HEADED BY FATHER GLEESON, WITH SOME NATIONAL FLAGS. WE GOT THERE ABOUT 12 O'CLOCK THAT NIGHT JUST IN TIME FOR THE BIG BOMBARDMENT. IN WHICH WE LOST HEAVILY. ON SUNDAY 9th OF MAY, IT WAS TERRIBLE. HOUSES, CHAPELS, TREES,AND BODIES FLYING IN THE AIR. STILL FATHER GLEESON STUCK TO HIS POST, ATTENDING TO THE WOUNDED AND DYING MUNSTERS, AND SHELLS DROPPING ALL AROUND HIM. INDEED, IF ANY ONE HAS EARNED THE V.C. FATHER GLEESON HAS. HE IS A CREDIT TO THE COUNTRY HE HAILS FROM. OH, THE PLUCKY WORK THIS IRISH PRIEST HAS DONE OUT HERE FOR THE REGIMENT. ONE COULD NEVER STOP PRAISING HIM; HE HAS BROUGHT LUCK TO THE MUNSTERS SINCE HE JOINED THEM. THE MEN WHO ARE WITH HIM, AND ESPECIALLY THE LIMERICK MEN, SPEAK VERY HIGHLY OF HIM. HE SENT BACK TO IRELAND FOR HYMN BOOKS TO HAVE US SINGING EVERY EVENING IN THE OPEN. ON THE FIRST OF MAY HE ERECTED A LITTLE CHAPEL IN THE OPEN, FOR WHICH HE GOT ONE OF THE BOYS TO MAKE A LITTLE WOODEN CROSS, AND GOT THE WORDS 'ST MARYS' PRINtED ON IT, IT BEING THE MONTH OF MAY. THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY HE HAD HIS FIRST MASS IN IT, WITH ALL THE BATTALION PRESENT.

SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING LIMERICK MEN:- PRIVATES: J.DANAHER, B.SOUIRES, PTE.BOWMAN, T.LYNCH, J.WHELAN. (PAINTERS AND MAKERS OF ABOVE MENTIONED CROSS) [THIS YEAR MARKS THE EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RUE-DU-BOIS ATTACK. CARRIED OUT ON THE NINTH OF MAY 1915 BY THE 2ND MUNSTERS.(ED)

THE IRISH CONNECTION - GALLIPOLI.

BY M. O'RAHILLY.

DEDICATED TO THOSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN.

THE GALLIPOLi CAMPAIGN WAS FROM THE OUTSET ILL CONCEIVED AND PLANNED. IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION RATHER THAN A MILITARY ONE AND WHETHER WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT THIS MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE, IS OPEN TO QUESTION. ON PAPER THF LANDING PROBABLY MADE SENSE, IN REALITY. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE TROOPS AND A DISASTER BOTH POLITICALLY AND MILITARILY.THE CAMPAIGN WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE HOPE THAT RESOURCES WOULD BE MOVED FROM THE WESTERN FRONT TO COMBAT THE INVASION. WHAT REALLY BEAT THIS INVASION WAS THAT"ll SET OUT AS A SEABORNE ONE, LED BY OFFICERS WHO HAD LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THIS TYPE OF OPERATION, HENCE THE DISPROPORTIONATE LEVEL OF CASUALTIES SUFFERED. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS THERE WERE A NUMBER OF IRISH REGIMENTS INVOLVED,AND LIKE THEIR COUNTERPARTS ON THE WESTERN FRONT,GREATLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES. IN THIS PAPER I HOPE TO OUTLINE THE PART THESE TROOPS PLAYED IN THIS ILL-FATED CAMPAIGN.

