Chapter XXXVIII: Appendix: 10

MEMORIALS OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.

IN THE NORTH TRANSEPT OF ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN.

I. MONUMENT COMMEMORATIVE OF CHINA WAR, 1840-42.[331]

II. VOTIVE CROSS COMMEMORATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1899-1902.

III. SARCOPHAGUS COMMEMORATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT, 1801.

IV. MONUMENT COMMEMORATIVE OF BURMAH WAR, 1852-53.

V. STAINED-GLASS WINDOW COMMEMORATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICAN WAR,
1899-1902.

VI. STAINED-GLASS WINDOW COMMEMORATIVE OF CRIMEAN WAR, 1855-56.

VII. FOUR PAIRS OF REGIMENTAL COLOURS.

MEMORIAL TABLETS AND BRASSES.[332]

GENERAL CLEMENT ALEXANDER EDWARDS, C.B.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR HENRY MARSHMAN HAVELOCK-ALLAN, BART., V.C., G.C.B.

MAJOR A. W. S. F. ARMSTRONG.

BREVET-MAJOR JAMES TARRANT RING.

CAPTAIN ARTHUR J. MILNER.

I. THE CHINA MONUMENT.

The upper portion of the Monument consists of a sculptured representation of the Crest of the Regiment with crossed Colours and the Regimental Badges.

Beneath is the following inscription:--

DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TOMLINSON,
COMMANDING 18TH (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT,
AT CHAPPOO, 18TH MAY, 1842.

A sculptured representation of the death scene.

On the tablet below is the inscription:--

To the Memory of
THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS,
DRUMMERS, AND PRIVATES,
18TH (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT,
WHO FELL DURING 1840-41-42 IN THE
CHINA WAR.
ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES.

“THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE.
THANKS BE TO GOD WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST.”
--1 COR. XV.

On the scroll at the base of the Monument is the following inscription:--

THE REGIMENT LOST DURING THIS WAR BY DEATH IN THE FIELD,
FROM CASUALTIES OR FROM SICKNESS ATTENDING, AS UNDERNEATH.

LIEUT. F. VAVASOUR--12TH OCTOBER 1840.
MAJOR R. HAMMILL--7TH FEBRUARY 1841.
LIEUT. A. WILSON, ADJUTANT--19TH JUNE 1841.
LIEUT. F. SWINBURN--11TH SEPTEMBER 1841.
LT.-COL. R. TOMLINSON--18TH MAY 1842. KILLED IN ACTION.
CAPTAIN C. J. COLLINSON--21ST JULY 1842.
LIEUT. D. EDWARDES--21ST JULY 1842.
LIEUT. J. COCHRANE--29TH AUGUST 1842.
ENSIGN J. HUMPHREYS--16TH AUGUST 1842.
19 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
158 DRUMMERS AND PRIVATES.

II. THE SOUTH AFRICAN VOTIVE CROSS.

This Memorial, which stands on the north wall of the north transept of St Patrick’s Cathedral between the China and Burma Monuments, was unveiled on May 24th, 1907, by Colonel Beauchamp J. C. Doran, C.B., in the unavoidable absence of Lord Wolseley, the Colonel-in-Chief, and Major-General Gregorie, C.B., the Colonel of the Regiment. The Very Rev. the Dean of St Patrick’s responded to Colonel Doran’s speech.

The Celtic mural Cross, which is nine feet high, is of white marble, laid on a mosaic background, with a frame of Carlow limestone. It was designed by Sir Thomas Drew, and made by Messrs Sharp and Emery, of Great Brunswick Street, Dublin.

A brass tablet, mounted on mahogany, is placed below the Cross. It bears the Crest of the Regiment and the following inscription:--

In Memory of
OUR COMRADES WHO FELL IN THE
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
MDCCCXCIX-MDCCCCII.

III. SARCOPHAGUS. EGYPT, 1801.

On a black marble slab mid-way between the China and Burmah Monuments, and immediately below the South African Mural Cross, is placed a grey stone Sarcophagus, having a Sphinx embossed on the front, with the date, 1801.

IV. THE BURMA MONUMENT.

The upper portion of this is identical with the China Monument.

Beneath the crossed sculptured Colours is the following inscription:--

STORMING THE SHOE DAGON PAGODA, RANGOON.
14TH APRIL 1852.

A sculptured representation of the storming.

On the tablet below is the inscription:--

To the Memory of
THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS,
DRUMMERS, AND PRIVATES,
18TH (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT,
WHO FELL DURING 1852-53 IN THE
BURMA WAR.
ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES.

