From Bordon to Thiepval. A Story of the 11th Battalion ROYAL IRISH RIFLES (South Antrim Volunteers). THIS BOOK IS Dedicated to the people of Ulster In remembrance of those who have given their lives for their King and Country. [Pg 2] [Pg 3] WITH THE ULSTER DIVISION IN FRANCE. A STORY OF THE 11th BATTALION ROYAL IRISH RIFLES (South Antrim Volunteers), From BORDON to THIEPVAL. IN FOUR PARTS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS AND MAPS. BY A.P.I.S. AND D.G.S. “The sequel of to-day unsolders all The goodliest fe

The appearance of this little book needs a word of explanation. While at the front with the Ulster Division, the late Captain A. P. I. Samuels, had kept a very complete record of events, and collected all the material available, with the object of being in a position, some day, to publish an account of the doings of the Division, and particularly of his own Battalion, the 11th Royal Irish Rifles (South Antrim Volunteers.) It has been willed, however, that he should not be spared to carry out his

LIEUT. VANCE, CAPTAIN SAMUELS, LIEUT. YOUNG, LIEUT. ELLIS. “C” COMPANY, ST. LEGER. During the time we were in St. Leger, Major Clarke (Officer Commanding “C” Company) left the Battalion and joined the 108th Brigade as Staff Captain. I took over command of “C” Company on November 12th. Our Company headquarters were in the Cure’s house, the Cure, like most of his confreres in France, having gone to the front. On 27th we moved from St. Leger to Buigny l’Abbe, a small village about three kilometres

A service was held in the ancient Abbey of St. Requier on Christmas Day, and a sacred concert, which gave our men an opportunity of listening to Christmas music. An incident happened about this time at St. Requier which caused no little excitement. A French billet belonging to the Downs (13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles) went on fire. At the sound of the fire alarm every one turned out to assist the French people who stripped to the waist were hard at work trying to save their farm. The fire wa

H. G. Gallagher. The following account of the great battle is taken from different stories and official accounts given by Officers and men who came through that memorable day. It has been censored by several Commanding Officers in the Division, who ascertain to the correctness of it in detail. In a letter received by General Sir George Richardson, K.C.B., commanding the Ulster Volunteer Force, from General Nugent, commanding the Ulster Division, the following passages occur:— “Before you get thi

Somme—July 1st, 1916. William J. Gallagher. Galdonagh, Manorcunningham, Co. Donegal. 10th July, 1916. (Published by permission of the Author.)...

In a specially written account of the part taken in the big advance of July 1st by the Tyrone Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Lieut.-Col. Ricardo, D.S.O., commander of the battalion, says:—Just now it is a hard struggle between pride and sorrow, and every moment the latter surges up, and it takes a mighty effort to keep our chins up; but we shall see it through and begin again, however hard. Out of 19 officers who went over, 12 have gone, the very best, and all dear pals; four cam

Messages of tribute to the Ulster Division from:— Lieut.-General Sir T. L. N. Morland, K.C.B., D.S.O., commanding the Army Corps in which the Ulster Division was serving, has issued the following order:— The General Officer Commanding the Corps wishes to express to the General Officer of the Division and all ranks his admiration of the dash and gallantry with which the attack was carried out, and which attained a large measure of success under very unfavourable conditions. He regrets the heavy a

A beautiful description of St. Riquier and the foundation of the Abbey is given in a book by Margaret Stokes, “Three Months in the Forests of France.” About the year 589, two Irishmen, named Caidox and Fricor, disembarked on the coast at the little town of Quentovic, on the mouth of the Somme, with twelve companions, and they followed the great Roman road, now called the Chaussée Brunehaut, preaching the Gospel on their way. They reached Centule (now St. Riquier), and remained there some days to

In some cases Photographs could not be obtained . Captain C. C. Craig. Commanding B Company; wounded and prisoner; M.P. for South Antrim. Major A. P. Jenkins , Lisburn. Commanding A Company; wounded and prisoner; first reported missing; received Commission as Captain in 11th Royal Irish Rifles, September, 1914, served in France till July 1st, 1916, when wounded and made prisoner, released from Germany owing to wounds in December, 1916, spent from December, 1916, till November, 1917, as a repatri

R’man. Boyd, D....

ADJUTANT, 11th (S.) Bn. R.Ir.Rif. Embarkation List of Officers 11th Royal Irish Rifles who left Bordon Camp for France, October, 1915....

[1] See Note, Appendix I . [2] General Nugent’s reference is of course to the First of July, a date sacred to Orangemen....