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2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles    2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles were based at Tidworth with 7th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France with the BEF, landing at Rouen on the 14th of August. They saw action in The Battle of Mons and the rearguard action at Solesmes, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, at La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres. They took part in the Winter Operations of 1914-15, The First Attack on Bellewaarde and the Actions at Hooge. On the 18th of October 1915 they transferred with 7th Brigade to 25th Division. They were in action in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge in May 1916. They then moved to The Somme and joined the Battle just after the main attack, with 75th Brigade making a costly attack near Thiepval on the 3rd of July. The Division was in action at The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres and The Battle of the Ancre Heights. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Messines attacking between the Wulverghem-Messines and Wulverghem-Wytschaete roads. In the Third battle of Ypres were were in action during The Battle of Pilkem. On the 13th of November 1917 they transferred to 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division, absorbing the 7th Battalion then on the 8th of February 1918 they transferred to 107th Brigade, still in 36th Division. They were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys and the Final Advance in Flanders. At the Armistice they were at Mouscron, north east of Tourcoing, where it remained and was demobilised by June 1919. 5th August 1914 Mobilization 11th August 1914 Advance Party arrives 14th August 1914 Quartering Arrangements Completed 16th August 1914 Movement Orders 17th August 1914 On the Move 18th August 1914 On the Move 19th August 1914 Changes in quartering arrangements 20th August 1914 Changes in quartering arrangements 21st August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas. 22nd August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas. 23rd August 1914 German attack crosses Canal 24th August 1914 Withdrawals 24th Aug 1914 Attack Made 25th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement 25th Aug 1914 Retirement 25th Aug 1914  Rear Guard 26th August 1914 In Action 26th August 1914 Retirement 26th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement 27th Aug 1914 Rear Guard 27th August 1914 Continued withdrawals 28th Aug 1914 Rear Guard 28th August 1914 Initial Intelligence Report 28th Aug 1914 On the March 29th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement 30th August 1914 Demolitions on withdrawals 31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals 4th September 1914 Enemy across the Marne 6th September 1914 Attack Made 7th September 1914 Attack progressing 8th September 1914 Ongoing Battles 9th September 1914 Ongoing Action 10th September 1914 Davance 11th September 1914 Continued progress 12th September 1914 Bad Weather 13th September 1914 Strong Opposition 14th September 1914 Further Advance 15th September 1914 Shelling 16th September 1914 Difficulties 17th September 1914 Heavy Bombardment 18th September 1914 Night Attacks 19th September 1914 Attack Repulsed 20th September 1914 Ongoing Action 20th September 1914 Reliefs 21st September 1914 Attacks 22nd September 1914 Reliefs 23rd September 1914 Patrols 24th September 1914 Artillery Exchange 26th September 1914 Aircraft Assists 27th September 1914 Continuing action around bridges 28th September 1914 Bridges 29th September 1914 Ongoing fighting on all fronts 30th September 1914 September Intelligence Summary 1st Oct 1914 On the March 1st October 1914 Commencement of Move 2nd Oct 1914 On the March 3rd Oct 1914 On the March 4th Oct 1914 On the March 5th Oct 1914 On the Move 6th Oct 1914 On the Move 7th Oct 1914 On the March 9th Oct 1914 Holding the Line 10th Oct 1914 Holding the Line 11th Oct 1914 On the March 12th Oct 1914 In Action   13th Oct 1914 In Action   14th Oct 1914 In Action   15th Oct 1914 Advance Continues   16th Oct 1914 Advance Continues 17th Oct 1914 Advance Continues 18th Oct 1914 Reliefs 19th Oct 1914 Reliefs 20th Oct 1914 Holding the Line 21st Oct 1914 Entrenching 22nd Oct 1914 Entrenching 23rd Oct 1914 Attack Repulsed 24th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire 25th Oct 1914 In Action 26th Oct 1914 In Action 26th Oct 1914 In Action   27th Oct 1914 In Action 27th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire 27th Oct 1914 In Action   30th Oct 1914 On the March   31st Oct 1914 On the March   16th Jun 1915 Attack Made   16th Jun 1915 In Action   16th Jun 1915 Preparations   16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 19th of January 1916  Attack Made 9th February 1916 Call Ups 9th of February 1916  2nd Army Inspection 23rd of February 1916 On the March 25th of February 1916 Training and Snow   6th of March 1916 Marching 10th of March 1916  On the March   12th of March 1916  On the March 27th of March 1916  Reliefs   25th of May 1916 Inspection 7th of July 1916 In the Trenches   8th of July 1916 Consolidation   11th Jul 1916 Real Courage 14th of July 1916  On the Move    18th of October 1916  Organisation for Attack   19th