Royal Munster Fusiliers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Royal Munster Fusiliers(101st Foot & 104th Foot) |
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Cap badge of the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
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| Active | 1881–1922 |
| Country |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Line Infantry |
| Size | 2 Regular Battalions at disbandment (11 during the Great War) |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ: Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee, County Kerry |
| Nickname(s) | Old Contemptibles; The Dirty Shirts |
| Motto(s) | Spectemur agendo "Let us be judged by our acts." |
| March | Quick: St. Patrick's Day Won't You Come Home to Bom-Bombay The British Grenadiers |
| Mascot(s) | "Garry", an Irish wolfhound (1915 – 1922) |
| Insignia | |
| Hackle | White over Green |
| Identification symbol |
Bengal tiger |
The Royal Munster Fusiliers was a famous infantry regiment in the British Army. It existed from 1881 to 1922. This regiment had a long history, starting way back in 1652. Its roots were in the Bengal European Regiment, which was part of the East India Company.
In 1881, two older regiments, the 101st Regiment of Foot and the 104th Regiment of Foot, joined together to form the Royal Munster Fusiliers. This was one of eight Irish regiments. Most of its soldiers came from Ireland. Its main base was in Tralee, and it was the local regiment for Cork, Clare, Limerick, and Kerry.
The Royal Munster Fusiliers served in India and fought in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Before World War I, its reserve battalions became special reserve units. During World War I, the regiment grew to 11 battalions. They fought bravely and earned three Victoria Crosses, which are the highest awards for bravery.
After the Irish Free State became independent in 1922, five Irish regiments, including the Royal Munster Fusiliers, were disbanded. The regiment officially ended on July 31, 1922.
Contents
- History of the Royal Munster Fusiliers
- Legacy of the Royal Munster Fusiliers
- Victoria Cross Recipients
- Great War Memorials
- Images for kids
History of the Royal Munster Fusiliers
Early Beginnings: From India to the British Army
The Royal Munster Fusiliers has a history that goes back to 1652. That's when the Bengal European Regiment was formed. This regiment was part of the East India Company, a powerful trading company. It later became known as the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers).
Another regiment, the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers), was formed from the 101st in 1765. Both regiments were made up only of European soldiers, not Indian soldiers called sepoys. These regiments were very important in how Britain took control of India in the 1700s and 1800s.
The Royal Munster Fusiliers also had links to local Irish defense groups called the Militia. These included groups from South Cork, Kerry, and Royal Limerick County. In 1861, the British Crown took over the East India Company's army after the Indian Mutiny of 1857. This is when the Bengal Fusilier regiments officially joined the British Army.
Forming the Regiment in 1881
In the late 1800s, the British Army went through big changes. These changes led to the creation of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. In 1881, the old Bengal Fusilier regiments were combined. They became the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. The local militia units became the 3rd, 4th, and 5th battalions.
These changes connected regiments to specific recruiting areas. For the Royal Munster Fusiliers, these areas were the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. The regiment's main base was at Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee, County Kerry.
Fighting in the Second Boer War
The Second Boer War started in South Africa in October 1899. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers went to South Africa in 1899 and stayed for the whole war. They first joined Lord Robert's advance into the Orange Free State. They also fought in the Battle of Belmont.
Later in the war, when fighting became more like guerrilla warfare, the battalion helped calm down areas in Pretoria and Western Transvaal. The 3rd (Militia) Battalion also went to South Africa in February 1900. The 2nd Battalion arrived from India in December 1901. They helped guard areas in the Orange River Colony during the final parts of the war.
After the war ended in 1902, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers went to India. They were stationed in Multan and later fought against tribes in the North-West Frontier in 1908. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers returned to Cork Harbour in November 1902.
The First World War: A Global Conflict
Before World War I, the Royal Munster Fusiliers had two regular battalions and three reserve battalions. When the war started in August 1914, the British Army needed many more soldiers. This led to the creation of the "Kitchener's Army" made up of volunteers. This quickly increased the size of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. They ended up with 11 battalions during the war.
At the start of the war, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers was stationed in Rangoon, Burma, far away in Asia. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers was in Aldershot, England. All three reserve battalions were called up on August 4, 1914. The regiment's special flags (colours) were sent to Tralee for safety.
Regular Army Battalions in World War I
1914: Arriving in France and the Great Retreat
The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers went to France on August 13, 1914. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force. They fought in the Battle of Mons. On August 27, they had the tough job of protecting the retreat of the 1st Division. They made a brave stand in the defense of Etreux. They held off German forces much larger than them for over a day. This allowed their division to escape.
