The Munster Fusiliers in France 1914-1918

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  • The Night Operation on the Passchendaele Ridge, 2Nd December 1917

    The Night Operation on the Passchendaele Ridge, 2Nd December 1917

    Centre for First World War Studies A Moonlight Massacre: The Night Operation on the Passchendaele Ridge, 2nd December 1917 by Michael Stephen LoCicero Thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of History and Cultures College of Arts & Law June 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Abstract The Third Battle of Ypres was officially terminated by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig with the opening of the Battle of Cambrai on 20 November 1917. Nevertheless, a comparatively unknown set-piece attack – the only large-scale night operation carried out on the Flanders front during the campaign – was launched twelve days later on 2 December. This thesis, a necessary corrective to published campaign narratives of what has become popularly known as „Passchendaele‟, examines the course of events from the mid-November decision to sanction further offensive activity in the vicinity of Passchendaele village to the barren operational outcome that forced British GHQ to halt the attack within ten hours of Zero. A litany of unfortunate decisions and circumstances contributed to the profitless result.
  • CDN Battle of Vimy Ridge.Pdf

    CDN Battle of Vimy Ridge.Pdf

    Bataille de Vimy-E.qxp 1/2/07 11:37 AM Page 1 Bataille de Vimy-E.qxp 1/2/07 11:37 AM Page 2 Bataille de Vimy-E.qxp 1/2/07 11:37 AM Page 3 BRERETON GREENHOUS STEPHEN J. HARRIS Canada and the BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE 9-12 April 1917 Bataille de Vimy-E.qxp 1/2/07 11:37 AM Page 4 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Greenhous, Brereton, 1929- Stephen J. Harris, 1948- Canada and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9-12 April 1917 Issued also in French under title: Le Canada et la Bataille de Vimy 9-12 avril 1917. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-660-16883-9 DSS cat. no. D2-90/1992E-1 2nd ed. 2007 1.Vimy Ridge, Battle of, 1917. 2.World War, 1914-1918 — Campaigns — France. 3. Canada. Canadian Army — History — World War, 1914-1918. 4.World War, 1914-1918 — Canada. I. Harris, Stephen John. II. Canada. Dept. of National Defence. Directorate of History. III. Title. IV.Title: Canada and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9-12 April 1917. D545.V5G73 1997 940.4’31 C97-980068-4 Cet ouvrage a été publié simultanément en français sous le titre de : Le Canada et la Bataille de Vimy, 9-12 avril 1917 ISBN 0-660-93654-2 Project Coordinator: Serge Bernier Reproduced by Directorate of History and Heritage, National Defence Headquarters Jacket: Drawing by Stéphane Geoffrion from a painting by Kenneth Forbes, 1892-1980 Canadian Artillery in Action Original Design and Production Art Global 384 Laurier Ave.West Montréal, Québec Canada H2V 2K7 Printed and bound in Canada All rights reserved.
  • The Western Front the First World War Battlefield Guide: World War Battlefield First the the Westernthe Front

    The Western Front the First World War Battlefield Guide: World War Battlefield First the the Westernthe Front

    Ed 2 June 2015 2 June Ed The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 1 The Western Front The First Battlefield War World Guide: The Western Front The Western Creative Media Design ADR003970 Edition 2 June 2015 The Somme Battlefield: Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel Mike St. Maur Sheil/FieldsofBattle1418.org The Somme Battlefield: Lochnagar Crater. It was blown at 0728 hours on 1 July 1916. Mike St. Maur Sheil/FieldsofBattle1418.org The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 1 The Western Front 2nd Edition June 2015 ii | THE WESTERN FRONT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ISBN: 978-1-874346-45-6 First published in August 2014 by Creative Media Design, Army Headquarters, Andover. Printed by Earle & Ludlow through Williams Lea Ltd, Norwich. Revised and expanded second edition published in June 2015. Text Copyright © Mungo Melvin, Editor, and the Authors listed in the List of Contributors, 2014 & 2015. Sketch Maps Crown Copyright © UK MOD, 2014 & 2015. Images Copyright © Imperial War Museum (IWM), National Army Museum (NAM), Mike St. Maur Sheil/Fields of Battle 14-18, Barbara Taylor and others so captioned. No part of this publication, except for short quotations, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the permission of the Editor and SO1 Commemoration, Army Headquarters, IDL 26, Blenheim Building, Marlborough Lines, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8HJ. The First World War sketch maps have been produced by the Defence Geographic Centre (DGC), Joint Force Intelligence Group (JFIG), Ministry of Defence, Elmwood Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 7AH. United Kingdom.
  • Section, No-Man's Land Was Everywhere Exceptionally Wide

