Chapter XIII: Honours and Distinctions for the Irish Brigade

HOW LIEUTENANT HOLLAND OF THE LEINSTERS WON THE V.C.

Many decorations and rewards were won by the Irish Brigade. The Honours Book of the Brigade contained, at the end of 1916, about one thousand names of officers and men, presented by Major-General Hickie with the parchment certificate for gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field. Over three hundred military decorations were gained. Two high Russian honours were also awarded--the Cross of St. George, Second Class, to Lance-Corporal T. McMahon, Munster Fusiliers, and the Cross of St. George, Fourth Class, to Lance-Sergeant L. Courtenay, Dublin Fusiliers. The list of decorations is so long that only a select few of those won by officers of the Brigade for gallant conduct in the capture of Guillamont and Guinchy can be given. Father Maurice O'Connell, the senior chaplain of the Brigade, got the Distinguished Service Order. Father Wrafter, S.J., and Father Doyle, S.J., got the Military Cross. All the Chaplains of the Division were indeed splendid. The others are: Fathers Browne, S.J., Burke, Cotter, O'Connor, and FitzMaurice, S.J. The official records show that the D.S.O. was also awarded to the following--

"Temporary Captain (temporary Major) Robert James Abbot Tamplin,
Connaught Rangers.--He led his company with the greatest courage
and determination, and was instrumental in capturing the
position. He was wounded."

"Second-Lieutenant Cyril Paxman Tiptaft, Connaught Rangers,
Special Reserve.--With his platoon he consolidated and held for
fourteen hours a strong point, thus preventing the enemy from
getting behind our advanced positions, which they tried to do
again and again. He set a fine example to his men, and kept up
their spirits in spite of heavy casualties."

"Temporary lieutenant-Colonel George Alexander McLean Buckley,
Leinster Regiment.--He led his battalion with the greatest
courage and determination. He has on many occasions done very
fine work."

"Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Edwin Henry Charles Patrick
Bellingham, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.--He took command of the two
leading battalions when the situation was critical, and
displayed the greatest determination under shell and machine-gun
fire. The success of the operation was largely due to his quick
appreciation of the situation, and his rapid consolidation of
the position."

"Temporary Captain John Patrick Hunt, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.--He formed and held a defensive flank for ten hours,
until relieved, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, thus
frustrating the enemy's attempt to turn the flank."

"Major Walter McClelland Crosbie, Royal Munster Fusiliers.--He
led two companies with the greatest courage and initiative.
Later, he organised the position with great skill, displaying
great coolness throughout. He was wounded."

The Military Crosses won included the following--

"Captain William Joseph Rivers Reardon, Royal Irish Regiment,
Special Reserve.--He led his men with great dash, and during a
counter-attack, though wounded, stayed with a party of men in a
most exposed position, till he could carry on no longer."

"Lieutenant Edward Alexander Stoker, Royal Irish Regiment,
Special Reserve.--With two or three men he went under heavy
shell fire, and captured some enemy snipers. During the enemy
counter-attack he brought a party of men across the open to the
threatened flank, under heavy fire."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Thomas Adams, Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers.--For conspicuous gallantry when leading a raid. He
entered the enemy's trenches, and it was largely due to his
skill and determination that the raid was successful."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Hugh Abbot Green, Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers.--When two senior company commanders had
become casualties, he took command and led the men forward,
capturing a portion of the final objective, which had been
missed by the first attacking troops. He then advanced eighty
yards, and, though himself wounded, consolidated his position."

"Temporary Captain Victor Henry Parr, Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers.--He rallied men of different units in a wood during
an enemy counter-attack, and, though wounded, led them forward
and beat off the attack."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Charles Lovell Naylor, Royal Irish
Fusiliers.--He took command of his company when the other
officers had become casualties, and showed great pluck when
driving off a counter-attack. He then advanced and reoccupied
one of our advanced posts."

"Temporary Captain Thomas Francis O'Donnell, Royal Irish
Fusiliers.--In the attack he dashed forward and led the
battalion the whole way. He was first into the enemy's position,
where he did fine work consolidating the defences."

"Lieutenant Valentine Joseph Farrell, Leinster Regiment, Special
Reserve.--When the senior officers of two companies had become
casualties in the firing line he took command, and, by his fine
example, kept his men together under intense fire."

