A little joke played by Irishmen at Loos on St Patrick’s Day 1916 may not have been appreciated by the Germans, as explained by Captain Stephen Gwynn of 6th Connaught Rangers: “On Saint Patrick’s day of 1916 the 16th Division lay opposite the most conspicuous feature of all the British line: the one survivor of what had been twin pylons, the “Tower Bridge” erection at Loos. Day and night that was a ranging mark for German shell; shrapnel and high explosive screamed and burst about it, machine-gun fire swept it in search for some sniper’s post. But on Saint Patrick’s day morning the German gunners had something new to shoot at – a square of green flag run up there in the moonlight by some bold climber from the Munsters. That flag certainly spoke for Ireland; its challenge would have been cheered from Cork to Donegal.” There again, maybe “Fritz” did appreciate “Paddy’s” mentality because, in another part of the Loos sector, the Germans had a trick or two of their own up their sleeves that same day. Willie Doyle recounts: “By the way, it is simply marvellous how the enemy get all their information. They knew when my men were going to hold the front trenches, the name of the regiment, and sending it all over the night before, to our lines, and shouting scores the next day, to welcome the ‘Paddies,’ they even went as far as to cease firing on St. Patrick’s Day, and invited the R.I.F’s to come over and have a drink.” Of course, none of the Fusiliers could be tempted by this offer and, in particular: “One poor fellow at the moment did not want any drink: he had found a jar of rum in a quiet corner of the trench and had taken a long deep pull, before he discovered that it was diluted Candy’s fluid. He has taken the pledge for the rest of his mortal life.”
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 08:33:46 +0000
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