    Section, No-Man's Land Was Everywhere Exceptionally Wide

    Extract from ‘Westcountry Regiments on the Somme’ By Major (Retired) Tim Saunders MBE (Late D and D) This book covers the part played by both the Devonshire and Dorset Regiments in the 1916 Battle. It covers the arrival of the battalions on the Somme, preliminary operations and the part they played in the various phases of this grimmest of battles from the disaster of 1 July through to the very final attack in mid November. The extract below is on the attack of 2nd Battalion the Devonshire Regiment on Ovillers la Boissele on 1st July 1916; the blackest day in the long history of the British Army. Introduction Of the five Westcountry battalions in action on the first day of the battle, 2/Devon was one of the two battalions that attacked or ‘went over the top’ in the first wave at Zero Hour. They had arrived on the Somme, to join the Fourth Army, at the end of March with 8th Division joining III Corps. Along with the remainder of the Army, the Devons worked hard training and preparing for the great offensive. Meanwhile, the Germans, with only the questions of time, date and boundaries of the British attack to determine, continued to strengthen their position. The German Positions Opposite III Corps, the Germans 26th Reserve Division occupied positions on three spurs that ran down from the Pozieres Ridge. The two fingers of high ground of significance to 8th Division and the Devons were the Ovillers Spur and the la Boisselle Spur. Both were crowned with German held villages that had been developed into fortresses within the front line trench systems.
  • The Evolution of British Tactical and Operational Tank Doctrine and Training in the First World War

    The Evolution of British Tactical and Operational Tank Doctrine and Training in the First World War

    The evolution of British tactical and operational tank doctrine and training in the First World War PHILIP RICHARD VENTHAM TD BA (Hons.) MA. Thesis submitted for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy by the University of Wolverhampton October 2016 ©Copyright P R Ventham 1 ABSTRACT Tanks were first used in action in September 1916. There had been no previous combat experience on which to base tactical and operational doctrine for the employment of this novel weapon of war. Training of crews and commanders was hampered by lack of vehicles and weapons. Time was short in which to train novice crews. Training facilities were limited. Despite mechanical limitations of the early machines and their vulnerability to adverse ground conditions, the tanks achieved moderate success in their initial actions. Advocates of the tanks, such as Fuller and Elles, worked hard to convince the sceptical of the value of the tank. Two years later, tanks had gained the support of most senior commanders. Doctrine, based on practical combat experience, had evolved both within the Tank Corps and at GHQ and higher command. Despite dramatic improvements in the design, functionality and reliability of the later marks of heavy and medium tanks, they still remained slow and vulnerable to ground conditions and enemy counter-measures. Competing demands for materiel meant there were never enough tanks to replace casualties and meet the demands of formation commanders. This thesis will argue that the somewhat patchy performance of the armoured vehicles in the final months of the war was less a product of poor doctrinal guidance and inadequate training than of an insufficiency of tanks and the difficulties of providing enough tanks in the right locations at the right time to meet the requirements of the manoeuvre battles of the ‘Hundred Days’.
  • The German Army, Vimy Ridge and the Elastic Defence in Depth in 1917