"Captain Charles Carleton Barry, Leinster Regiment, Special
Reserve.--For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when
returning with another officer from reconnaissance. The latter
officer was severely wounded. Although wounded in the arm,
Captain Barry succeeded in pulling his comrade into a shell
hole, and dressing his wound. He finally succeeded in getting
the officer back to our trench. These actions were carried out
under heavy machine-gun and snipers' fire."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Nicholas Hurst, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.--He organised a party to rush two machine-guns, which
were holding up the advance, and, when the first party failed,
he organised a second, which succeeded. The strong point was
captured and two officers and thirty men made prisoners."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Harold Arthur Jowett, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.--For conspicuous gallantry during an attack, moving
up and down his line under heavy fire, encouraging his men and
setting a fine example to all ranks. He displayed considerable
coolness and skill in maintaining his position until the line
was re-established."

"Temporary Lieutenant William Kee, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.--Although twice wounded, he continued to lead his men
during an attack until ordered back to the dressing station. He
has several times carried out reconnaissance work most
efficiently."

"Temporary Lieutenant Eugene Patrick Quigley, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.--Though wounded, he brought a machine-gun into action
against some enemy who were collecting to repel our attack. Not
finding a suitable rest for one of his guns, he had it placed on
his shoulder, where it opened fire."

"Temporary Second-Lieutenant Dennis Joseph Baily, Royal Munster
Fusiliers.--When all the officers round him had become
casualties he took command and led the men forward with great
dash and ability."

"Temporary Lieutenant Labouchere Hillyer Bainbridge-Bell, Royal
Munster Fusiliers. He continually repaired breaks in the line
during several days of heavy shelling, never hesitating to go
out when the wires were cut. He was several times smothered in
debris, and was much bruised."

"Temporary Captain Cecil William Chandler, Royal Munster
Fusiliers.--Although wounded, he led his men and beat off
repeated enemy attacks, displaying great courage and initiative
throughout."

"Temporary Captain Maurice Fletcher, Royal Munster
Fusiliers.--He directed a working party, close to the enemy's
line, and completed his task under continuous shelling and rifle
fire. He has done other fine work."

"Temporary Lieutenant Fabian Strachan Woodley, Royal Munster
Fusiliers.--By his skill and determination he beat off three
counter-attacks of the enemy, who were endeavouring to reach his
trench. Four days later he led his men in two attacks with great
pluck."

Captain Place, Royal Irish Regiment, was awarded bar to Cross he
had already won.

These official records, brief and coldly phrased though they be, cannot be read without a thrill of pride in the race which produced the men. There is one other account of the winning of a Military Cross that must be specially given, for it describes the feats of "the boy hero of Guinchy," Second-Lieutenant James Emmet Dalton, of the Dublin Fusiliers. He joined the Army in January 1916, and was only eighteen years of age when he took command and proved himself a born leader of men at Guinchy. The following is the official record, which, happily, is more extended than usual--

"At the capture of Guinchy, on the 9th of September, 1916, he
displayed great bravery and leadership in action. When, owing to
the loss of officers, the men of two companies were left without
leaders, he took command and led these companies to their final
objective. After the withdrawal of another brigade and the right
flank of his battalion was in the rear, he carried out the
protection of the flank, under intense fire, by the employment
of machine-guns in selected commanding and successive positions.
After dark, whilst going about supervising the consolidation of
the position, he, with only one sergeant escorting, found
himself confronted by a party of the enemy, consisting of one
officer and twenty men. By his prompt determination the party
were overawed and, after a few shots, threw up their arms and
surrendered."

The Irish Brigade also got a second Victoria Cross at the Battle of the Somme. It was won by Lieutenant John Vincent Holland of the Leinster Regiment for most conspicuous bravery. He was born at Athy, co. Kildare, the son of John Holland, a past President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Ireland, was educated at the Christian Brothers' Schools, and Clongowies Wood College. At the outbreak of war he was employed in the chief mechanical engineers' department of the Central Argentine Railway at Rosario, and, hastening home, got his commission in the Leinster Regiment. For his services at the Front he received the Certificate of the Irish Brigade. It was at Guillamont that Lieutenant Holland won the Victoria Cross. The official account of his exploits is as follows--

"For most conspicuous bravery during a heavy engagement, when,
not content with bombing hostile dug-outs within the objective,
he fearlessly led his bombers through our own artillery barrage
and cleared a great part of the village in front. He started out
with twenty-six bombers and finished up with only five, after
capturing some fifty prisoners. By this very gallant action he
undoubtedly broke the spirit of the enemy, and thus saved us
many casualties when the battalion made a further advance. He
was far from well at the time, and later had to go to hospital."

As proof of Lieutenant Holland's dash it is related that the night before the engagement he made a bet of five pounds with a brother officer that he would be first over the parapet when the order came. He won the bet, the V.C., and, in addition, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and of St. George of Russia.