Quarterly Historical Reports: 1st Bn IRISH GUARDS, January 1947 - March 1949

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Jul 1, 2011.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    GUARDS CELEBRATE KING'S BIRTHDAY - British Pathe

    KING PRESENTS COLOURS TO IRISH GUARDS - British Pathe

    King standing at microphone addressing the guardsmen - natural sound: 'Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Watson, officers, non-commissioned officers and guardsmen of the First Battalion Irish Guards. I am very glad to see you here today and I notice that though you have only recently returned to London from service in North Africa, neither your drill, nor your bearing have lost that smartness for which your regiment is famous. It is also most welcome to me, as I am sure it is for you, to see your Colonel standing at the head of his regiment for the first time. In order to be on parade Field Marshall Lord Alexander has flown here from Canada, which will remind you of the great changes which have come about since 1927 when my father presented you with your old colours in this garden. On that occasion such a flight would have been unthinkable. In the 22 years which have passed since that day, your battalion has fought in Norway, in Africa and in Italy, and in two separate tours of duty have helped the cause of peace and humanity in Palestine. As your Colonel in Chief, I am proud to be able to pay a tribute to the exploits and sacrifices, not only of the first battalion but of the whole regiment during those dark years (we have lived at war and in the shadow of war) for much of this time. But I'm glad to see plainly today that the scars of battle of which you have borne your full share have left no mark upon your spirit. In a world of change your courage and discipline has remained unchanged, and it is in full confidence that you will uphold the great traditions of your regiment, now nearly half a century old that I give these new colours into your keeping.' King switches off the mike as he finishes.


    Related images from Tabs' Mahoney's album
    ARTHUR ANDREW ‘TABS’ MAHONEY, 2ARMD & 1BN
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  3. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Captain of the King's/Queen's guard, it is customary for the Captain of the guard to invite guests to dine with him. He is required to pay for the food, wine and extra duty pay of the cooks and waiters from his own pocket. Not best pleased to do too many guards!
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    An account by my father, copied another thread 2nd Battalion Irish Guards., which I thought was more relevant on this one

    See also earlier post Quarterly Historical Reports: 1st Bn IRISH GUARDS, January 1947 - March 1949



    At ARMAGH BARRACKS I 'fell in' with a 'Tabs' BYRNE. There were a couple by that name, one was from Tyrone, but he was from Dublin I think.
    He was a pre-war Guardsman about 6' 5" and everything that goes with that.
    He was taken POW in 1940 and did 5 years as a prisoner.

    Liberation report by 2717553 5868 Guardsman John Byrne Stlg 3a Luckenwalde, Brandenburg, Germany
    2nd Battalion Irish Guards
    DOB 31 MARCH 1913
    Enlisted 1 DECEMBER 1931
    Trade SHOEMAKER
    Address 39 WILLIAM STREET, GOREY, CO. WEXFORD
    Captured 25 MAY 1940, FRANCE

    CAMPS
    STALAG 20A POLAND, JUNE TO AUGUST 1940
    STALAG 3A BRANDENBURG, DECEMBER 1940 TO AUGUST 1941
    STALAG 21D POLAND, AUGUST 1941 TO MAY 1944
    STALAG 3A BRANDENBURG, MAY 1944 TO APRIL 1945
    STALAG 2A ANNEBURG, APRIL 1945

    Illness SUSPECTED T.B.

    Interrogation I WAS INTERROGATED AND ASKED TO FIGHT FOR GERMANY AND IRELAND AT FRISACK CAMP.

    Escapes I MADE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE WITH TWO COMPANIONS. ONE HAD TO LEAVE US. HE HAD A BAD FOOT. HIS NAME WAS CORPORAL GALVIN. SERGEANT PATTERSON AND MYSELF WERE RECAPTURED BY THE POLICE. I MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT THE SAME DAY AS I WAS RECAPTURED. I WAS FREE FOR TWO DAYS AND WAS CAUGHT AT THE FRONT BY THE ARMY AT WITTENBURG.

    Signed JOHN BYRNE, 2 MAY 1945




    When he came to us he was put in the bunk next to me and the was a great fella. He married an ATS girl from Dublin and she died of cancer. That hit him awful hard. He went out to Palestine and got killed there.

    But when he joined us in Armagh he was getting his gear out next to me, and he took out this oil painting. It was about 2' by 2'. I don't know where it went to, but it was breath-taking.

    The 1st Battalion came back from Palestine in 1938 or so [1st tour] and they went to Paris. The painting - they were marching on the Champs Elysees. Their red tunics on, immaculate.

    I said to Tabs, "Boy I'd love a copy of that"
    He said, "That's one thing I'd never part with"

    image001-1.png


    http://www.veterans-uk.info/afm2/certificate-hi-res.php?SerialNo=X14496
    Surname: BYRNE
    Forenames/Initials: John
    Rank: Gdsm
    Service: Army
    Service Number: 2717553
    Regiment/Corps: IRISH GUARDS
    Date of Birth: 31 March 1913
    Age: 35
    Date of Death: 06 April 1948
    Cemetery Name: Haifa, israel
    Cemetery Address: PALESTINE
    Grave Section: Plot F
    Grave Row: F
    Grave Number: 13
    Included on Armed Forces Memorial: Yes
    Included on Roll of Honour: Yes

    Screen shot 2011-06-29 at 23.31.26.png

    Picture 853.JPG

    Roll of Honour - Databases - Palestine 1945-1948 - British Casualties - Search Results
    Surname: BYRNE, John
    Rank: Guardsman
    Service No: 2717553
    Regiment: Irish Guards
    Date of death: 6 April 1948
    Age at death: 35
    Died how: Killed as men of the 12th Anit-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, were withdrawing from a large camp which the Army were evacuating near Pardes Hanna, north of Hadera, when attacked by Jews. The sentry and three other members of the guard were held up against the guardhouse wall, shot in the back, and killed. The wireless mast was then destroyed and shots fired into the camp, killing one more soldier and mortally injuring the commanding officer. The attackers were believed to be part of the Irgun.

    Buried or Commemorated: Haifa War Cemetery, Palestine
    Bur or Com Ref: Plot F Row F Grave 13
    Place of birth: Gorey, Co. Wexford
    Biography:
    Born 31 March 1913
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018

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