This one is in progress, I thought that you might like to be kept updated:: Here is some info: The Etreux Action And the trusted wikipedia here: Étreux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 2nd. Royal Munster Fusiliers, in their very first action in France, achieved a military feat unparalleled in modern warfare.[1] A brigade may occasionally have the task of trying to delay a whole enemy division. A division may perhaps be deployed in an attempt to turn aside or halt an advancing army corps - but for a single battalion to stem the advance of an entire army by their sole action was unprecedented. In fact, less than a battalion strength, just 3 companies of the 2nd. Battalion of The Munsters halted the advance of the German Army for fourteen hours in the area of Oisny & Etreux during the retreat from Mons, thus enabling the rest of the British Army to withdraw to a safe distance of twelve miles. They were outnumbered at odds of over 6 to 1, and when finally defeated, the survivors were congratulated on their supreme bravery by the German soldiers they had fought. In 1922, a cross was erected in an orchard in Etreux, just behind the railway station, to the memory of 120 men of the Munsters's 2nd. Battalion who fell there in their last stand on 27th. August 1914. The officers and men of the Regiment who died in that battle are buried there alongside the carved monumental cross dedicated to their memory. Part of the inscription reads " In proud and lasting memory of ..... the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd. Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ..... who laid down their lives during The Great War in the cause of Freedom and Justice, 1914-1918" Here is some info: The Etreux Action And the trusted wikipedia here: Étreux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 2nd. Royal Munster Fusiliers, in their very first action in France, achieved a military feat unparalleled in modern warfare.[1] A brigade may occasionally have the task of trying to delay a whole enemy division. A division may perhaps be deployed in an attempt to turn aside or halt an advancing army corps - but for a single battalion to stem the advance of an entire army by their sole action was unprecedented. In fact, less than a battalion strength, just 3 companies of the 2nd. Battalion of The Munsters halted the advance of the German Army for fourteen hours in the area of Oisny & Etreux during the retreat from Mons, thus enabling the rest of the British Army to withdraw to a safe distance of twelve miles. They were outnumbered at odds of over 6 to 1, and when finally defeated, the survivors were congratulated on their supreme bravery by the German soldiers they had fought. In 1922, a cross was erected in an orchard in Etreux, just behind the railway station, to the memory of 120 men of the Munsters's 2nd. Battalion who fell there in their last stand on 27th. August 1914. The officers and men of the Regiment who died in that battle are buried there alongside the carved monumental cross dedicated to their memory. Part of the inscription reads " In proud and lasting memory of ..... the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd. Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ..... who laid down their lives during The Great War in the cause of Freedom and Justice, 1914-1918" Here is some info: The Etreux Action And the trusted wikipedia here: Étreux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 2nd. Royal Munster Fusiliers, in their very first action in France, achieved a military feat unparalleled in modern warfare.[1] A brigade may occasionally have the task of trying to delay a whole enemy division. A division may perhaps be deployed in an attempt to turn aside or halt an advancing army corps - but for a single battalion to stem the advance of an entire army by their sole action was unprecedented. In fact, less than a battalion strength, just 3 companies of the 2nd. Battalion of The Munsters halted the advance of the German Army for fourteen hours in the area of Oisny & Etreux during the retreat from Mons, thus enabling the rest of the British Army to withdraw to a safe distance of twelve miles. They were outnumbered at odds of over 6 to 1, and when finally defeated, the survivors were congratulated on their supreme bravery by the German soldiers they had fought. In 1922, a cross was erected in an orchard in Etreux, just behind the railway station, to the memory of 120 men of the Munsters's 2nd. Battalion who fell there in their last stand on 27th. August 1914. The officers and men of the Regiment who died in that battle are buried there alongside the carved monumental cross dedicated to their memory. Part of the inscription reads " In proud and lasting memory of ..... the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd. Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ..... who laid down their lives during The Great War in the cause of Freedom and Justice, 1914-1918"
Major Paul Charrier, the charasmatic Company Commander who fell in this action, wore a solar topee on the 27th; something he always wore, with the Hackle of the RMF in it. You might also find this of interest? 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers - Great War Forum
Major Paul Charrier, the charasmatic Company Commander who fell in this action, wore a solar topee on the 27th; something he always wore, with the Hackle of the RMF in it. Would this resemble a pith helmet?
Thought you might like to see this by the Master of WW1 battle scenes. Matania. LIFE: Remaining survivors of of 2nd Battalion,... - Hosted by Google Remaining survivors of of 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers overrunning German positions along the Loos to Hulloch road http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/1585f5fc4037e0cd_landing
Irish media has featured that a haunting painting - once thought 'lost' - has been reported sold for €24,500 at a recent auction. "The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois" by Italian war artist Fortunino Matania is a depiction of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers receiving "absolution" from Chaplain Father Francis Gleeson on the eve of the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915. Matania's painting is imbued with a sense of impending doom - many of the battalion died during the battle the following day. He was not present at the scene, but based the work on eyewitness accounts gathered by Jessie Rickard, who is believed to have commissioned the painting to honour her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Rickard, who perished during the battle. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...-details/583819/victor-george-howard-rickard/ Jessie Louisa Rickard - Wikipedia The original painting was understood to have been lost in London during the Blitz according to "Lost" painting depicting Irish heroism during WWI fetches €24k at auction albeit unconfirmed.