Oct 1916 Funeral 21st of October 1916  Bn Attacks   14th of December 1916 Into Trenches   15th of December 1916 Quiet Day 2nd of January 1917 Baths and Work   6th of January 1917 A Relief    10th of January 1917 Battalion Relieved 14th of January 1917  In Trenches 18th of January 1917 Into Billets 22nd of January 1917 In Front Line 23rd of January 1917 Work on Damaged Trenches 26th of January 1917 March to Regina Camp 30th of January 1917 Back in Trenches 11th of March 1917 Football 15th of March 1917  Football Replay 16th of March 1917 Musketry Competition 16th of May 1917 Return to Bulford 9th of June 1917  On the Move   11th of June 1917 Into Bivouacs   10th of August 1917 Zero Day   11th Aug 1917 Reliefs 12th Aug 1917 Diffilcult Conditions   20th of August 1917 On the March   3rd of September 1917 Quiet Morning 12th December 1917 Daily Activity  South of Marcoing 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. are in Brigade support on being relieved by 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in the line at dusk. C Company on right. B Company on outpost line. A Company on left. D Company in support. War Diaries 8th of February 1918 Battalions Transferred 31st of March 1918 Account of Operations   16th Aug 1918 Reliefs  9th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers report "Day was ordinary. At night the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles and on relief moved into Brigade reserve at Mont Noir. Relief was completed by 0130. Disposition of Companies: A & D in wood near Woelfhoek, B in Quarry and C in Blue Line." War Diary 9th North Irish Horse 16th of August 1918 An Enemy Raid   5th Sep 1918 In Action  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) Royal Irish Fusiliers report: "During the night of 4th/5th of August enemy patrols were out and signs of work were heard. A Company of the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers was ordered to fill up gap between B and A Companies. At 0500 under a very light barrage two Platoons of C Company, two of B, and the Company of the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers were to attack the line Hanbury Support down to Irish Farm. The 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers were not in position, in time for the attack. B Company were held up by barbed wire and had to retire. C Company got into King Edward Trench, but being unsupported on either flank had to retire to jumping-off trench after holding out for an hour. The enemy artillery did not reply but his machine guns were active. The remainder of the day was quiet; occasional bursts of shelling near St Quentin Cabaret and farm at T.12.a.40.40. The Battalion was relieved at night by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles on the line from road at T.6.d.40.80 along hedge running south through T.6.d.4.0 to river in T.12.b and from T.12.c.50.95, T.18.a.80.90. The Company of 1st Battalion were holding line T.12.b.35.30, T.12.b.20.10 and part of Plum Duff Street. Our casualties since coming into line were four Officers wounded Lieutenants Murphy, Bell, Laird and Lyons, twenty Other Ranks killed, twenty Other Ranks missing and 103 Other Ranks wounded. We captured one anti-tank rifle, one light trench mortar, and three machine guns including a Vickers. On relief the Battalion moved to Divisional support at Cyprian Farm. The enemy shelled the roads during relief and the Battalion had to pass through gas shelling." War Diary North Irish Horse 5th of September 1918  Situation Unchanged   16th of September 1918 1,120 Enemy Shells   17th of September 1918 A German Sailor Killed   30th Sep 1918 Advance Guard  At Becelaere at 5.30am 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, covered by an advance guard, moved forward through J.18.b, K.13 central to K.16.c. Information was received from Brigade to the effect that the 109th Brigade held Terhand and Dadizeele. 9th North Irish Horse Battalion was to pass through 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at 0700. 12th Royal Irish Rifles to advance on our left, Terhand, Vijfwegen Road the inter-Battalion boundary, the first objective to be a line roughly north and south through Vijfwegen (K.24.a); second objective to be railway running north and south (K.20 and K.26 central); third objective to be Mooreseele. The 29th Division was on our right. At 0700 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were on a line running south-west through K.21.a and c. The 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were facing south with posts along Terhand, Vinwegen Road. The 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were held up by machine gun fire and had lost touch with the 29th Division. A patrol from 9th North Irish Horse Battalion discovered the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers holding line running south from K.19.a.9.6 through K.19 central, i.e. 2000 yards in rear. B Company 9NIH were sent to move along line of enemy wire through K.21.b, K.22.c and K.29.c to occupy high ground in K.30.a. C Company to move to right rear of B Company to protect flank, to get and keep in touch with 29th Division. A Company to move through K.22 central, K.23 central to K.24.c and to keep touch with 12th Royal Irish Rifles and D Company to move in support along Terhand, Vijfwegen Road. B