The Irish at the Front

Irish regiments in France, Flanders, and the Dardanelles provide the focus of Michael MacDonagh's wartime history. Published in 1916, it draws on soldiers' letters, interviews with wounded men, and records held at regimental depots. The opening survey identifies military badges, recruiting areas, and earlier battle honours. John Redmond's introduction connects the troops' service with Irish national pride, establishing the patriotic spirit of the account.

Chapters cover Mons, the Marne, Gallipoli, and Loos, alongside accounts of chaplains and recipients of the Victoria Cross. A passage from Gallipoli moves from praise for the Dublin battalion's endurance to the strain of a night spent ready for another attack. Men share water with wounded comrades, and soldiers enter burning scrub to carry others to safety. For readers of military history, the book brings together regimental identity, public celebration of courage, and the practical demands of helping others under fire.