THE LANDING

THE IRISH REGIMENTS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE LANDING OPERATIONS. THEY INVOLVED THE 1st MUNSTERS AND lst DUBLIN FUSILIERS IN THE 86th. BRIGADE AND THE 1st INNISKILLINGS IN THE 87th BRIGADE, ALL FORMING PART OF THE 29th DIVISION. THE HARDEST PART OF THE ATTACK WAS ON BEACHES "V" AND "W". BOTH OF THESE BEACHES WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IRISH UNITS. THE PLAN WAS SIMPLE IN APPROACH, THE TROOPS WERE TO BE TOWED TO THEIR DISEMBARKING AREAS IN SMALL BOATS. UNFORTUNATELY. THE TURKISH UNITS WERE WELL DUG IN AND WAITING. AS DISEMBARKATION TOOK PLACE, THE TURKISH GUNS OPENED FIRE AND FROM THAT MOMENT THE FATE OF MANY AN IRISH SOLDIER WAS SEALED. THERE WAS LITTLE COVER TO BE HAD ON THE BEACHES AND IN ADDITION TO THE ENEMY FIRE MANY SOLDIERS WERE DROWNED, CAUSED WHEN THE LIGHTERS MOVED,PITCHING THEM IN THE SEA WITH THEIR HEAVY PACKS. THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE CANNOT SE IMAGINED, THEY HELD THE: HIGH GROUND AND HAD SUPERIOR FIELDS OF FIRE. SOLDIERS'WERE CUT DOWN BEFORE THEY COULD LAND ON THE BEACH, 0R WHEN THEY WERE IN THE WATER THE ENEMY FIRE WAS RELENTLESS, ONLY OCCASIONALLY ABATING WHEN ALLIED NAVAL FIRE WAS EFFECTIVE. AS NIGHT FELL ON THE FIRST DAY, THE IRISH UNITS HAD SUFFERED HORRENDOUS CASUALTIES AND WERE BARELY HOLDING THE BEACHES. WITHOUT THE NAVAL FIRE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE FOR THE REMAINING TROOPS. TO BEST APPRECIATE THE SITUATION, IT 1S DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

�WHEN THE DAY DAWNED, THE SURVIVORS OF THE LANDING PARTY WERE CROUCHED UNDER THE SHELTER OF THE SANDBANK; MOST OF THEM HAD BEEN FIGHTING ALL NIGHT ; ALL HAD LANDED ON THE CORPSES OF FRIENDS . NO RETREAT WAS POSSIBLE.' NOR WAS IT DREAMED OF, BUT TO STAY THERE WAS HOPELESS': JOHN MASEFIELD.

THE CAMPAIGN

IN ADDITION TO THE REGIMENTS PREVIOUSLY LISTED WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE LANDINGS, OTHER IRISH REGIMENTS WERE MOVED TO THIS THEATRE OF WAR AND FORMED THE 10th DIVISION, COMMANDED BY SIR BRYAN MAHON. THE REGIMENTS ARE LISTED BELOW BY BRIGADE. IT 1S INTERESTING T0 NOTE THE MAKE-UP OF THESE BRIGADES, THE 31st WAS ENTIRELY DRAWN FROM ULSTER COUNTIES.

29th BRIGADE 30TH BRIGADE
5th ROYAL IRISH 6th & 7th ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS
6th ROYAL IRISH RIFLES 6th & 7th ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS
6th LEINSTER REGIMENT
5th CONNAUGHT RANGERS.

31st BRIGADE
5th & 6th ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS
5th & 6th ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS.

NOTE : THE 5th ROYAL IRISH (29th BDE ) WAS TRAINED TO ACT AS THE PIONEER BATTALION FOR THE DIVISION. THE 29th RECEIVED THE 10th HAMPSHIRES IN PLACE OF THE ROYAL !RISH.

