At Guillemont after their Colonel Jack-Conyngham was killed as he led his men forward carrying nothing more threatening than a cane, the Connaught Rangers were ' unleashed ' like hounds upon a quarry, they dashed forward and into the enemy lines.
( The below text is from Volume 8 of ' The Great War ' as edited by H.W Wilson, printed during the Great War )
the Victoria Cross. I forgot to mention that he was also made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and of St.George of Russia. The bravery of the other bombers in the attack was also recognised as two DCMs were awarded along with six MMs. Private John Ford was recommended for a battlefield commission. Holland survived the war and passed away in 1975.
During the attack the Irishmen swept so quickly on to their main objective, the sunken road, they passed over some knots of Germans in the Quarry north of the road. When the Germans emerged with machine-guns to take the Irishmen in the rear, according to their old tactics, some English Riflemen led by a quick-eyed colonel, extended into the quarry and cleaned it out. Thereupon a German officer caught in the act of playing dead dog tried to buy his life by offering the English officer his gold watch. When the watch was refused he pressed it upon a corporal. There are some extraordinary qualities in the Germans- a mixture of the basest and the highest.
While the Riflemen surrounded the south-west of the village the Irishmen went onward like an avalanche of footballers. Their forwards cleared the village in a rush, went over the slope beyond into the valley and apparently reached Leuze Wood. Machine-guns swept them on either flank and even caught them in the back.
But the men followed their pipers and broke the spine of the German defence, the ground behind them ws methodically cleared behind them by other troops. The charge was a fine combination of Irish grit and determination, rush tactics and scientific consolidation. The 6th Connaught Rangers also went over with ' flair and dash ' before zero hour and surprised the Germans. But 200 of them were casualties before they left their trenches, their own projectiles having fallen short. They reached their " third objective " North Street, a spectacular fete and it was during this melee that Private Thomas Hughes of the 6th Connaught Rangers won the Divisions second Victoria Cross. Though wounded in the attack, he returned at once to the firing line after having his wounds dressed. Later seeing a hostile machine-gun, he dashed out in front of his company, shot the gunner and, single handed captured the gun. Again wounded he brought back three or four prisoners. A man of small stature before the war Hughes had been a jockey attached to Ireland's Curragh racing stable. He returned to the front as a corporal and survived the war.
During the attack the Irishmen swept so quickly on to their main objective, the sunken road, they passed over some knots of Germans in the Quarry north of the road. When the Germans emerged with machine-guns to take the Irishmen in the rear, according to their old tactics, some English Riflemen led by a quick-eyed colonel, extended into the quarry and cleaned it out. Thereupon a German officer caught in the act of playing dead dog tried to buy his life by offering the English officer his gold watch. When the watch was refused he pressed it upon a corporal. There are some extraordinary qualities in the Germans- a mixture of the basest and the highest.
While the Riflemen surrounded the south-west of the village the Irishmen went onward like an avalanche of footballers. Their forwards cleared the village in a rush, went over the slope beyond into the valley and apparently reached Leuze Wood. Machine-guns swept them on either flank and even caught them in the back.
But the men followed their pipers and broke the spine of the German defence, the ground behind them ws methodically cleared behind them by other troops. The charge was a fine combination of Irish grit and determination, rush tactics and scientific consolidation. The 6th Connaught Rangers also went over with ' flair and dash ' before zero hour and surprised the Germans. But 200 of them were casualties before they left their trenches, their own projectiles having fallen short. They reached their " third objective " North Street, a spectacular fete and it was during this melee that Private Thomas Hughes of the 6th Connaught Rangers won the Divisions second Victoria Cross. Though wounded in the attack, he returned at once to the firing line after having his wounds dressed. Later seeing a hostile machine-gun, he dashed out in front of his company, shot the gunner and, single handed captured the gun. Again wounded he brought back three or four prisoners. A man of small stature before the war Hughes had been a jockey attached to Ireland's Curragh racing stable. He returned to the front as a corporal and survived the war.
we have just heard
how Lieutenant John Holland won his bet with his fellow officer and also
" We went over the top, after being hit in four different places, i noticed a machine-gun firing in the German line so i rushed up, shot both the chaps on the gun and brought it back. I remember no more until i found myself down in the dressing station ". PS " I forgot to mention i brought in four German prisoners with the gun ".
Thomas Hughes received his VC from the king in June 1917 still suggering from his wounds and on crutches ( Above )
Private Thomas Hughes wins his Victoria Cross at Guillemont
A great loss to the army and the 6th Connaught Rangers was their popular commander, Lieutenant Colonel J.S.M
Lenox-Conyngham who was killed at Guillemont. At the moment of the charge he sprang forward to lead and, in the spirit of Wellington at Waterrloo, who directed his hidden Foot Guards towards the oncoming French with the memorable words: ' Up guards! make ready-Fire!', Lenox-Conyngham pointed to the German Lines with his cane, turned and said ' That Connaught Rangers, is what you have to take '. The next moment he was shot dead. His men ignoring machine-gun fire, were off to the attack and heaven help the Germans, for their blood was up and nothing was going to stop them. Some Germans fled from the line rather than face what was coming but others remained, as the ' Devils Own ' jumped into their trenches, the Connaughts got stuck in with bayonets, rifle butts, shovels and picks, even bare hands, were used. Slashing, gauging and stabbling it did not matter, no German was going to live this day. Their Colonel had been killed and it was their turn for revenge.