“THY DEAD MEN SHALL LIVE, TOGETHER WITH MY DEAD BODY SHALL THEY RISE.”

On the scroll at the base of the Monument is the following inscription:--

THE REGIMENT LOST DURING THIS WAR BY DEATH IN THE FIELD,
FROM CASUALTIES OR FROM SICKNESS ATTENDING, AS UNDERNEATH.
LIEUT. R. DORAN (ADJUTANT)--14TH APRIL 1852. KILLED IN ACTION.
CAPTAIN A. GILLESPIE--11TH DECEMBER 1852.
CAPTAIN W. P. COCKBURN--20TH MARCH 1853. DIED OF HIS WOUNDS.
LT.-COLONEL C. J. COOTE--24TH MAY 1853.
LIEUT. F. LILLIE--6TH JUNE 1853.
27 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
333 DRUMMERS AND PRIVATES.

On the floor, extending along the whole front of the Memorials of China, South Africa, Egypt, and Burma, is a black marble slab four feet wide, having four Irish Wolf Hounds in cut stone crouching thereon. Above this is a band of grey dressed stone two feet wide, with a black marble border along the top. A wide space of the wall above is faced with polished alabaster, and this is surmounted by a white marble border.

The words CHINA--S. AFRICA--BURMA are inset in gold on the black marble slab opposite the respective Monuments.

V. THE SOUTH AFRICAN WINDOW.

The picture at p. 305 shows this Memorial directly in front. The window is a lancet, thirteen feet high and three feet six inches wide. It was designed by Miss Sara Purser, and made at her stained-glass works in Pembroke Street, Dublin. The figure in the centre represents King Cormac of Cashel--bishop, warrior, and scribe. Miss Purser writes: “He is standing leaning on his sword, with his warriors behind him; one holds his shield, and another a banner with a dragon of an interlacing Celtic design. At the top of the window two angels support his mitre. In a panel at the base, a mourning angel leans over a shield bearing a badge of the Regiment--the Lion of Nassau. On a scroll is the Regimental motto--‘Virtutis Namurcensis Præmium’--and the Harp and Crown; the Sphinx and the Dragon are also worked into the ornament.”

At the bottom of the window is inscribed on the glass:--

IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN
OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT WHO FELL IN THE
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1899-1902.

As the Depôt of the Regiment is at Clonmel, in the diocese of Cashel, the choice of the subject of the window is very appropriate, and Miss Purser has been most successful in introducing the various regimental devices into the design; the jewel-like colours of the glass are also admirable.

VI. THE CRIMEAN WINDOW.

This is just visible in the picture to the right of the South African Window. It is a lancet; at the top is the Harp and Crown, with wreath of shamrocks, and a scroll bearing the regimental motto. In the centre is a view of Sebastopol Harbour, and at the base an ornamental design.

On a scroll below the window is the following inscription:--

THIS MEMORIAL WINDOW
WAS ERECTED
TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE OF THE
18TH (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT
WHO FELL IN THE CRIMEA
1855-56.

KILLED OR DIED OF THEIR WOUNDS--
LIEUT. J. W. MEURANT,
IN ACTION, 18TH JUNE 1855.
THREE SERGEANTS, ONE DRUMMER,
AND 85 RANK AND FILE.

DIED OF DISEASE--
ENSIGN E. D. RICARD, 5TH MAY 1856.
3 SERGEANTS AND 77 RANK AND FILE.

“HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME THOUGH HE WERE DEAD YET SHALL HE LIVE.”
--GOSPEL OF ST JOHN, XI. C., 25TH V.

VII. REGIMENTAL COLOURS.

1. Above the China Memorial. A Pair of Colours.

With Shield bearing the inscription--

1ST BATTALION, THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT, 1886.

2. Above the Burma Memorial. A Pair of Colours.

With Shield bearing the inscription--

THE COLOURS OF THE 1ST BATTALION, ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT
CARRIED FROM 1837 TO 1856, IN THE WARS OF
CHINA, BURMA, AND THE CRIMEA.

3. On the East Side. A Pair of Colours.

With Shield bearing the inscription--

2ND BATTALION, THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT, 1904.

4. On the West Side. A Pair of Colours.

With Shield bearing the inscription--

3RD BATTALION, THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT, 1908.

MEMORIAL TABLETS AND BRASSES.

