The Irish Guards
The Irish Guards took part in the in the last advances on the Western Front on the 11th November 1918, the day the Armistice was signed. The Irish Guards were at Maubeuge when the Armistice was signed. It was near where the Irish Guards began their war in 1914 at Mons. Yet sadly there were hardly any of the original men left. probably a handful if that. On the 11th of December the regiment proudly marched into Germany, drums beating, no doubt reflecting on the many experiences they had during the course of the war and of all the friends that had been killed and would not see this final parade. The sacrifice made by this very proud regiment was immense. Over 2300 officers and men killed and well over 5000 wounded. The Regiment won 406 medals, including four VCs during the Great War 1914-1918.
Among those killed serving with the regiment was Lt John Kipling, the 18 year old son of author Rudyard Kipling, who was listed as missing at Loos in September 1915. In tribute to his son's regiment Kipling composed the poem " The Irish Guards " and after the war wrote a two volume history of the regiment's service during the Great War.
Among those killed serving with the regiment was Lt John Kipling, the 18 year old son of author Rudyard Kipling, who was listed as missing at Loos in September 1915. In tribute to his son's regiment Kipling composed the poem " The Irish Guards " and after the war wrote a two volume history of the regiment's service during the Great War.
INTER-WAR YEARS
In 1919 the 2nd and 3rd Irish Guards were disbanded and the 1st Battalion Irish Guards returned to the UK victoriously. In 1920 for St. Patrick's Day, the regiment donned its full dress for the first time since WW1. In 1922 the regiment then deployed to Constantinople as part of the allied force during the troubles in that region.
The regiment was also compelled to cope with the internal tensions caused by the political situation back home in Ireland. The regiment's continued existence was threatened briefly when Winston Churchill, who served as Secretary of State for War between 1919 and 1921, sought the elimination of the Irish and Welsh Guards as an economy measure. This proposal, however did not find favour in the government or army circles and was dropped. In late 1923 the regiment deployed to the Garrison of Gibralter. They returned to the Uk in 1924. They were then based in the south of England until 1936 when they deployed to Egypt. While stationed there, the regiment deployed to Palestine for a number of months on internal security duties against Arab militants. The regiment returned to the UK in 1938. The following year the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards was re-formed five months before the Second World War began.
The regiment was also compelled to cope with the internal tensions caused by the political situation back home in Ireland. The regiment's continued existence was threatened briefly when Winston Churchill, who served as Secretary of State for War between 1919 and 1921, sought the elimination of the Irish and Welsh Guards as an economy measure. This proposal, however did not find favour in the government or army circles and was dropped. In late 1923 the regiment deployed to the Garrison of Gibralter. They returned to the Uk in 1924. They were then based in the south of England until 1936 when they deployed to Egypt. While stationed there, the regiment deployed to Palestine for a number of months on internal security duties against Arab militants. The regiment returned to the UK in 1938. The following year the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards was re-formed five months before the Second World War began.
SECOND-WORLD WAR
During the Second World War, the Regiment lost over 700 men killed, 1,500 wounded and was awarded 252 medals, including two VCs.
Upon the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, both battalions of the Irish Guards were based in the UK. In 1940 the 1st Irish Guards deployed to Norway as part of the 24th ( Guards ) Brigade in early April. In May the Polish Liner, now troopship ' Chobry ' which was transporting the Brigade HQ and the 1st Irish Guards from another area of Norway to the northern town of Bodo was hit by Heinkel He III bombers which killed many men, including the Commanding Officer Second-in-Command, the adjudant and three of the five company commanders of the 1st Irish Guards, as well as losing all their heavy equipment. Fire began to engulf the ship and considering the amount of ammunition on board, a deadly and immense explosion seemed imminent. The men were rescued by escorting vessels.
Later that month the battalion did fight on land in Norway, seeing action and holding out against tough German opposition for two days until they were finally forced to withdraw due to being outflanked by the advancing Germans. The Brigade HQ and battalion were withdrawn by boat, though sadly they left many behind. The men left behind managed to break out, reaching Allied lines later that day. The regiment was finally evacuated back to the UK with the rest of the Expeditionary Force in June.
In May 1940, the 2nd Irish Guards deployed to the Hook of Holland to cover the evacuation of the Dutch Royal Family. The battalion evacuated the day after the Government and Dutch Royal family had been evacuated. They only had a short respite upon their return to the UK, when they returned along with the Welsh Guards, to the Continent, and the port of Boulogne in Northern France, reaching the town on the 22nd May. Their orders were to defend part of Boulogne during the epic evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) from Dunkirk and the Overwhelming and inexorable advance of the Germans.
The Guards stoutly defended their area of responsibility from better equipped German Forces, repulsing a number of German attacks on the 22nd, but on the morning of the 23rd, superior German Forces attacked the battalion and the Guards suffered very heavily in the attack. Later that day the battalion was evacuated from Boulogne, they were the last to leave, and fought valiantly while waiting to be evacuated.