However, the battalion suffered huge losses. Most of the soldiers were surrounded and captured after running out of ammunition. When the remaining soldiers gathered on August 29, only 5 officers and 196 men were left. The battalion was rebuilt and later fought in Belgium, including at Langemarck and the First Battle of Ypres. By November, new recruits brought their strength up to over 800 men.
In December, they helped evacuate the Ypres Benedictine Convent. They then moved to the Festubert area in France. On December 22, they were ordered to take two lines of trenches. They faced heavy fire and had 200 casualties in the first 10 minutes. Many wounded soldiers drowned in water-filled shell holes. They spent Christmas and New Year maintaining the trenches.
1915: Gallipoli and the Second Battle of Ypres
The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, who had been in Burma, arrived back in the UK in January 1915. They were sent to the Dardanelles, Turkey, in March. Turkey had joined the Central Powers. The goal was to open the Dardanelles Strait to help Allied convoys reach Russia.
On April 25, they arrived on the ship SS River Clyde for the landing at Cape Helles. Hidden Turkish machine guns opened fire, causing terrible losses. Soldiers were "literally slaughtered like rats in a trap." Many Munsters jumped from the gangway and drowned. The ship's commander, Captain Edward Unwin, won the Victoria Cross for his bravery that day.
By the next day, only a few companies of Munsters, Hampshires, and Dubliners made it to safety. On April 26, they captured Fort Sedd-el-Bahr. In this attack, William Cosgrove earned the regiment's first Victoria Cross. Due to heavy losses, the surviving Munsters and Dublin Fusiliers combined to form the "Dubsters" battalion.
The Turks attacked again on May 1. A Munster soldier described the terrible bayonet fighting. The battalion was reduced to 4 officers and 430 men. New soldiers arrived later, and the units separated again. The Munsters fought off another Turkish attack on June 17, killing over 300 Turks. They took part in an assault on June 28, securing five trench lines.
The climax of the Gallipoli campaign was the Suvla attack on August 21. The Turks caused severe casualties. The Munsters lost 3 officers and 79 men that day. The British decided to leave the peninsula. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers left on January 2, 1916, for Alexandria. They then went to France, arriving on March 22. They had already suffered 45% of their total war losses at Gallipoli.
While the 1st Battalion was in Gallipoli, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers continued fighting on the Western Front. They faced their first major action of 1915 in the Second Battle of Ypres. The day before an attack on May 9, their chaplain, Father Francis Gleeson, gave them absolution. This event was shown in the famous "Rue du Bois" painting.
The Munsters pressed forward with great courage. Some charged through German lines, briefly waving a green flag. By 11 a.m., the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers was withdrawn. They had lost 19 officers and 370 men killed, wounded, or captured. This was the regiment's highest loss in a single day of the war.
The summer was quieter for the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers. They moved to the Loos area in June. When the Loos offensive began on September 25, the Munsters were in reserve. But they soon had to hold the line and suffered over 200 casualties. By October 13, only 250 soldiers remained. New recruits arrived over the winter, but conditions were harsh. Many suffered from frostbite and trench fever.
1916: The Battle of the Somme
The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers entered the front lines in France on April 23, 1916, in the Somme area. They were reinforced by soldiers from the disbanded 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers. The Munsters remained near Loos until August.
When the 16th (Irish) Division moved south to the Somme battlefield, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers faced the town of Ginchy on September 5. They had already suffered over 200 casualties from gas-shelling. The Munsters took part in the successful capture of Ginchy. But it came at a high cost, reducing the battalion to 5 officers and 305 men. A London newspaper headline read: How the Irish took Ginchy – Splendid daring of the Irish troops.
In May, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers also received many soldiers from the disbanded 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers. Their first important operation was the Liévin raid on June 25. During this action, Lieutenant Arthur Batten-Pooll won the regiment's second Victoria Cross. However, the battalion had heavy losses.
The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers moved to the Somme in July for the start of the Battle of the Somme. They entered the lines on July 14 and captured their goals two days later. They fought off a German counterattack on July 18. The Munsters were in reserve until August 20. They then faced heavy, ineffective British artillery fire, losing 4 officers and 29 men. September was a costly month for the battalion.
After a break, they returned to the Somme in November for maintenance duties. They then went into the muddy front-line trenches. Casualties from frostbite and raids continued until December. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers kept its local Irish character throughout the Somme campaign.
After the Battle of the Somme, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers moved north to Ypres in Belgium. They absorbed soldiers from the 8th Royal Munster Fusiliers. The Munsters spent Christmas 1916 in the trenches. As the New Year arrived, both sides stopped firing. The pipers played Irish songs like A Nation Once Again and God Save Ireland.