AFTER BASIC TRAINING IN IRELAND AND ENGLAND THEY WERE INSPECTED BY THE KING IN HACKWOOD PARK ON THE 28th OF MAY AND FINALLY MOVED INTO ACTION IN JUNE. THE INITIAL PLo5N WAS TO SUPPORT THE 11th DIVISION BUT WAS CHANGED INSTEAD TO SUPPORING THE AUSTRALIANS AT ANZAC. THE LEINSTERS WERE ORDERED TO SUPPORT THE NEW ZEALANDERS AT RHODODENDRON SPUR. IN AUGUST THE IRISH RIFLES FORMED PART OF A THREE COLUMN ATTACK FORCE UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SALOWIN TO ASSAULT CHUNUK BAIR. THE RIFLES LOST THEIR WAY AND DURING THIS TIME WERE ATTACKED AND SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES, PARTICULARLY IN THE OFFICER RANKS. THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS WERE MOVED TO COVER THE RIFLES WITHDRAWAL AND RECOVERED ALL THE WOUNDED THEY COULD FIND ON THE SUMMIT. MEANWHILE, AT SUVLA BAY, THE 11th DIVISION LANDED ON THE 6th AND 7th OF AUGUST WITHOUT SERIOUS OPPOSITION. THIS DIVISION HAD SIX BATTALIONS OF IRISH SOLDIERS FROM THE 30th AND 31st BRIGADES. THEY LANDED AT NIBRUESI POINT WITH ORDERS TO ASSEMBLE UNDER LALA BABA AND ORDERS TO ATTACK, BUT LARGE NUMBERS OF THE TROOPS WERE LANDED ON THE WRONG BEACH THEREFORE DELAYING THESE ORDERS FOR SOME TIME. ONCE FULLY ASSEMBLED, THE UNITS MOVED TO THEIR OBJECTIVE. THE 6th INNISKILLINGS AND 5th IRISH FUSILIERS MOVED FORWARD FIRST AND THE 6th IRISH FUSILIERS AND 7th DUBLIN FusILIERS WERE MOVED IN RESERVE OF THE ATTACKING FORCE.

THE ASSAULT WAS CARRIED OUT IN TRADITIONAL FASHION. AFTER A BOMBARDMENT WITH HEAVY ARTILLERY. THE TROOPS ATTACKED UPHILL THE OBJECTIVE WAS ACHIEVED WITH TERRIBLE COST TO THE IRISH UNITS AND AS NIGHT FELL RESERVES WERE BROUGHT UP TO BOLSTER THE DEFENCES ON THE HILL. THEY HELD ON UNTIL ORDERED TO RETREAT, OWING TO THEIR EXPOSED POSITION AND ALSO LACK OF SUPPORT. A SHORT TIME LATER THE 10th DIVISION WAS BROKEN UP, ONE BRIGADE REMAINING AT ANZAC AND SIX BATTALIONS POSTED ON OR NEAR CHOCLATE HILL. THE REMAINING THREE BATTALIONS, TWO OF MUNSTERS AND ONE ROYAL IRISH RGT.. REMAINED UNDER THE COMMAND OF SIR BRYAN MAHON, HE HAD LANDED WITH THEM AND HE NOW ORDERED THE MUNSTERS TO ADVANCE.

ON MOVING FORWARD THEY ENCOUNTERED THE 11th MANCHESTERS. WHOM THEY PASSED. AND ATTACKED A STRONGHOLD WHICH, ONCE CAPTURED, THEY CALLID AFTER THEIR LEADER, "JEPHSONS POST", NO GAINS WERE MADE AFTER THIS POINT. THE ROYAL IRISH RGT MOVED IN TO SUPPORT THE MUNSTERS AND LATER THE 5th INNISKILLINGS JOINED THEM. WITH THE ABANDONMENT OF CHOCOLATE HILL ALL ACTIVITIES WERE SWITCHED TO KIRETCH TEPE SIRT. AFTER A FEW DAYS REST ON THE BEACH THE MUNSTERS, ROYAL IRISH AND STH INNISKILLINGS JOINED OTHER UNITS UNDER SIR BRYAN MAHON AND REFORMED THE 10TH DIVISION, MAKING UP NINE BATTALIONS IN ALL.