1. Brass Tablet placed below the South African Memorial Window bearing the following inscription:--

In Memory of
GENERAL CLEMENT ALEXANDER EDWARDS, C.B.,
KNIGHT OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR.
BORN NOVEMBER 13th, 1812; DIED JULY 29th, 1882.
COLONEL OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT,
IN WHICH HE SERVED UPWARDS OF 53 YEARS,
WAS PRESENT WITH ITS 1ST BATTALION IN
THE WARS OF CHINA, 1842; BURMA, 1852;
THE CRIMEA, 1854; THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857.

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS.

(The Tablet bears the private Crest of General Edwards and the Regimental Crest.)

2. Brass tablet placed to the left of the South African Memorial Window bearing the following inscription:--

In Memory of
LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR HENRY MARSHMAN HAVELOCK-ALLAN,
BARONET, V.C., G.C.B., M.P., D.L.,
COLONEL OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.
SON OF
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HENRY HAVELOCK, K.C.B.,
OF LUCKNOW.
A GALLANT AND HEROIC SOLDIER, HE SERVED
WITH GREAT DISTINCTION IN THE PERSIAN AND
INDIAN MUTINY CAMPAIGNS, AND THE
NEW ZEALAND WAR OF 1863-65.
HE WAS KILLED BY THE AFRIDIS IN THE KYBER PASS ON
30TH DECEMBER, 1897.

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF HIS
DEVOTION TO THE REGIMENT OF WHICH HE WAS CHIEF
BY THE OFFICERS PAST AND PRESENT, WARRANT OFFICERS,
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN OF
THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.

(The tablet bears the private Crest of Sir H. Havelock-Allan and the Regimental Crest.)

3. Brass tablet also placed on the left of the South African Memorial Window bearing the following inscription:--

In Memory of
CAPTAIN ARTHUR J. MILNER,
18TH THE ROYAL IRISH,
DIED AT PALAMPORE,
PUNJAB, INDIA,
17TH SEPTEMBER 1879,
AGED 31 YEARS.

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
BY THE OFFICERS, N.-C. OFFICERS, AND MEN OF
THE REGIMENT BY WHOM
HE IS DEEPLY REGRETTED.

(The tablet bears the private Crest of Captain Milner and the Regimental Crest and Motto.)

4. Stone inset placed on the right of the South African Memorial Window bearing the following inscription:--

Sacred to the Memory of
BREVET-MAJOR JAMES TARRANT RING,
18TH ROYAL IRISH,
WHO WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED WHEN GALLANTLY
LEADING THE ASSAULT ON THE ENEMY’S POSITION
AT ORAKAU PAH ON THE 2ND APRIL, 1864.
HE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF
DURING HIS SERVICE IN THE NEW ZEALAND WAR,
AND ENJOYED THE CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT
OF BOTH THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE REGIMENT,
BY WHOM THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED.

5. Brass tablet also placed on the right of the South African Memorial Window bearing the following inscription:--

In Memory of
MAJOR A. W. S. F. ARMSTRONG,
18TH ROYAL IRISH,
KNIGHT OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR,
WHO, AFTER SERVING WITH DISTINCTION
IN CHINA, INDIA, BURMA,
AND THE CRIMEA,
DIED AT SHORNCLIFFE CAMP,
ON THE 13TH DECEMBER, 1860.

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS
IN TOKEN OF THEIR REGARD AND ESTEEM.

“CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL.”--COLS. III. XI.

(The tablet bears the private Crest of Major Armstrong and the Regimental Crest and Motto.)

All connected with the Regiment, both in the past and the present, who may not have visited St Patrick’s Cathedral in recent years, will be struck by the vast improvement lately effected through the rearrangement and artistic grouping of the numerous Regimental Memorials.

Upon this subject, Sir Thomas Drew wrote on August 20th, 1907: “The real Memorial work was the collection of the previous Memorials of the Regiment, which were casual and scattered, and rearranging them with some general regard into a trophy in which the older Burmah and China monuments of the Pagan and Early Victorian Era were grouped with the dominant South African Votive Cross. They lent themselves, I thought, very happily to component parts of one Regimental Memorial of historic interest, to which the North Transept of the Cathedral is dedicated now. As a whole, and properly photographed, I could conceive no more effective frontispiece to a book on the Royal Irish Regiment.”

The Very Reverend The Dean of St Patrick’s, in the course of his speech at the ceremony of the unveiling of the South African Memorial, said: “It is the privilege of the Chapter of the National Cathedral to be the guardians of many memorials of distinguished Irish regiments. But with no regiment are our ties so manifold and so intimate as with the famous regiment which offers us to-day the custody of its Memorial of the comrades who fell in South Africa. We are surrounded at this end of the North Transept by your insignia and the memorials of your past. In this place, hallowed by so many memories of gallant men, it is fitting that you should offer, and that we should welcome, a monument which will recall to future generations the services which the 1st Battalion of the 18th Royal Irish--the Royal Regiment of Ireland--rendered with faithfulness and devotion for two years and a half during the last great trial of our arms, the long death-roll--too long to inscribe on our walls here--shows at how great a cost your duty was fulfilled.”