1917: The Battles of Messines and Passchendaele
After a rest in January 1917, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers returned to the trenches at Barleux. The thawing weather made the trenches extremely muddy. In March, the Germans pulled back to the new Hindenburg Line. The battalion followed, clearing mines and repairing communications.
The Munsters then moved to Nieuwpoort in Flanders for a planned landing by sea. This plan was canceled after a German attack on July 10. They then moved to Dunkirk for another sea landing attempt near Zeebrugge. This was also canceled when the land attack through Passchendaele didn't gain enough ground.
For the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, routine trench duties continued until mid-March. They had light casualties. In April and May, the battalion trained for the attack on the important Messines Ridge. The Flanders attack began at 3:10 a.m. on June 7, 1917. Nineteen huge mines exploded under the German lines.
The 16th Irish Division advanced towards Wytschaete. The 36th (Ulster) Division advanced towards Messines. This was the largest gathering of Irish soldiers on a battlefield. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers took all its objectives on time. The battle was a big success for the British. The two Irish divisions showed great bravery, advancing over two miles with few losses.
The battalion was then relieved and returned to the Ypres area in August. Constant rain turned the battlefield into deep mud. This caused many casualties and made it hard to take positions. The battalion was reduced to 37 officers and 701 men. They then moved south to France.
The 16th (Irish) Division, including the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, took positions north of the main attack during the first Battle of Cambrai. This battle started on November 21 with over 450 British tanks. The Munsters advanced so quickly that only one enemy machine gun post had time to fire. They captured it with only one loss. They took 170 prisoners.
The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers' last front tour of 1917 ended on December 2. The division moved south to take over a French section.
By November 6, 1917, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers had 20 officers and 630 men. They arrived at "Irish Farm" in the Ypres area. The ground was a muddy mess from four months of fighting. This was the last British effort of the Passchendaele campaign. The Munsters were one of two battalions leading the 1st Division's attack at 6 a.m. on November 10.
They waded waist-deep through mud and water, taking all objectives within 45 minutes. However, a gap in the lines allowed the Germans to cut off most of the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers. They had to fight their way back. A roll call later showed only 7 officers and 240 men left. The battalion moved to Brieulles to rebuild for the rest of the year.
1918: German Attacks and Final Victory
From January to March, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers fought in snow, frost, and mud. By St. Patrick's Day 1918, it was clear the Germans were planning a big attack. By the end of January 1918, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers had 44 officers and 823 men. They moved to the 16th (Irish) Division near Peronne on February 3.
The German spring offensive began with a huge bombardment on March 21, 1918. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers suffered badly but held off the Germans all night. The Germans eventually broke through. The Munsters had to retreat, with some making it to a ridge trench. The next day, the battalion was withdrawn to Tincourt. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers now had only 290 men.
On March 22, the battalion crossed the Somme at Péronne. By March 25, the battalion had lost 27 officers and 550 men. The remaining soldiers tried to regroup, fighting off attacks. The Munsters formed a 400-man group and tried a night retreat. Half reached friendly positions the next morning.
The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers was lucky to be in reserve when the Germans started their attack. By the next day, the battalion was heavily involved. The Germans used a new zigzag attack. The battalion fought back but was forced to retreat. They were quickly down to 7 officers and 450 men. There was then a general retreat across the Somme. By then, the battalion was reduced to just 290 men.
The German attack had severely weakened the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers. The 16th (Irish) Division had suffered the heaviest losses of any British division. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers was transferred to the 57th Division. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers was mostly destroyed, losing 36 officers and 796 men since March 21. The battalion moved north to combine with the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers on April 14. The new unit had 28 officers and 896 men. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers then became a training unit for newly arrived American soldiers.
In May, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers entered the lines again at Gommecourt, a quiet area. On August 27, the battalion attacked near Croisilles. They took enemy trenches on the Hindenburg Line in half an hour with few losses. This was followed by an attack on September 2. Martin Doyle won the battalion's third Victoria Cross. The battalion suffered 350 casualties.
The battalion was then relieved and received new soldiers. They trained for the attack on the Cambrai to St. Quentin line. On September 27, they advanced 3,000 yards and captured Graincourt. The Germans counter-attacked, taking back many positions. The battalion was reduced to 7 officers and 261 men by October 3.
The battalion supported the final attack of the Battle of Cambrai on October 8. The Germans were retreating. The 57th Division then went north to Armentières. The Munsters entered the line on October 17 with no resistance. Lille was captured the next day. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers stayed in Lille until the Armistice of November 11, 1918.
