"THE LUCKY IRISH"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2655, 29 December 1915, Page 3

"THE LUCKY IRISH"

The London Irish Rifles, ono of tho Territorial corps, better known as "The Lucky Irish" at tho front, have had a fine record of fighting on the Western front. '

"You have performed one of .tho finest actions of the war," was tho message sent to them after tho batlo of Loos. "Irish—up and over!" was the signal for their advance, and it was discovered later, when the German sccond line trenches had been captured, that some bright sparks had brought a football with them! That.is tho spirit oi tho London Irish!

On ono occasion their telephone linesman happened to find two live cables on the ground in the rear of their trenches. No one happened to know to whom they belonged or whence they camc; but rumour had it that tho generating station was some.vhero in tbo German lines. Without asking leave from the German authorities the ' linesman promptly fitted wires, and carried them to the battalion headquarters, tho dressing station, officers' dugouts, and other places; lamps were found in the desorted houses of a village, and .for many weeks a first-ckss electric installation was in full working order., Tho battalion was founded as far back as 1859 by the Marquis of Donego.l, and maintained a high reputation among the old Volunteer Corps. In the South African war it furnished the C.I.V. with tho second largest contingent of any volunteer -unit, and one of the men brought home the V.C. When tho great war began the London Irish ''signed on" almost to a man ; the battalion was at full ' strength within a few davs, and in another four days a second battalion had been created. The first battalion went to France last March, inking the pipers with it, and has been on active service ever since. Three riflemen have won the D.C.M.