WITH THE IRISH BRIGADE

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3979, 12 July 1915, Page 7

WITH THE IRISH BRIGADE

In Ids rocntly published ‘‘The Irish Abroad,” the author (Elliot O’Donnell) tells a story of the Irish Brigade in the French service:— It was in Flanders that an incident is said to have occurred relating to Villeroi and a lieutenant of the Irish Brigade. Seeing one of the French regiments in front of him begin to waver, VilJe.ro i in vain tried to rally them by his example and command. At length, finding it still inclined to retreat, ho turned to a young officer of the O’Brien Regiment, who was hurrying past with a message to tlio colonel of the Dillon Corps. ‘•'Come here,” he shoutel. “See if you cannot infuse some of your Irish dash and courage into these fainthearted countrymen of mnic.’” •’Willingly, sir,” the Irish officei replied, and tearing off his sword-belt ho throw it into tho ranks of the onpressing enemy.

Now that the Entente had ripened and pushing past the faltering Frenchmen, he hurled himself into the thickest of the fray. Those who witnessed the feat were ashamed to desert him. They followed, leading others, for courage is infectious, and what had, at one time, looked like a certain retreat, rapidly became an assured victory. Villeroi was delighted, and immediately after the battle dispatched one of his aides-de-camp to search for the heroic Irishman. After being a long tiino away, the aide-de-camp returned with the news that the young officer was dead. “Dead,” said Villeroi, bitterly, “a thousand pities. Had lie survived today, he would have lived to he a marshal 1”