and C Companies 9th North Irish Horse came under machine gun fire almost at once after moving through the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but A Company met with no opposition until they reached the east side of Methuen Wood, when they came under machine gun fire from houses in K.23.d about 9.30am. About this time the reserve Company came under machine gun fire from a pill box on K.24.b.0.3 and Leadenhall Copse which were cleared in spite of stiff resistance by 1230. Twelve prisoners and two machine guns were captured in this operation, and an Officer with twenty Other Ranks of the enemy being killed. All further attempts to advance our line beyond the general line of this pill box and Leadenhall Copse were prevented by very heavy machine gun fire from fortified farms on our right flank which was still hanging back. At about 1800 when the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles passed through the line to attack, the general line ran K.24.b.0.3, Leadenhall Copse, K.23.d.2.5, K.29.b.2.8. 9th North Irish Horse Battalion casualties during the day were six Officers and 130 Other Ranks. War Diarie North Irish Horse 1st October 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers report "The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles relieved the Battalion in the line south of Hill 41. On relief the Battalion moved into Divisional Reserve in K.14.a. One Officer and fifteen Other Ranks casualties were incurred during relief. Remainder of day spent in checking casualty lists, deficiencies, etc." War Diaries 1st of October 1918  Allies Attack   2nd of October 1918 Co-operating with 29th Div   4th October 1918 Reports   15th of October 1918 Attack Continues   22nd of October 1918 A Combined Attack   25th of October 1918 Heavy Fighting All Day   15th of February 1919 Boxing Tournament If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles? There are:5379 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles during the Great War 1914-1918. Craig Robert James. Pte. Farran Edmond Chomley. Capt. (d.16th June 1915) Mulcahy-Morgan Edward Spread. Capt. (d.27th Oct 1914) Naughton James. Rifl. Ruddock James. Sgt. (d.12th October 1914) Smith George. Sgt. Williams MM. Henry Alexander. Cpl. All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.   Sgt. George Smith 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Rifles George Smith was my grandfather's alias. His real name was John Creevy. Stephen Add to this record.   Pte. Robert James Craig 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles Robert Craig enrolled at Island Bridge Barracks, Dublin, on 8th August 1914, so joining the regular Army, not the Kitchener Army. He joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. He was transferred to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles (which had suffered losses at La Bassee, and 1st Ypres). He arrived in France on 13th of December 1914 and reinforced the battalion at Hooge, in the Ypres salient. He was wounded by shrapnel and returned to the UK. the oral history of the family is that he was present in Dublin at the time of the Easter Rising. This makes sense, as the 3rd Royal Irish Rifles were then the reserve battalion, stationed at Portobello Barracks, and who fought their way to the castle. Peter Kidd Add to this record.   Sgt. James Ruddock 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (d.12th October 1914) Sgt James Ruddock of the Royal Irish Rifles was my grandfather and he was killed in action at La Couture in France on 12th of October 1914 just 21 days after his youngest son (my father) was born. He also had 2 older children, my grandmother was left a widow with 3 small children. Legend within the family has always been that my grandmother was the first Northern Ireland war widow of the First World War. We have no idea whether this is true or not but whatever the truth we will always try and ensure that his name is never forgotten. Sharon Forrest Add to this record.   Cpl. Henry Alexander Williams MM. 13th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles My great grandfather Henry Williams served in the Great War with the 2nd and 7th Battalions, Royal Irish Rifles and the 13th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the field in France awarded 1919. He served from the 4th of August 1914 to 11th of November 1918 and was discharged due to injury I believe according to the documents I have. George Benjamin Williams-Holding Add to this record.   Capt. Edmond Chomley Farran 3rd Btn. att. 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Rifles (d.16th June 1915) Capt Edmond Farran of the Royal Irish Rifles was killed at the Battle of Hooge on the 16th of June 1915 Aged 35 years. s flynn Add to this record.   Capt. Edward Spread Mulcahy-Morgan 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Rifles (d.27th Oct 1914) Capt Edward Spread Mulcahy-Morgan in the Royal Irish Rifles was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 27th of October 1914 aged 25 years" He was the 2nd son of Edward Campion Mulcahy-Morgan and Susan his wife. Formerly of Larkfield. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the lord hath promised to them that love him." s flynn Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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