Lenox-Conyngham, a career soldier from an Ulster Protestant military family, was the son of Colonel Sir William Lenox-Conyngham of Spring Hill, County Derry. Three brothers also served in the army as Colonels. Like many regulars, Lenox-Conyngham came out of retirement from the army reserve of officers and after " thirty years " of service with the Rangers, was appointed to command the 6th (S) Battalion when it was formed in October 1914 and had the honour of leading it into action. He was known for his concern of his men and Captain Stephen Gwynn, a Nationalist in the 6th Connaught Rangers, generously paid tribute to him: " No commanding officer was more beloved by those he commanded..I have known no better Irishman than this son of an Ulster house whose kindred were deep in the Ulster covenant " ( Lenox-Conyngham was a Protestant. His men were mostly Catholic.He loved his regiment and his men loved him. Protestant or Catholic did it really matter? there are so many examples where political beliefs and differences had no place amongst men on the battlefields and this is just another example where men of both religions admired and respected each other)
Lenox-Conyngham was buried in a little churchyard behind the lines. Later a memorial to him was erected by his wife in the Royal Irish Fusiliers Memorial of St Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, Armagh, together with the wooden celtic cross from his grave at Guillemont.
Lenox-Conyngham who was killed at Guillemont. At the moment of the charge he sprang forward to lead and, in the spirit of Wellington at Waterrloo, who directed his hidden Foot Guards towards the oncoming French with the memorable words: ' Up guards! make ready-Fire!', Lenox-Conyngham pointed to the German Lines with his cane, turned and said ' That Connaught Rangers, is what you have to take '. The next moment he was shot dead. His men ignoring machine-gun fire, were off to the attack and heaven help the Germans, for their blood was up and nothing was going to stop them. Some Germans fled from the line rather than face what was coming but others remained, as the ' Devils Own ' jumped into their trenches, the Connaughts got stuck in with bayonets, rifle butts, shovels and picks, even bare hands, were used. Slashing, gauging and stabbling it did not matter, no German was going to live this day. Their Colonel had been killed and it was their turn for revenge.
Lenox-Conyngham, a career soldier from an Ulster Protestant military family, was the son of Colonel Sir William Lenox-Conyngham of Spring Hill, County Derry. Three brothers also served in the army as Colonels. Like many regulars, Lenox-Conyngham came out of retirement from the army reserve of officers and after " thirty years " of service with the Rangers, was appointed to command the 6th (S) Battalion when it was formed in October 1914 and had the honour of leading it into action. He was known for his concern of his men and Captain Stephen Gwynn, a Nationalist in the 6th Connaught Rangers, generously paid tribute to him: " No commanding officer was more beloved by those he commanded..I have known no better Irishman than this son of an Ulster house whose kindred were deep in the Ulster covenant " ( Lenox-Conyngham was a Protestant. His men were mostly Catholic.He loved his regiment and his men loved him. Protestant or Catholic did it really matter? there are so many examples where political beliefs and differences had no place amongst men on the battlefields and this is just another example where men of both religions admired and respected each other)
Lenox-Conyngham was buried in a little churchyard behind the lines. Later a memorial to him was erected by his wife in the Royal Irish Fusiliers Memorial of St Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, Armagh, together with the wooden celtic cross from his grave at Guillemont.
Above, Lenox-Conyngham seated far right.
On 5th September General Hickie took over command of the Front before Ginchy, another German stronghold about a mile from Guillemont and the fortified Quadrilateral to the south. When it came to the time to plan the Ginchy attack Hickie found that his battalions were scattered, taken from him after Guillemont and fed peacemeal to the British divisions. like General Mahone with his 10th ( Irish ( Division at Gallipoli, it could only have infuriated General Hickie to see his battalions used like this. in the fighting around Leuze Wood during the week of 4th September when the 7th and 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers were attched to 5th Division, casualties were so high that one officer wrote " The remnant of the battalion came out of the battle on a lorry ". At Leuze Wood Lieutenant Colonel H.N Young of the 7th Inniskillings was seriously wounded, as was Major A.R Reid, the new commanding officer and four others of the HQ staff. Galling for the Irish, the credit for taking Leuze Wood was given to the Devonshires. One may ask again if it mattered in which division the Irish soldiers fought. From the time the Irish Divisions were formed it was important to them that they should be given credit for their deeds as
" IRISH SOLDIERS " fighting in the British Army and recognition of their contribution to the war was especially important for the Irish at Home. General Hickie finally managed to get his depleted and tired brigades together to fight as a division on 9th September. Hickie assigned 48 Brigade to the capture of Ginchy while 47 Brigade, in consideration of its role and losses at Guillemont, would assault the Quadrilateral, mistakenly thought to be the weaker position...We must now return to the Battle of Ginchy.
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" IRISH SOLDIERS " fighting in the British Army and recognition of their contribution to the war was especially important for the Irish at Home. General Hickie finally managed to get his depleted and tired brigades together to fight as a division on 9th September. Hickie assigned 48 Brigade to the capture of Ginchy while 47 Brigade, in consideration of its role and losses at Guillemont, would assault the Quadrilateral, mistakenly thought to be the weaker position...We must now return to the Battle of Ginchy.
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