Up the Micks!

An Illustrated History of the Irish Guards

James Wilson

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781473835634
• eBook ISBN: 9781473880559
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

The unique history of The Micks the Irish Guards is chronicled in over 1000 images, starting with their formation in 1900 and taking the reader through to the recent war in Afghanistan. It is the story of a remarkable family regiment that continues to

Chapter One

1900–1914
THE EARLY YEARS

The Irish Guards were raised in April 1900 to commemorate the bravery of the Irish regiments in South Africa in the years 1899 and 1900.

The first British troops in action were a Mounted Infantry section of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Irish regiments held the ring before reinforcements arrived and they continued to feature prominently in the campaign as it developed. County Tipperary, with one of the lowest densities of population in the British Isles, had the highest number of Victoria Cross winners.

The campaign in South Africa was characterised by great bravery, and a lack of awareness of tactical changes which new and better weapons necessitated. The masterly fieldcraft of the Boers, coupled with out of date British tactics, brought a rash of humiliating defeats on the British in 1899. Through all this shone the dash and extraordinary courage of the Irish soldier.

This was brought to the attention of Queen Victoria. Simultaneously a number of letters in The Times suggested the formation of a Regiment of Irish Guards. So it came about that on 1 April 1900, the Fourth, or Irish Regiment of Foot Guards was born.

Applications to join the regiment started at once. C/Sjt Conroy of the Royal Munster Fusiliers was awarded regimental number 1. Irishmen serving in the other regiments of the Brigade of Guards were encouraged to transfer. Very soon that unique blend between the Brigade discipline and the Irishman’s wit began to brew the magic that matured into a regiment of infinite daring, ever stylish and brave, and always ready to laugh. Thus, when the call came for Mounted Infantry to go to the war in South Africa there were volunteers a-plenty. The resulting composite companies were instantly nicknamed the Aldershot Mounted Foot. This attitude of healthy irreverence permeated all that went on, behind the formidable wax moustaches of the era. The DSOs awarded to Lord Herbert Montagu-Douglas-Scott and Lord Settrington who served on the staff were instantly christened the ‘Dukes’ Sons Only’. Rumour, indeed, had it that the delicate shade of St Patrick’s blue that Lady Settrington dyed her husband’s white Grenadier plume on his transfer to the Irish Guards matched her dainty silken unmentionables.

Meanwhile, the Regiment began to appear in public to the intense interest of the press. Fine men of superb physique, they had good reason to be proud to belong to the most fashionable regiment and one they held to be without question not only the most novel but assuredly the best.

Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and Waterford VC, KG, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCIE. Lord Roberts was Commander-in-Chief in South Africa. He ordered his ADCs to transfer to the new regiment, both of whom were on the first King’s Guard mounted by the Regiment. Lord Roberts was in South Africa when the Regiment was formed, so he was not formally appointed Colonel of the Regiment until 17 October 1900. ‘Bobs’ (Lord Roberts) was the hero of the hour, his son having been killed earning a posthumous Victoria Cross at Colenso. The news reached Dublin where Lord Roberts was GOC-in-C Irish Command on the same day that he was ordered to proceed to South Africa as Commander-in-Chief. The Irish Guards, as soon as Lord Roberts was appointed Colonel, became affectionately known in his lifetime as ‘Bobs’ Own’.

The Original Recruiting Poster. Note the public recognition of the bravery of the Irish Regiments.

‘My Brave Irish’ – The Irish Fusiliers in South Africa, by Caton Woodville.

Capt Hubert Francis Crichton, Adjutant. 19 May 1900–31 Dec 1901, formerly Grenadier Guards. Served under Kitchener at Khartoum, and was ADC to General Sir John French before the Great War. (Died of wounds received at Villers-Cotterets, 1 Sep 1914).

Six early recruits. Note the Broderick cap did not carry a cap star, nor was a belt worn in undress uniform.

Her Majesty’s Irish Guards. A picture of the newly formed Foot Guards Regiment arriving at Chelsea Barracks was reported in the Illustrated London News on 29 December 1900.

Ptes White and Jordan, Pirbright 1900. Note the old stand at ease position, and the fact that no regimental buckles have yet been produced for the waist belts, so the universal royal crest pattern is in use. What was called the Slade Wallace buff equipment remained for ceremonial use until the outbreak of war in...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: 1900–1914: The Early Years
• Chapter 2: 1914–1918: The Great War
• Chapter 3: 1919–1938: Between the Wars
• Chapter 4: 1939–1945: The Second World War
• Chapter 5: 1946–1965: Post War Years
• Chapter 6: 1966–1985: End of Empire
• Chapter 7: 1986–1999: End of the Century
• Chapter 8: 2000–2007: Into the New Millennium
• Chapter 9: 2008–2016: Bearskins and Bayonets
• Appendices