1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in World War I facts for kids

The 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles was a group of soldiers who fought for Ireland during World War I. They spent the entire war on the Western Front, which was the main battle area in France and Belgium. This battalion took part in many big battles, like Neuve-Chapelle, the Somme, Passchendaele, and St Quentin. They faced very tough times and lost many soldiers, including their leaders, during these fights. By the end of one attack in 1916, only one officer and sixty men were left. The battalion also helped in the final attacks against Germany in 1918 before returning home in May 1919.

Starting the War: Mobilisation and Early Fights

When World War I began in August 1914, the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles was stationed far away in Aden. Since the Ottoman Empire had not yet joined the war, the battalion was sent to England in September. There, they got ready to go to France. They joined the 25th Infantry Brigade as part of the 8th Division.

In early November, they traveled from Southampton to Le Havre in France. They then took up positions east of Laventie in the Pas de Calais region.

First Big Battle: Neuve Chapelle

The battalion's first major battle was the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. This fight happened between March 10 and 13, 1915. After a strong artillery attack, the battalion moved forward. They reached the German front lines, which had already been captured. They then helped to secure the village of Neuve-Chapelle.

After securing the village, they had to defend against strong German counter-attacks. The Germans tried to push them out but failed. However, the battalion suffered many losses. They lost 18 officers and 440 other soldiers, including their Colonel.

Other Early Battles in 1915

Later in 1915, the battalion fought in the Battle of Aubers Ridge (May 9–10, 1915). They successfully captured their targets at Rouge Bancs, near Fromelles. But again, they had many casualties.

At the Battle of Loos in September–October 1915, the battalion carried out a smaller attack at Bois Grenier. They gained some ground, but later had to pull back. The next month, the battalion was sent away from the front lines. They got a chance to rest and train after spending a full year in the trenches.

Tough Years: Somme and Passchendaele

After another time in the trenches at Rouge Bancs, the battalion moved to Albert in the Somme area. In April 1916, a German raid caused some casualties. But much worse was to come during the Battle of the Somme in July.

The Battle of the Somme

During the Somme battle, the battalion was ordered to attack the German-held village of Ovillers-la-Boisselle. This attack was not successful. It cost the battalion many lives, including their colonel, who was badly wounded early in the fight. The battalion's chaplain, Donal O'Sullivan, was also killed in the Somme.

After the first part of the battle, the battalion left the Somme and went to Loos. But they returned in October 1916 to fight on the ridges of Le Transloy. The conditions were terrible, with a lot of mud. After a rest, they moved to Bouchavesnes-Bergen at the end of December. In March 1917, they advanced and took a large area of German land. This happened during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.

Fighting at Passchendaele

In June 1917, the battalion was moved to positions just east of Ypres. Here, they supported the British attack that started the Battle of Passchendaele on July 31. Once again, their colonel was killed on the very first day of this battle. The rest of the battalion also suffered huge losses. By August 16, they had advanced far ahead of other attacking forces. At that point, they had only one officer and 60 other soldiers left.

The Final Push: Last Offensives

The remaining soldiers of the battalion spent a very difficult winter on the ridges above Passchendaele. In February 1918, they were moved to the 36th (Ulster) Division near Saint-Quentin.

Stopping the German Attack

The battalion played an important role in stopping the German attack during Operation Michael in March 1918. This battle is known to the British as the Battle of St Quentin. The next month, the battalion returned to the Somme. They stayed there until the Hundred Days Offensive. This was when the Allies went on the attack and finally defeated the Germans. This led to the Armistice of November 11, 1918, which ended the war.

After the Armistice, the battalion was sent to Mouscron in Belgium, an area that had been occupied by Germans. They finally returned to England in May 1919. Very few of the soldiers who had joined the battalion in 1914 survived the entire war.