In 1941 the 2nd Irish Guards re-roled as an armoured regiment, joining the newly formed Guards Armoured Division. Later that year the 3rd Irish Guards was raised. In 1943, the 3rd Irish Guards joined the Guards Armoured Division as an Infantry Battalion.
In 1944 the 2nd and 3rd Irish Guards took part in the Normandy Campaign. The Irish Guards, as part of the Guards Armoured Division, took part in Operation ' Goodwood ' that began on the 18th July 1944. The Divisions objective was Cagny, Vimont and the surrounding area. During that day near Cagny, Lieutenant John Gorman of the 2nd Irish Guards was in his Sherman tank when he was confronted by a far superior German, 68 ton Tiger II or ' King Tiger ' tank. Gorman's tank fired one shot at the Tiger II but to no avail. The shot simply bounced off the thick armour. Upon the order to fire again, the Sherman's gun jammed. The Lieutenant then gave the order to ram the Tiger II just as it was about to turn its massive 88mm gun on Gorman's tank. The Sherman tank smashed into the Tiger II, the collision disabling both tanks. Both tank crews then bailed out. Lieutenat Gorman, once he had seen his crew to safety, returned to the scene in a commandeered Sherman Firefly and destroyed the King Tiger. He won the Military Cross for his heroics. The driver from his own crew, Lance Corporal James Brown, won the Military Medal.
The Irish Guards were involved in further action that day. Cagny, devastated by heavy bombing, was finally liberated on the 19th July. The Irish Guards also saw action in the Mont Pincon area. On the 29th August the 3rd irish Guards crossed the Seine and began to advance into Belgium with the rest of the Guards Division on their journey to Brussels.
Upon the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, both battalions of the Irish Guards were based in the UK. In 1940 the 1st Irish Guards deployed to Norway as part of the 24th ( Guards ) Brigade in early April. In May the Polish Liner, now troopship ' Chobry ' which was transporting the Brigade HQ and the 1st Irish Guards from another area of Norway to the northern town of Bodo was hit by Heinkel He III bombers which killed many men, including the Commanding Officer Second-in-Command, the adjudant and three of the five company commanders of the 1st Irish Guards, as well as losing all their heavy equipment. Fire began to engulf the ship and considering the amount of ammunition on board, a deadly and immense explosion seemed imminent. The men were rescued by escorting vessels.
Later that month the battalion did fight on land in Norway, seeing action and holding out against tough German opposition for two days until they were finally forced to withdraw due to being outflanked by the advancing Germans. The Brigade HQ and battalion were withdrawn by boat, though sadly they left many behind. The men left behind managed to break out, reaching Allied lines later that day. The regiment was finally evacuated back to the UK with the rest of the Expeditionary Force in June.
In May 1940, the 2nd Irish Guards deployed to the Hook of Holland to cover the evacuation of the Dutch Royal Family. The battalion evacuated the day after the Government and Dutch Royal family had been evacuated. They only had a short respite upon their return to the UK, when they returned along with the Welsh Guards, to the Continent, and the port of Boulogne in Northern France, reaching the town on the 22nd May. Their orders were to defend part of Boulogne during the epic evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) from Dunkirk and the Overwhelming and inexorable advance of the Germans.
The Guards stoutly defended their area of responsibility from better equipped German Forces, repulsing a number of German attacks on the 22nd, but on the morning of the 23rd, superior German Forces attacked the battalion and the Guards suffered very heavily in the attack. Later that day the battalion was evacuated from Boulogne, they were the last to leave, and fought valiantly while waiting to be evacuated.
In 1941 the 2nd Irish Guards re-roled as an armoured regiment, joining the newly formed Guards Armoured Division. Later that year the 3rd Irish Guards was raised. In 1943, the 3rd Irish Guards joined the Guards Armoured Division as an Infantry Battalion.
In 1944 the 2nd and 3rd Irish Guards took part in the Normandy Campaign. The Irish Guards, as part of the Guards Armoured Division, took part in Operation ' Goodwood ' that began on the 18th July 1944. The Divisions objective was Cagny, Vimont and the surrounding area. During that day near Cagny, Lieutenant John Gorman of the 2nd Irish Guards was in his Sherman tank when he was confronted by a far superior German, 68 ton Tiger II or ' King Tiger ' tank. Gorman's tank fired one shot at the Tiger II but to no avail. The shot simply bounced off the thick armour. Upon the order to fire again, the Sherman's gun jammed. The Lieutenant then gave the order to ram the Tiger II just as it was about to turn its massive 88mm gun on Gorman's tank. The Sherman tank smashed into the Tiger II, the collision disabling both tanks. Both tank crews then bailed out. Lieutenat Gorman, once he had seen his crew to safety, returned to the scene in a commandeered Sherman Firefly and destroyed the King Tiger. He won the Military Cross for his heroics. The driver from his own crew, Lance Corporal James Brown, won the Military Medal.
The Irish Guards were involved in further action that day. Cagny, devastated by heavy bombing, was finally liberated on the 19th July. The Irish Guards also saw action in the Mont Pincon area. On the 29th August the 3rd irish Guards crossed the Seine and began to advance into Belgium with the rest of the Guards Division on their journey to Brussels.
