In the action at Hartbeestefontein he had a narrow escape, riding some 300 yards in front of his company in a charge, with one corporal. They were surprised from a house at 25 yards range, and the corporal saved his life by shooting a man in the act of aiming at his officer.
He distinguished himself in the action at Klerksdorp and in the pursuit of Niewhoudt’s commando, and on February 26th, 1902, was ordered to Pretoria to take command of the 28th Battalion Mounted Infantry, handing over his company to Lieutenant Low, who was killed a fortnight later. Captain Laurie was highly commended by Colonel Rochfort for his services with the Rifles Mounted Infantry in these words:—
“During the whole of my time in South Africa I did not command better or more mobile troops than the two mounted infantry companies of the Royal Irish Rifles under Captain Laurie and Captain Baker.”
For his services in the war Captain Laurie was mentioned in despatches, and received the Queen’s medal with clasps. A step in rank came in 1904, and in 1911 Major Laurie had the honour of commanding the detachment of the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles which was sent from Dover to London to attend the Coronation of King George. On October 28th, 1912, Major Laurie was promoted to the command of the 1st Battalion, then at Kamptee, Lieutenant-Colonel O’Leary’s term having expired. He brought the regiment from India to Aden, and last October it was moved to England prior to going to France in the following month.
(“Belfast Newsletter,” March 20th, 1915.)
FROM NEUVE CHAPELLE.
Belfast Regiment’s Part.
Heroism of Colonel Laurie.
Interesting particulars of the part played by the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in the attack on Neuve Chapelle are given by Sergeant-Major Miller, who is now in the Mater Misericordiæ Hospital, Dublin, with a severe wound in the eye received on that occasion. The Rifles formed part of the Fourth Army Corps, which, with the Indian Corps, as reported by Field-Marshal French, carried out the assault on the German lines. Prior to the action General Sir Henry Rawlinson inspired his troops with an address, in which he said:—
“The attack which we are about to undertake is of the first importance to the Allied cause. The army and the nation are watching the result, and Sir John French is confident that every individual in the Fourth Army Corps will do his duty and inflict a crushing defeat on the German Seventh Corps, which is arrayed against us.”
This, says the sergeant-major, was the only intimation of the enemy’s strength. Had it been otherwise, the result would have been the same. On the first day of the attack their Commanding Officer, Colonel Laurie, seemed to have a charmed life. He deliberately walked up and down, giving orders and cheering the men on amid a flood of fire. He seemed unconscious of the fact that a great bombardment was taking place. It was a wonderful sight to see him there, his big military figure standing out boldly in presence of his soldiers. Colonel Laurie and his adjutant were killed the next day, in spite of the charm which seemed to surround his life on the previous day. The sergeant-major is unable to state how many men the Rifles lost. He is getting on favourably, and comrades from the 3rd Battalion at Wellington Barracks are permitted to visit him.
Sergeant Murphy, of the 3rd Battalion of the Rifles, has received a letter from his brother (who was wounded with the Rifles at Neuve Chapelle, and is now in hospital at Brighton), in which he says:—“I think I am a lucky man to get away at all. Our Commanding Officer, Colonel Laurie, was killed, and all our officers have been nearly washed out. There was an awful bombardment between the two armies, and it was only a very odd man that got away without being wounded. The Germans lost heavily; so did we. I was in a ward with the Germans, and they told me they were glad they got wounded, for they would have to be killed anyway.”
Rifleman Sharkey, who was wounded, and is in hospital at Netley, writes:—“We got a bad cutting-up, and lost our beloved Colonel and adjutant and the two officers of our company.”
(“Morning Post,” September 20th, 1916.)
THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES.
Ulster Gallantry.
(From a Military Correspondent.)
“Well done; very well done indeed.” Such was the remark of a General standing at a Ginchy débris heap as the Irish battalions moved past him on the way to a rest point in the captured line. The numbering of the platoons did not reach the morning’s total, but the men had conquered, and they bore aloft the trophies of the battle, helmets and such like, which they waved at the General. All had contributed to the joy of Ireland from Cork to Derry, Ulsterman and Nationalist, and the Royal Irish Rifles had made Belfast glad.
