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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Major Herbert Stepney, Irish Guards, was killed while commanding the Battalion in the first Battle of Ypres.
[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.
[3] Capt. Haliburton Laurie fell in the South African War at Philippolis, on a kopje, while rescuing a wounded patrol.
[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.
[5] Sir Nevil Macready, at this time Adjutant-General of our Forces.
[6] The number of killed amounted to 44 and 88 wounded.
[7] Colonel Horsborgh was taken ill suddenly on the transport returning from Aden, and he was buried at sea by Colonel Laurie.
[8] See page 119.
[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.
[10] Brigadier-Gen. Lowry Cole fell in action at the Battle of Fromelles, May 9th, 1915.
[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.
[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.
[13] Civil and Military.
[14] See page 29.
Typographical errors corrected in text:
Page 19: undergound replaced with underground
Page 37: pourtray replaced with portray
Page 70: February 3rd, 1921 replaced with February 3rd, 1915
Page 111: expecially replaced with especially