MEMORIALS OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT AT CLONMEL.

These consist of--

I. A Memorial Cross commemorative of the Campaigns in Afghanistan,
1879-80; Egypt, 1882; and the Nile Expedition, 1884-85.

II. A Monument commemorative of the South African War, 1899-1902.

THE AFGHANISTAN AND EGYPT CROSS.

This Memorial is placed in the Barrack Square at Clonmel, where the Depôt of the Regiment is stationed. The design is that of an old Celtic Cross adapted from one in Co. Sligo. It is executed in red Aberdeen granite, the height is 7 feet 6 inches, width 2 feet 9 inches, and mounted on a base 2 feet 6 inches high. The designers and executants of the work are Messrs H. Sibthorpe & Son, of 33 Molesworth Street, Dublin.

The inscription on the North face of the Cross is--

IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND PRIVATE
SOLDIERS OF THE 1ST AND 2ND BATTALIONS OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT,
WHO DIED OF DISEASE OR WERE KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE CAMPAIGNS
OF AFGHANISTAN, 1879-80, AND EGYPT, 1882.

THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES.
ALSO IN MEMORY OF NILE EXPEDITION, 1884-85.

The names inscribed on the East, West, and South faces are given in Appendix 2.

There was no public ceremony at the unveiling of this Memorial.

A picture of the Cross is at page 231.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR MEMORIAL, CLONMEL.

The ceremony of unveiling this Memorial was performed at the Barracks, Clonmel, on October 5th, 1908, by the Marquis of Ormonde, Honorary Colonel of the original 5th Battalion, now the 4th Special Reserve Battalion, of the Royal Irish Regiment. About 350 men of the 2nd Battalion, under command of Colonel A. S. Orr, D.S.O., travelled from Buttevant with the band and colours, and formed up on the Barrack Square with the 3rd Special Reserve Battalion, under command of Major R. O. Kellett.

After carrying out the ceremony of unveiling, the Marquis of Ormonde addressed the troops, and recounted the services of the Regiment during the War in South Africa. He made special mention of the gallant deed of No. 3733, Private J. Barry, a Kilkenny man, who was killed at Monument Hill on the night of January 6th, 1901. Private Barry was awarded the Victoria Cross, and it was given to his widow. Lord Ormonde further alluded to the fine fighting record of the Royal Irish in all parts of the British Empire during two and a quarter centuries.

Colonel A. S. Orr, D.S.O., responded on behalf of the Regiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMORIAL.

_Designer_--R. CAULFEILD ORPEN, Esq., B.A., F.R.I.A.I., 13 South Frederick Street, Dublin.

_Executants_--Messrs C. W. HARRISON & SONS, 178 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin.

The Memorial consists of three stone seats, forming a triangle, set on a circular platform, reached by three broad circular steps. Above the backs of the seats, and filling the space which they enclose, rises a triangular block of masonry having sunk panels on each of its faces, the whole being surmounted by a carved stone cornice.

The work is executed throughout in fine selected Irish limestone from the Stradbally quarries.

The height of the entire structure is fifteen feet, and the sides of the triangle are eight feet.

The front panel on the triangle bears a female figure executed in bronze in relief. The figure was designed and modelled by Miss Beatrice Elvery, of Dublin, who also made the models for the bronze wreaths and escutcheons which surround the Memorial immediately below the carved stone cornice; the escutcheons show the regimental badges. The two side panels on the triangle, which correspond in size with the front panel, are filled with the roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men who fell in the Campaign.

On the panels behind the three seats the following inscriptions are placed:--

Front--

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1902. TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS,
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN OF THE ROYAL IRISH
REGIMENT WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION AND DIED OF WOUNDS
OR DISEASE DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

On the Right Side--

1899-1900. RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY, PAARDEBURG, JOHANNESBURG,
DIAMOND HILL, WITTEBERGEN.

On the Left Side--

1901-1902. CAPE COLONY, BELFAST, WITTEBERGEN, SOUTH AFRICA, 1901,
SOUTH AFRICA, 1902.

The names inscribed on the two side panels of the triangle are given in Appendix 2.

A picture of the Memorial is at page 374.