    The German Army, Vimy Ridge and the Elastic Defence in Depth in 1917

    Journal of Military and Strategic VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 Studies “Lessons learned” in WWI: The German Army, Vimy Ridge and the Elastic Defence in Depth in 1917 Christian Stachelbeck The Battle of Arras in the spring of 1917 marked the beginning of the major allied offensives on the western front. The attack by the British 1st Army (Horne) and 3rd Army (Allenby) was intended to divert attention from the French main offensive under General Robert Nivelle at the Chemin des Dames (Nivelle Offensive). 1 The French commander-in-chief wanted to force the decisive breakthrough in the west. Between 9 and 12 April, the British had succeeded in penetrating the front across a width of 18 kilometres and advancing around six kilometres, while the Canadian corps (Byng), deployed for the first time in closed formation, seized the ridge near Vimy, which had been fiercely contested since late 1914.2 The success was paid for with the bloody loss of 1 On the German side, the battles at Arras between 2 April and 20 May 1917 were officially referred to as Schlacht bei Arras (Battle of Arras). In Canada, the term Battle of Vimy Ridge is commonly used for the initial phase of the battle. The seizure of Vimy ridge was a central objective of the offensive and was intended to secure the protection of the northern flank of the 3rd Army. 2 For detailed information on this, see: Jack Sheldon, The German Army on Vimy Ridge 1914-1917 (Barnsley: Pen&Sword Military, 2008), p. 8. Sheldon's book, however, is basically a largely indiscriminate succession of extensive quotes from regimental histories, diaries and force files from the Bavarian War Archive (Kriegsarchiv) in Munich.
  • Claremen & Women in the Great War 1914-1918

    Claremen & Women in the Great War 1914-1918

    Claremen & Women in The Great War 1914-1918 The following gives some of the Armies, Regiments and Corps that Claremen fought with in WW1, the battles and events they died in, those who became POW’s, those who had shell shock, some brothers who died, those shot at dawn, Clare politicians in WW1, Claremen courtmartialled, and the awards and medals won by Claremen and women. The people named below are those who partook in WW1 from Clare. They include those who died and those who survived. The names were mainly taken from the following records, books, websites and people: Peadar McNamara (PMcN), Keir McNamara, Tom Burnell’s Book ‘The Clare War Dead’ (TB), The In Flanders website, ‘The Men from North Clare’ Guss O’Halloran, findagrave website, ancestry.com, fold3.com, North Clare Soldiers in WW1 Website NCS, Joe O’Muircheartaigh, Brian Honan, Kilrush Men engaged in WW1 Website (KM), Dolores Murrihy, Eric Shaw, Claremen/Women who served in the Australian Imperial Forces during World War 1(AI), Claremen who served in the Canadian Forces in World War 1 (CI), British Army WWI Pension Records for Claremen in service. (Clare Library), Sharon Carberry, ‘Clare and the Great War’ by Joe Power, The Story of the RMF 1914-1918 by Martin Staunton, Booklet on Kilnasoolagh Church Newmarket on Fergus, Eddie Lough, Commonwealth War Grave Commission Burials in County Clare Graveyards (Clare Library), Mapping our Anzacs Website (MA), Kilkee Civic Trust KCT, Paddy Waldron, Daniel McCarthy’s Book ‘Ireland’s Banner County’ (DMC), The Clare Journal (CJ), The Saturday Record (SR), The Clare Champion, The Clare People, Charles E Glynn’s List of Kilrush Men in the Great War (C E Glynn), The nd 2 Munsters in France HS Jervis, The ‘History of the Royal Munster Fusiliers 1861 to 1922’ by Captain S.
  • British 8Th Infantry Division on the Western Front, 1914-1918

    British 8Th Infantry Division on the Western Front, 1914-1918

    Centre for First World War Studies British 8th Infantry Division on the Western Front, 1914-18 by Alun Miles THOMAS Thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of History and Cultures College of Arts & Law January 2010 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Recent years have seen an increasingly sophisticated debate take place with regard to the armies on the Western Front during the Great War. Some argue that the British and Imperial armies underwent a ‘learning curve’ coupled with an increasingly lavish supply of munitions, which meant that during the last three months of fighting the BEF was able to defeat the German Army as its ability to conduct operations was faster than the enemy’s ability to react. This thesis argues that 8th Division, a war-raised formation made up of units recalled from overseas, became a much more effective and sophisticated organisation by the war’s end. It further argues that the formation did not use one solution to problems but adopted a sophisticated approach dependent on the tactical situation.
  • In Memory of 155 Men from Irish Church Lads' Brigade Companies