Colonel Fitch raised the regiment in Dublin six score years ago, and the Army of that time called them “Fitch’s Grenadiers,” because the men were small of stature. When they fought they were as giants, and later on the good physique of the men and their hardy endurance earned them the name of the “Irish Giants.” One branch of the regiment was raised in County Down, and to-day the name is perpetuated in the 4th and 5th Battalions, which are known as the Royal Down Militia, despite official changes of designation; and as a further link with the past the depot is in Belfast and the Record Office in Dublin.
When mobilization was ordered, one battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles was scorching under the sun at Aden, and the other was at Tidworth, on Salisbury Plain. The former were to take over the barracks of the latter, which unit was to commence at Malta, in the Winter of 1914, and a tour of service abroad. The latter, however, went out with their Tidworth comrades. It would be covering very old ground to repeat what magnificent work was done in the Great Retreat, when the Royal Irish Rifles showed themselves possessed of the grit which had characterised them at Stormberg, where the writer witnessed them scaling the face of a cliff of rock to get at the Boers, who had ambushed Gatacre’s force—an unforgettable and heroic sight. In the retreat towards Paris and the advance to the Aisne Lieutenant-Colonel W.D. Bird, Major C.R. Spedding, and a dozen others were mentioned by Lord French, and a D.S.O., a Military Cross, several D.C.M.’s, a Médaille Militaire, and a special promotion resulted, this being the beginning of many subsequent rewards.
In the Ypres—Armentières phase of the campaign, when the British Army skilfully withdrew to the north of the line, the 7th Brigade repulsed heavy assaults, and both battalions of the Royal Irish Rifles added to their lists of distinguished names. The victory at Neuve Chapelle further increased the record of the regiment, whose men charged the enemy in splendid fashion. Lieutenant-Colonel Laurie was killed, and his adjutant, Captain Wright, fell by his side, while Major Alston was also killed. All three were mentioned in despatches, as well as a score of others. At Hooge the Royal Irish Rifles tried to force their way into the enemy’s lines through uncut entanglement in the face of machine-gun fire, and their conduct all through the Loos operations was evidence of the high character of the regiment.
In the operations under Sir Douglas Haig in the early part of 1916 trench warfare, with its brilliant raids, two battalions were named for distinguished conduct, and the numbers as well as the names of the battalions were published in the list issued to the Press.
When the great advance began on July 1st, the Ulster Division attacked the strongest position in the line, and suffered heavily. An officer, describing this glorious attack, wrote:—“I am not an Ulsterman, but as I followed the amazing attack of the Ulster Division on July 1st, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world.” With shouts of “Remember the Boyne” and “No surrender, boys,” they threw themselves at the Germans, and before they could be restrained had penetrated to the enemy’s fifth line. The Royal Irish Rifles went through hell that day, and sought out the machine gunners at the bayonet’s point. There has been nothing finer in the war than this charge.
What the regiment did at Guillemont and Ginchy is the talk of the moment, for, with the other Irish battalions, they accounted for all who came in their front—Guards, Line, and guns. Perhaps the two latest awards are among the best. The Victoria
Cross was won by Privates Robert Quigg and William McFadzean. The former went out seven times in the heaviest fire for wounded men. The latter gave his life for his comrades by throwing himself on the top of two bombs and taking the whole force of the two explosions. He was blown to pieces. There are many other battle phases and incidents worthy of record, but that which has been written is enough to show what the old 83rd and 86th Foot, the men of County Down, Belfast, Antrim, the Young Citizens, and the others have done, and are doing, in this tremendous combat.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING.[14]
Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men—
I am very glad to have been able to see my Army in the Field.
I much wished to do so in order to gain a slight experience of the life you are leading.
I wish I could have spoken to you all, to express my admiration of the splendid manner in which you have fought and are still fighting against a powerful and relentless enemy.
By your discipline, pluck and endurance, inspired by the indomitable regimental spirit, you have not only upheld the tradition of the British Army, but added fresh lustre to its history.
I was particularly impressed by your soldierly, healthy, cheerful appearance.
I cannot share in your trials, dangers and successes; but I can assure you of the proud confidence and gratitude of myself and of your fellow countrymen.
