1st Battalion Irish Guards

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Feb 8, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Appendices
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Rotherfield

    Rotherfield Senior Member

    Hi Diane
    Many thanks for the account of the Irish Guards, what an amazing Battalion, I shall add it to my colection.
    Glad that my photo arrived safe, and that your Dad appreciated it, Sgt later Capt Lynch DCM has his photo on the wall of the Garrison Sgts Mess at Wellingtoon barracks along with other noteable Guardsmen, I attend the London Branch Grenadier Association every third Wednesday of the Month where we hold our meetings there, I can asure you that I will pay my respects to his photo on the 21st of this Month.
    God Bless
    rotherfield
     
  3. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    I am really sorry to bother you all , please be gentle with me I am very new at this , does anyone know if the 1st Irish guards where in the UK 44/45 ? even very briefely ?
    Many thanks to you all and thank you for letting me join
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi-Can you be more specific with your enquiry? It may help me/others answer your Q.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  5. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    Thank you Andy
    Its a bit of a genreal question which isnt very helpful I know , I think in general terms I am looking for any postings or transists at or through dover Kent 44/45 .
     
  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    1 IG were in Italy up to end of Apr 44. They suffered very heavy losses at Anzio and were withdrawn to Sorrento to recover.

    Not sure what happened to them after that. I think that they were disbanded and the soldiers sent to 3 IG in NW Europe.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  7. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    1 IG were in Italy up to end of Apr 44. They suffered very heavy losses at Anzio and were withdrawn to Sorrento to recover.

    Not sure what happened to them after that. I think that they were disbanded and the soldiers sent to 3 IG in NW Europe.

    Regards

    FdeP


    Wow Thank you !
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just reading the 1 IG war diary for April to July. They sailed back to the UK in April/May and started training recruits, appears a lot of them were transfered in from the RAF Regt.

    I'll post some more when I know/find out.
     
  9. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    Just reading the 1 IG war diary for April to July. They sailed back to the UK in April/May and started training recruits, appears a lot of them were transfered in from the RAF Regt.

    I'll post some more when I know/find out.

    Again thank you so much
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If you look through this thread Post number 5 gives a good account of Italy.

    Ref the war diary I have- WO 166/15068 1 Irish Guards Apr - Jul 1944.


    Disembarked Liverpool on 22 April 1944
    Arrived London, Chelsea Barracks 23rd.
    Left Chelsea Barracks 2 June 1944 for Hawick, eventually moving to Stobs Barracks there.
    Bn undertook a Training role, taking in men from RAF regiment for instruction.

    I'm affraid I don't have any of the later war diaries for 1944 to 1945
     
  11. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    Thank you Andy , it sounds a horrendous campaign , brave men
     
  12. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    brenny.

    They were indeed. The 1 IG/1 SG attack towards Campoleone on 30-31 Jan 44 in order to establish a Line of Departure for 3 Inf Bde turned into a bloodbath for both Battalions. The Germans had a set of orders for the 24 Guards Brigade attack - captured from a British Officer who went astray, and so they were waiting to pounce when the attack got underway. Unable to get their anti-weapons up by morning, the few British tanks were allocated to 1 SG on the right so forcing 1 IG to withdraw. During the withdrawal, they took a thumping.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  13. brenny

    brenny Junior Member

    brenny.

    They were indeed. The 1 IG/1 SG attack towards Campoleone on 30-31 Jan 44 in order to establish a Line of Departure for 3 Inf Bde turned into a bloodbath for both Battalions. The Germans had a set of orders for the 24 Guards Brigade attack - captured from a British Officer who went astray, and so they were waiting to pounce when the attack got underway. Unable to get their anti-weapons up by morning, the few British tanks were allocated to 1 SG on the right so forcing 1 IG to withdraw. During the withdrawal, they took a thumping.

    Regards

    FdeP


    I have replied to your PM thank you
     
  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Diane.

    Quite brilliant that you are back on this site.

    It is about time you came out to Anzio with me and had a really good look at what 1 IG got up to. It was all pretty hair raising stuff but absolutely fascinating.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Brilliant.

    FdeP
     
  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Now I see what you meant Diane. :wink: Immense effort here, I hope you are being congratulated from these here parts.
     
  17. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From Tunis Telegraph, No. 42, Monday August 9, 1943, Price 1 franc

    [Pages of which are file in WO 169/10168 War Diary 1st Battalion Irish Guards July - December 1943]



    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:3429]

    'Memorial on The Bou', From History of The Irish Guards in the Second World War, FitzGerald



    GUARDS MEMORIAL UNVEILED

    Three sharp volleys of rifle fire shatter the calm of Sunday morning, and echoed among the never-to-be-forgotten hills near MEDJEZ EL BAB. The sad notes of The Last Post died away into the shimmering distances: a Union Jack lay at the foot of a tall grey marble cross set against the skyline on the DJBEL BOU AOUKAZ, the immortal “Hill 212” and an aeroplane droned overhead.

    Below, on the burnt hillside, 250 men of the IRISH GUARDS stood in reverent silence before the simple memorial to their comrades who gave their lives so generously in the bitter battle for that small but important hill.

    It was a spontaneous suggestion by the men of this famous Regiment which led to the erection of this memorial to their fallen comrades.

    The chose the site right on the top of the hill where the Regiment added fresh lustre to its glorious record, and the inscription says:

    “To the memory of the Officers, Warrant Officers, N.C.O’s and Men of the First Battalion, IRISH GUARDS, killed in action, on and around this hill April 27th - 30th, 1943”

    and underneath, the Irish Guards motto

    “Quis Separabit”


    For the consolation and comfort of the relatives of those who fell, photographs of the cross are to be sent home, so that parents and wives will have a permanent record of the memorial, and the knowledge that their dear ones were not left unhonoured and in unknown graves.

    Before a senior Officer of the Regiment unveiled the monument Father J.R. BROOKES celebrated Mass.

    In a short address, he reminded them that they were not only honouring their fallen comrades, but the families of those men who would now learn that in this far-off corner of a foreign land there was a hallowed spot and a memorial to the everlasting memory of those were he buried there.

    After Mass, the firing party, under the command of R.S.M. J McLOUGHLIN, lined up on three sides of the memorial, fired three rounds and then presented arms, while Guardsman TOLAND sounded The Last Post and Reveille.

    The men filed silently round the memorial, and spent a few minutes re-visiting the scene of their battle, before they drove away, carrying with them a lasting memory of that simple cross silhouetted sharply on the skyline against the clear sky of an African midsummer’s day.


    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:6238]
    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:6237]


    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:3431]
    'The Bou', From History of The Irish Guards in the Second World War, FitzGerald


    [​IMG]
     
  18. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From The Irish Guards Association Journal, 1959
    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:3398]


    Replacement memorial plaque, St. George's Church, Tunis:
    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:3399]
     

Share This Page