    In Memory of 155 Men from Irish Church Lads' Brigade Companies

    Abraham, Sydney, Royal Irish Rifles, Limerick Bn. McKnight, Thomas, Royal Inniskilling Fus., St Michael’s, Belfast. Ackinson, Robert, Royal Irish Rifles, St Barnabas’, Belfast. McNeill, Samuel, York & Lancaster Regt., St Barnabas’, Belfast. Alexander, Percy, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Limerick Cathedral. In memory of 155 men from Irish McWilliams, Herbert, Royal Irish Rifles, St Aidan’s, Belfast. Allen, Hugh, Royal Irish Rifles, St Michael’s, Belfast. Church Lads’ Brigade Companies Martin, Joseph, Royal Engineers, St Michael’s, Limerick. Anderson, George, Royal Irish Fusiliers, St Mark’s, Armagh. who died in the Great War. Matthews, Herbert, MM, Royal Irish Rifles, St Luke's, Belfast. Bailey, Charles, Royal Dublin Fus., St Michael’s, Limerick. Maultsaid, Wesley, Royal Irish Rifles, Christ Church, L’derry. Baird, James, Royal Irish Rifles, St Barnabas’, Belfast. Milliken, Clifford, The Black Watch, St Nicholas’, Belfast. Baker, Walter, Royal Irish Rifles, Christ Church, Lisburn. Montgomery, Robert, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Seagoe, Portadown. Balmer, Joseph, Royal Inniskilling Fus., Mullavilly, Portadown. Moore, Thomas, Royal Field Artillery, St Aidan’s, Belfast. Barton, Hugh, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Enniskillen w. Trory. Morrison, William, Royal Irish Rifles, St John’s, Limerick. Baxter, Samuel, Royal Irish Rifles, Shankill Coy., Lurgan. Dunn, James, King's Own Scottish Bord., Limerick Cathedral. Murray, William, Royal Irish Rifles, St Luke's, Belfast. Beck, James, Royal Irish Rifles, Christ Church, Lisburn. Egan, Pierce, Army Chaplains’ Dept., Derry Cathedral. Neazor, Robert, Canadian Cavalry, Limerick Cathedral. Beggs, Henry Parker, Royal Irish Rifles, Drumbeg, Lisburn. Elliott, William, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Lisbellaw, Fermanagh. Neill, Ross, Royal Irish Rifles, Shankill Coy., Lurgan. Bell, Moses, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Maralin, Lurgan.
  • 6608 the London Gazette, 21 August, 1914

    6608 the London Gazette, 21 August, 1914

    6608 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 AUGUST, 1914. 3RD RE-PUBLICATION of List CCCCXLVIII of the Names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled.—Effects 1910-1911. Name. Rank. Regiment, &c. Amount. £ s. d. Howard (alias Sullivan, T.), E. Private 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers 3 1 10 Major, J Private 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment ... 34 11 8 Oliver, J. W Private 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment ... 944 Stott, J Gunner No. 66 Company Royal Garrison 6 5 1 Artillery Sullivan (alias Howard, E.), T. Private 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers 3 1 10 4ra RE-PUBLICATION of List CCCCXXXVIII of the Names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled.—Effects 1909-1910. Name. Rank. Regiment, &c. Amount." £ s. d. Bailey, J. R Private Isu Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment ... 355 Doyle, J Gunner. No. 51 Company Royal Garrison 59 1 4 Artillery Dwyer, J Gunner No. 79 Company Royal Garrison 6 18 8 Artillery Enright, T Private 1 st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers 2 14 0 Mullen, J. Gunnei- No. 81 Company Royal Garrison 2 13 7 Artillery Partington, J.... Private 13th Hussars ... 4 10 3 Payne, W Private Army Service Corps 2 13 10 Sharpe, W. E Sergeant 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment 7 19 10 Shaw, J. H Private 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment ... 8 10, 2 Thompson, W. J. ... ... Sergeant 13th Hussars (Indian Unattached.List) 7 14 .0 Watt, A. M Private 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders ... 043 5TH RE-PUBLICATION of List CCCCXXVIII of the Names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled.—Effects 1908-1909.
  • The London Gazette, 23 June, 1916: 6237

