Royal Irish Fusiliers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers)Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's) |
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Royal Irish Fusiliers Cap Badge
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| Active | 1881–1968 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Line infantry |
| Size | 1–2 Regular battalions Up to 3 Militia and Special Reserve battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | Gough Barracks, Armagh |
| Nickname(s) | The Old Fogs, The Rollickers |
| Motto(s) | Faugh-a-Ballagh (Clear the way) |
| March | Quick: St Patrick's Day; Garry Owen; Barrosa |
| Insignia | |
| Hackle | Emerald Green |
The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's) was a famous infantry regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1881 by joining two older regiments: the 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot. At first, it was called Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers). In 1920, its name changed to the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's).
This regiment was one of eight Irish regiments in the British Army. They served until Ireland became independent. In 1968, the Royal Irish Fusiliers joined with two other regiments, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Ulster Rifles. Together, they became a new regiment called the Royal Irish Rangers.
Contents
A Look Back: The Regiment's Story
How the Regiment Began
The Royal Irish Fusiliers started in 1881. This was part of big changes in the British Army called the Childers Reforms. Two older regiments, the 87th and 89th Foot, combined to form it.
The regiment got its nickname, "The Faughs," from an old Irish battle cry. This cry was "Faugh A Ballagh" which means "Clear the Way!" They used it during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Fusiliers had special features. They wore a green feather on the left side of their hats. Their badge also had an Irish harp. Their main base was at Gough Barracks in Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Fighting in Early Wars
The 1st Battalion of the regiment fought in the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882.
Both battalions also served in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). The 1st Battalion was at the Battle of Talana Hill in 1899. They also helped in the Relief of Ladysmith, a famous siege. The 2nd Battalion fought in the Battle of the Tugela Heights in 1900.
After the war, many soldiers returned home. Some of the 2nd Battalion went to British India in 1903. In 1908, the army changed how it organized its reserve forces. The regiment then had two reserve battalions.
The First World War (1914-1918)
Regular Battalions in Action
The 1st Battalion went to France in August 1914. They were part of the 4th Division. They fought on the Western Front, which was a major battle line. They faced heavy losses at the Battle of Le Cateau.
The 2nd Battalion arrived in France in December 1914. They also served on the Western Front. Later, they moved to Salonika (in Greece) in 1915. They then went to Egypt and Palestine in 1917.
The 3rd (reserve) Battalion helped stop the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Two of their soldiers died, and six were wounded.
New Battalions Join the Fight
New battalions were formed for the war. The 5th and 6th Battalions landed at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli in August 1915. They were part of the 10th (Irish) Division. Later, they moved to Salonika.
The 7th and 8th Battalions went to France in February 1916. They fought on the Western Front. The 9th (County Armagh) Battalion also went to France in October 1915. They were part of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Between the World Wars
After the Irish Free State became independent in 1922, many Irish regiments were to be closed down. However, the Royal Irish Fusiliers worked hard to save their regiment. They succeeded! Instead of closing the newest regiment, the army decided to close the two newest battalions. This meant the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers was disbanded.
The Second World War (1939-1945)
The 1st Battalion went to France in early 1940. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force. They fought in the Battle of Dunkirk and had to be rescued. After Dunkirk, they became part of the 38th (Irish) Brigade.
This brigade fought in the Tunisia Campaign in North Africa. They then moved to Sicily, where they fought bravely in the Battle of Centuripe. After Sicily, they landed in Italy. In Italy, they took part in many battles, including the very tough Battle of Monte Cassino. Their last battle was in the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy.
The 2nd Battalion served during the Siege of Malta from 1940 to 1943. They were later involved in the Battle of Leros and the Battle of Kos in 1943. The battalion suffered heavy losses and had to be rebuilt.
After the Wars
In September 1948, the 1st and 2nd battalions combined into one, called the 1st Battalion. The regiment served in many places around the world. They were in Jordan (1949), Gibraltar (1949), and Germany (1950). They also went to Korea (1954) and Kenya (1955) to help with the Mau Mau Uprising.
Later, they served in Libya (1958) and again in Germany (1961). In 1964, they went to Cyprus for peacekeeping duties. They also deployed to Eswatini (1966) and Aden (1966).
Finally, in July 1968, the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's) joined with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Ulster Rifles. Together, they formed the Royal Irish Rangers.
Regimental Museum
The Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum is in Armagh, Northern Ireland. It shows uniforms, medals, and special items from the regiment. You can also see the two Victoria Crosses won by their brave soldiers.
Battle Honours
Battle honours are special awards given to regiments for their bravery in battles. The Royal Irish Fusiliers earned many. Here are some of them:
- From 87th Regiment of Foot: Monte Video, Talavera, Barrosa, Tarifa, Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Ava
- From 89th Regiment of Foot: Egypt, Java, Niagara, Ava, Sevastopol
- Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882 '84, Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902
- The Great War (14 battalions): Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, Armentières 1914, Hill 60, Ypres 1915 '17 '18, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Somme 1916 '18, Albert 1916, Guillemont, Ginchy, Le Transloy, Arras 1917, Scarpe 1917, Messines 1917 '18, Langemarck 1917, Cambrai 1917, St. Quentin, Rosières, Lys, Bailleul, Kemmel, Courtrai, France and Flanders 1914–18, Kosturino, Struma, Macedonia 1915-17, Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell 'Asur, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18
- The Second World War: Withdrawal to Escaut, St Omer-La Bassée, Bou Arada, Stuka Farm, Oued Zarga, Djebel bel Mahdi, Djebel Ang, Djebel Tanngoucha, Adrano, Centuripe, Salso Crossing, Simeto Crossing, Malleto, Termoli, Trigno, Sangro, Fossacesia, Cassino II, Liri Valley, Trasimene Line, Monte Spaduro, Monte Grande, Argenta Gap, San Nicolo Canal, Leros, Malta 1940
Victoria Cross Heroes
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military. Two soldiers from the Royal Irish Fusiliers earned this medal:
- Private Robert Morrow (1st Battalion): He earned it in 1915 at Messines.
- Lieutenant Geoffrey Cather (9th Battalion): He earned it in 1916 at Hamel during the Battle of the Somme.
Important Memorials
You can find memorials to the Royal Irish Fusiliers in several places:
- Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Dublin.
- Ulster Tower Memorial at Thiepval, France.
- Island of Ireland Peace Park at Messines, Belgium.
- Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.
- Helles Memorial at Cape Helles, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.
