KING’S TRIBUTE TO IRISH GUARDS

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1916, Page 47

KING’S TRIBUTE TO IRISH GUARDS

HEROES OF MONS AND YPRES.

Their Majesties the King and Queen paid a visit to the Irish Guards in London on St. Patrick’s Day, and presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers and men. Lord Kitchener accompanied their Majesties. Mr. John Redmond was also present, and his Majesty entered into animated conversation with the Irish leader, who also conversed with the Queen, and her Majesty presented Mr. Redmond with a special sprig of the shamrock. After the parade the Queen presented the officers and men of the battalion with shamrock, each man standing to attention before their Majesties, saluting, and then receiving the gift. In a speech to the Irish Guards the "King said; —• On St. Patrick’s Day, when Irishmen the world over unite to celebrate the memory of their patron saint, it gives me great pleasure to inspect the reserve battalion of my Irish Guards and to testify my appreciation of the services rendered by the regiment in this war. The regiment was created by Queen Victoria in .1900 to commemorate the heroism of the Irish regiments in the South African War. By the splendid achievements in your first campaign you have proved yourselves worthy of this proud tribute to Irish valor and have fully maintained the high traditions of my brigade of Guards. I gratefully remember the heroic entrance of the Ist Battalion in the arduous retreat from Mens. Again at Ypres, on that critical November 1, when Lord Cavan, your brigadier, wrote: Those who were left showed the enemy that the Irish Guards must be reckoned with, however hard hit.’ After twenty-eight days of incessant fighting against heavy odds the battalion came out of the line less than a company strong, with only four officers— a glorious tribute to Irish loyalty and endurance. The graves that mark the last resting place of your gallant comrades will ever remain the monument of your resistance. In conferring the V.C. on Lance-Corporal, now Lieutenant, Michael O’Leary, the first Irishman in this war to win this coveted distinction, I was proud to honor a deed that, in its fearless contempt of death, illustrated the spirit of my Irish Guards. . At Loos the 2nd Battalion received its baptism of fire, and confirmed the high reputation already won by the Ist Battalion. I deeply deplore the loss of so many brave officers and men, including, alas, three commanding officers, but the splendid appearance of the men on parade to-day, among whom I am glad to see many who have recovered from Mounds and sickness, tells me that the spirit of the Irish is unquenchable. Be assured in all trials that my thoughts and prayers will ever be with you all. Good luck.