ON THE 25th AUGUST THE 10th WAS ORDERED TO ATTACK. IN THE INITIAL STAGES SLOW PROGRESS WAS MADE BUT WITH THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF THE MUNSTERS AND THE DUBLINS. THEY ACHIEVED THEIR OBJECTIVE THINGS WERE NOT EASY ON THE LEFT FLANK OF THE ATTACKING FORCE - HELD BY THE 5th INNISKILLINGS. BY THE TIME tHEY HAD REACHED THE ENEMY THEY HAD LOST NEARLY ALL OF THEIR OFFICERS AND MEN, BUT SOME GROUND HAD BEEN WON AND RESERVES WERE RUSHED UP TO SUPPORT THE ATTACKING BATTALIONS. COUNTER ATTACKS BEGAN ALMOST AT ONCE, WITH, DEVASTATING EFFECT, AND GRADUALLY IRISH LOSSES BEGAN TO TELL, THEY WERE FORCED TO RETREAT. THE: 5th AND 6th ROYAL. IRISH RIFLES WERE RELIEVED, NOT BY FRESH UNITS, BUT BY UNITS WHICH HAD MOVED BACK TO REST, SO DIRE WAS THE SITUATION. AT THIS STAGE, WiTH LITTLE MUNITIONS OR MEN, THE POSITION WAS CLEARLY UNTENABLE AND THEY WERE ORDERED TO RETREAT.
BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE CAMPAIGN AT GALLIPOLI WAS ALL BUT ABANDONED. THE 10th DIVISION MOVED TO LEMNOS, THE 29th BRIGADE GOING FIRST. AND THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS COMPLETED BY MID OCTOBER. AT THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN 15.000 IRISHMEN HAD LANDED--- 2000 WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE DARDANELLES. THEY DIED NOT ONLY FROM ENEMY FIRE.BUT ALSO FROM THE HEAT, LACK OF FRESH WATER AND FROM BEING INADEQUATELY EQUIPPED MORE DISPIRITING FOR THE ENLISTED MAN WAS THE COMPLETE UNDERESTIMATION BY SENIOR BRITISH OFFICERS OF THE ABILITIES OF THE TURKISH ARMY.

AT THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN THE BRITISH HAD ESTIMATED THAT THEIR LOSSES WOULD BE ABObT 5.000 MEN. IN TOTAL 34.000 COMMONWEALTH TROOPS WERE KILLED. OF WHOM 27.000 ARE BURIED IN UNIDENTIFIED GRAVES OR WHOSE BODIES WERE NEVER FOUND. THE IRISH DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN ALL ASPECTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. THIS IS NOT BORNE OUT IN OFFICIAL DECORATIONS, AS PRACTICALLY ALL THE OFFICERS WERE KILLED. THEIR MEN'S FEATS OF GALLANTRY WENT UNRECORDED. GENERAL SIR IAN HAMILTON WROTE IN HIS DIARY: WE ARE ON OUR LAST LEGS. THE BEAUTIFUL BATTALIONS OF 25th APRIL ARE WASTED SKELETONS NOW. SHADOWS OF WHAT THEY HAD BEEN. THE THOUGHT OF THE RIVER OF BLOOD. AGAINST WHICH I PAINFULLY MADE MY WAY WHEN I MET THESE MULTITUDES OF WOUNDED COMING DOWN TO THE SHORE, WAS UNNERVING.

GRANIA'S COLLAR.

IN A LITTLE PICTURESQUE PUBLIC HOUSE JUST ONE MILE OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF NEWMARKET ON FERGUS IN THE COUNTY OF CLARE. WE FOUND GRANIA'S COLLAR. THE: PROPRIETOR, MR JEROME TIERNEY. WAS ONLY TOO DELIGHTED TO LET ME EXAMINE THE COLLAR AND SAID THAT IT HAS BEEN IN HIS FAMILY'S POSSESSION QUITE A LONG NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. THE INSCRIPTION READS: GRANIA "PRESENTED TO 49th INFANTRY BRIGADE 7th AND 8th (5) BATTNS. ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS AND 7th AND 8th(S) BATTNS. ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS.BY MR THOMAS RYAN,18TH JUNE 1915. GRANIA (PRONOUNCED,GRAWNYA) WAS THE IRISH WOLFHOUND MASCOT OF THE 49th INFANTRY BRIGADE.

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