The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers began rebuilding on June 7, 1918. Most of the 6th Royal Munster Fusiliers, who had returned from Palestine, joined them. The battalion moved to the 50th Division at Arras for the start of the Hundred Days Offensive. On October 1, the battalion went to Épehy. They were ordered to capture Le Catelet on October 4.
The Munsters largely achieved their goal. However, they had to retreat after heavy counterattacks. Many pre-war veterans who had survived Gallipoli were lost. The 50th Division's advance continued on October 10. The battalion was reduced to 13 officers and 411 men by October 16.
The Battle of Épehy began on October 18. The goal was to push the Germans back across the river. The Munsters went in the next day in fog, surprising the Germans and taking many prisoners. They went beyond their objectives and were caught in another division's artillery fire, suffering heavy losses. They were then withdrawn. Their final operation was on November 4, successfully taking a large area around Haute Noyelles. This showed how low German morale was. The battalion was withdrawn on November 7 until the Armistice.
New Army Battalions
When World War I began in August 1914, the British Army needed to grow very quickly. This led to the creation of the "Kitchener's Army" of volunteers. The goal was to have 70 divisions. The first new battalions were the 6th and 7th (Service) Battalions, Royal Munster Fusiliers. They were part of the 10th (Irish) Division.
The 8th and 9th (Service) Battalions followed. They were part of the 16th (Irish) Division. As the war went on, the two regular Royal Munster Fusilier Battalions suffered heavy losses. Because of this, the new service battalions were eventually disbanded. Their soldiers were then moved into the regular battalions. The last one, the 8th (Service) Battalion, joined the 1st Battalion on June 2, 1918.
Reserve Army Battalions
At the start of the war, the Royal Munster Fusiliers had three reserve battalions. All were called up on August 4, 1914. The 3rd Battalion was in Cork, and the 4th and 5th Battalions were in Kerry. They were first meant for home defense. But as the war continued and casualties grew, these reserve soldiers were increasingly sent to replace losses in the regular battalions.
Disbandment of the Regiment
In December 1918, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers had 25 officers and 581 men in France. After soldiers were sent home, the last group of 14 officers and 54 men left France in June 1919. They joined the rebuilt battalion on the Isle of Wight. This battalion had 900 men, with 500 having served in the war.
The 2nd Battalion's last commander wrote that it lost 179 officers and 4,088 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing. The battalion remained mostly Irish until the end of the war. It was always made up of volunteers. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers also remained mostly Irish. At least 43 officers and 869 other soldiers died fighting with this battalion during the war. It was disbanded in December 1918.
In May 1919, the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers absorbed the 3rd Royal Munster Fusiliers. It went to Silesia in September 1921 and returned in April 1922. It was disbanded in July 1922, ending a 250-year history. The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers served in Egypt from 1919 to 1922. It also returned for disbandment in July 1922.
Because of big defense budget cuts and the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, six Irish regiments were disbanded. This included the Royal Munster Fusiliers. On June 12, five regimental flags (Colours) were placed in a ceremony at St George's Hall, Windsor Castle, with King George V present. All six regiments were officially disbanded on July 31, 1922.
When the Irish Civil War started, thousands of former Irish regiment soldiers and officers joined the new National Army of the Free State. Royal Munster Fusiliers veterans from World War I served alongside former IRA fighters. These were the same people who had fought against the British Army just months before. These veterans brought a lot of combat experience. By May 1923, they made up 50% of the 53,000 soldiers and 20% of the officers in the Irish National Army.
Legacy of the Royal Munster Fusiliers
On September 30, 2005, Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland, unveiled a newly repaired Memorial Arch. This was at the old British Army barracks in Tipperary. This was a gesture of peace and remembrance. The Royal Munster Fusiliers banner was carried and displayed there. This was in the area where the regiment had been active.
Victoria Cross Recipients
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military. These brave soldiers from the Royal Munster Fusiliers received it:
- William Cosgrove (1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers) during the Great War.
- Martin Doyle (1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers) during the Great War.
- Arthur Batten-Pooll (2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers) during the Great War.
Great War Memorials
You can find memorials to the Royal Munster Fusiliers and other soldiers of the Great War at:
- Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Dublin.
- Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, Belgium.
- Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.
Images for kids
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Scan of an original drawing by Lieut. Francis Ambrose D'Oyly Goddard, RMF, in the hills near the Samana Range North West Frontier, India c.1897
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Certifying attendance at Father Gleeson's Mission, 1915.
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Cork war memorial, with a list of those who died in the First World War: Men of the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
