The achievemnets of the 16th Irish Division are very much forgotten in the annuals of the Great War, and because of the political atmosphere which existed in Ireland at the time its soldiers were treated as traitors. These brave men of the 16th Irish fought for what they believed in. They left their homes to fight in a war, which had nothing to do with them but for the cause of freedom alone. They fought in a war where the slaughter was so great that no one at home could have imagined what they went through. It was a war that wiped out a generation of young men and decimated families. They were rewarded by silence and ignorance when they returned home to Ireland. They themselves remained silent and never spoke about their experiences for fear of reprisals. These pages are dedicated to each and every one of the men who served and died with the Division. Formed in Ireland in September 1914 as part of the Second New Army. Arrived in France in December 1915. Served in France and Flanders until 1918 when the Division was reduced to Cadre and returned to England. the Division was reconstructed and returned to France in July 1918. It served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.
battles and engagements france and flanders
Loos, Belgium. The Battle of Hulluch 27th April-29th April 1916. The Somme, Battle of Guillemont 3rd September-6th Sepember 1916. Battle of Ginchy 9th September 1916. Battle of Messines 7th June-14th June 1917, including the capture of Wytschaete. Battle of Langemarck 16th August-18 August 1917.
Battle of St. Quentin 21st March-23March 1918. Battle of Rosieres 26th March-27th March 1918. The final advance to Artois 2nd October-11th November 1918, including the capture of Douai.
Battle of St. Quentin 21st March-23March 1918. Battle of Rosieres 26th March-27th March 1918. The final advance to Artois 2nd October-11th November 1918, including the capture of Douai.
formation
the 47th brigade:
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( New Army ) ( Disbanded November 1916 )
6th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment ( Disbanded 1922 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Leinster Regiment ( Disbanded February 1918 )
6th ( Servive ) Battalion, Connaught Rangers ( Until June 1918 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From Novemebr 1916 until April 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion Welsh regiment ( 2nd Glamorgan ) ( From May 1918 )
14th ( Service ) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment ( From June 1918 )
9th ( Service) Battalion, Black Watch ( From July 1918 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Leinster Regiment ( From February 1918 until April 1918 )
6th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment ( Disbanded 1922 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Leinster Regiment ( Disbanded February 1918 )
6th ( Servive ) Battalion, Connaught Rangers ( Until June 1918 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From Novemebr 1916 until April 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion Welsh regiment ( 2nd Glamorgan ) ( From May 1918 )
14th ( Service ) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment ( From June 1918 )
9th ( Service) Battalion, Black Watch ( From July 1918 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Leinster Regiment ( From February 1918 until April 1918 )
the 49th brigade:
9th ( Service ) Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers ( New Army ) ( Disbanded may 1916 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles ( Until August 1917 )
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( Merged with 9th Battalion October 1917 )
9th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( Merged with 8th Battalion October 1917 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From May 1916 until November 1916 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( From October 1917-until April 1918 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From February 1918 until May 1918 )
22nd ( Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers ( From June 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles )( From July 1918 )
11th ( Servive ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( From June 1918 until August 1918 )
5th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( From August 1918 )
10th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( From June 1917, disbanded February 1918 )
The 8th and 9th Battalions of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers combined to form the 8/9th Battalion in October 1917 which was subsequently disbanded in February 1918.
7th ( Service ) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles ( Until August 1917 )
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( Merged with 9th Battalion October 1917 )
9th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( Merged with 8th Battalion October 1917 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From May 1916 until November 1916 )
1st ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( From October 1917-until April 1918 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( From February 1918 until May 1918 )
22nd ( Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers ( From June 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles )( From July 1918 )
11th ( Servive ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( From June 1918 until August 1918 )
5th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( From August 1918 )
10th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers ( From June 1917, disbanded February 1918 )
The 8th and 9th Battalions of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers combined to form the 8/9th Battalion in October 1917 which was subsequently disbanded in February 1918.
the 49th brigade:
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( Merged with 8th Battalion October 1916, disbanded February 1918 )
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( Merged with 7th Battalion October 1916, disbanded February 1918 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ( Merged with the 8th Battalion August 1917 )
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ( merged with the 7th Battalion August 1917 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment ( From October 1916 until April 1918 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles ( From August 1917 until October 1917 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal irish Regiment ( South Irish Horse ) Battalion ( From October 1917 until July 1918 )
34th ( Service ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( County Of London ) Battalion ( From June 1918 )
6th ( Service ) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry ( From July 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion, The Gloucester Regiment ( From July 1918 )
The 7th and 8th Battalions of the Royal Irish Fusiliers combined to form the 7/8th Battalion in October 1916 which was subsequently disbanded in February 1918. The 7th and 8th battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers combined to form the 7/8th Battalion in August 1917 which was subsequently disbanded in 1918.
* Service battalions were created to expand those of the regular battalions and were made up of
Volunteers.
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers ( Merged with 7th Battalion October 1916, disbanded February 1918 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ( Merged with the 8th Battalion August 1917 )
8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ( merged with the 7th Battalion August 1917 )
2nd ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment ( From October 1916 until April 1918 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles ( From August 1917 until October 1917 )
7th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal irish Regiment ( South Irish Horse ) Battalion ( From October 1917 until July 1918 )
34th ( Service ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( County Of London ) Battalion ( From June 1918 )
6th ( Service ) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry ( From July 1918 )
18th ( Service ) Battalion, The Gloucester Regiment ( From July 1918 )
The 7th and 8th Battalions of the Royal Irish Fusiliers combined to form the 7/8th Battalion in October 1916 which was subsequently disbanded in February 1918. The 7th and 8th battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers combined to form the 7/8th Battalion in August 1917 which was subsequently disbanded in 1918.
* Service battalions were created to expand those of the regular battalions and were made up of
Volunteers.