We follow you in our daily thoughts on your certain road to victory.
GEORGE, R.I.
December 5th, 1914.
General Headquarters.
R.I.R.’s AT NEUVE CHAPELLE.
[A Poem written by Rifleman J. Dickson.]
Dear Franc,
Just a few lines of verse about the Royal Irish Rifles at Neuve Chapelle.—Yours truly,
No. 9180 Rifleman J. Dickson,
“A” Coy., 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, Dublin.
Come, please just pay attention, and a story I will tell
Of how the gallant R.I.R.’s were the first in Neuve Chapelle;
Colonel Laurie gave the order for the regiment to advance,
And when they met the Germans our boys did make them dance.
With bayonets fixed we rushed them, though outnumbered five to one;
Each one did prove a hero, and many a gallant deed was done;
Our noble Colonel, he was killed, our Major fell as well,
And a score of our brave officers lost their lives at Neuve Chapelle.
Our men were lost in hundreds, no regiment could do more,
And when the fight was over our officers numbered four;
Yet manfully they struggled amidst that living hell,
And out of all the British Army were the first in Neuve Chapelle.
Then here’s to the gallant R.I.R., those riflemen so brave,
Who nobly did their duty and found a soldier’s grave;
So may their glory ever shine, for they have proved their worth,
And laurels brought to Ireland for the honour of the North.
“THE MAN OF SORROWS.”
God hath sent thee many trials,
But strength is as thy day;
Do not despair or say, my child,
“I have no heart to pray.”
For God’s ways are not your ways,
And tho’ thou art bereft
Of all that’s most endearing,
There is one comfort left.
When a dear one has departed
To enter into rest,
And you feel so broken-hearted
That you cannot say “’Tis best”;
There is One Who will always help you
And bring you great relief:
For He was a Man of Sorrows
And acquainted sore with grief.
When your dearest idol’s taken
And you are dumb with pain;
When your faith in man is shaken
And everything seems vain,
There is One you can rely on,
Tho’ of sinners you are chief:
For He was a Man of Sorrows
And acquainted sore with grief.
Oh! weary, wandering, wilful child,
Think of that dying thief,
Who sought his Saviour, e’en tho’ late,
In the bitterness of grief;
And say no more you are alone,
Bereft of every friend:
The Man of Sorrows is your stay
And comfort to the end.
—Dorcas Skeffington.
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Notes
1
Major Herbert Stepney, Irish Guards, was killed while commanding the Battalion in the first Battle of Ypres.
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2
Major Osbert Clinton-Baker, of Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire, Second-in-Command 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, gazetted Colonel of the Regiment in May, about two months after Colonel Laurie fell. He was mortally wounded and missing at Fromelles on May 9th, 1915.
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3
Capt. Haliburton Laurie fell in the South African War at Philippolis, on a kopje, while rescuing a wounded patrol.
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4
Afterwards Brigadier-General Napier. Previous to the war he commanded the 2nd Bn. Royal Irish Rifles in Aldershot and Dover. He was killed while landing troops in Gallipoli during the summer of 1915.
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5
Sir Nevil Macready, at this time Adjutant-General of our Forces.
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6
The number of killed amounted to 44 and 88 wounded.
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7
Colonel Horsborgh was taken ill suddenly on the transport returning from Aden, and he was buried at sea by Colonel Laurie.
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8
See page 119.
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9
General Laurie and his brother, Colonel Dyson-Laurie, went to the Crimean War when quite young boys, aged respectively 18 and 15. Appended is an article written by the former, and is of interest in drawing a contrast between the conditions of war in 1854 and those of the late war.
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10
Brigadier-Gen. Lowry Col
e fell in action at the Battle of Fromelles, May 9th, 1915.
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11
General Bird commanded the 2nd Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, and was through the severe fighting of the Battle of the Aisne and the Retreat from Mons, where he was terribly wounded and lost his leg.
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12
Lieut. W.F.E. Denison (Sherwood Foresters) served in the Great War, and fell mortally wounded in the last German advance near Cambrai on March 24th, 1918.
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13
Civil and Military.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie Page 15
