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| 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles were based at Tidworth with 7th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France with the BEF, landing at Rouen on the 14th of August. They saw action in The Battle of Mons and the rearguard action at Solesmes, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, at La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres. They took part in the Winter Operations of 1914-15, The First Attack on Bellewaarde and the Actions at Hooge. On the 18th of October 1915 they transferred with 7th Brigade to 25th Division. They were in action in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge in May 1916. They then moved to The Somme and joined the Battle just after the main attack, with 75th Brigade making a costly attack near Thiepval on the 3rd of July. The Division was in action at The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres and The Battle of the Ancre Heights. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Messines attacking between the Wulverghem-Messines and Wulverghem-Wytschaete roads. In the Third battle of Ypres were were in action during The Battle of Pilkem. On the 13th of November 1917 they transferred to 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division, absorbing the 7th Battalion then on the 8th of February 1918 they transferred to 107th Brigade, still in 36th Division. They were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys and the Final Advance in Flanders. At the Armistice they were at Mouscron, north east of Tourcoing, where it remained and was demobilised by June 1919. |
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