    The London Gazette, 23 June, 1916: 6237

    THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 JUNE, 1916: 6237 Name. Rank. Regiment, &c. Amount. £ s. d. Morrison, W. Lance-Corporal 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire and 0 14 10 Derbyshire Regiment Morse, C. Private 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment ".'.. 1 14 2 Mould, H Private 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment 505 Mulholland, J. Private 1st Bn. Highland Light Infantry 604 Murphy, J. (alias Cassey, C. Private 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland' 15 6 0 M..I.) Highlanders Murphy, J. ... Private 1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps '.'.. 17 8 10 Murphy, P Private Iso Battalion Connaught Rangers 7 15 3 Murphy, W..'.. Private 1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 7 11 8 Murray, A. D. Private l/5th Battalion Highland Light 083 Infantry i Mutton, H. .'. Private 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade 2 18 8 Neal, W. : Private 2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 575 Nevill, J Lance-Corporal 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders 500 Newrick, H '.. Gunner 108th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison 0 15 10 Artillery Norman, C. H Private Army Service Corps ... 3 15 0 O'Brien, J Private 1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 953 O'Brien, M Private 1st Bn. Royal Munste'r Fusiliers 407 O'Callaghan, C Private 1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 10 18 9 O'Connell, M. A Private 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment 1 12 10 O'Dare, J Lance-Corporal 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers ... 269 O'Donnell, M Private v. 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers 1 19 9 O'Hanlon, W Sergeant 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers 14 12 11 O'Hara, W Private 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles 8 15 7 Oliver, L Private 6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers .
  • Community Action Plan 2019 - 2024 Draft June 2019 TABLE of CONTENTS

    Community Action Plan 2019 - 2024 Draft June 2019 TABLE of CONTENTS

    TEMPLEMORE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Draft Issue 2019 - 2024 for Community June Feedback 2019 Only! Templemore Community Action Plan 2019 - 2024 Draft Issue 14th June 2019 Draft for Community June Feedback 2019 Only! Tipperary Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) is the managing body for the European Union Rural Development 2014 -2020 (LEADER) Programme in County Tipperary. This project has been co-funded under the EU Rural Development 2014 -2020 (LEADER) Programme implemented in County Tipperary by North Tipperary Development Company on behalf of the Tipperary LCDC. Acknowledging the assistance of the EU and The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe Investing in Rural Areas. Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2014 -2020 GEARÓID FITZGIBBON FOREWORD MR. TOM PETERS, CHAIR OF TEMPLEMORE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION Welcome to the Templemore Town 5 Year Community Action Plan; an exciting devel- The Steering Committee of the TCDA together with its Associate Members opment to enhance our town and its hinterland as a great place to live, work, visit and has guided the development of this 5 Year Community Action Plan and will do business in. This plan is being promoted by Templemore Community Development play a key role in commencing its implementation. Association (TCDA) with the purpose of enabling the potential of the Town to be realised and sustained, as well as providing a focus to empower the community to enhance and The Steering Committee members include: improve the socio-economic and quality of life in Templemore. Tom Peters (Chair) Michael Connell Declan Glynn Pat Hassey Templemore is of course already a great place to live and has a very strong ethos of Ronan Loughnane volunteerism and community spirit which is demostrated by the many community, sport- Sally Loughnane Kevin Ludlow Myles McMorrow Michael O’Brien ing and social organisations and facilities in the town.