North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Sergeant Richard Irwin

Irwin 2

Sergeant Richard (Dick) Irwin, 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Service Nos 41268 (RIF), 398 (NIH). Residence Lurgan, County Armagh, born Donagheloney, County Down in May 1885, enlisted Waringstown, County Down. Husband of Margaret Irwin of Clougher, Maralin, Lurgan, father of Sadie. He had two brothers, Samuel and William, and a sister, Annie Jane. He was a weaver by trade. Before the war Irwin was a drill Sergeant in the Waringstown Company of the Ulster Volunteers and Orange Lodge secretary. He was a well known local sportsman, playing in goals for Glenavon Reserves for many years, as well as turning out regularly for the first team, as required. He was an all round cricketer, playing for Waringstown second team regularly and assisted the first team in the 1911 cup final against North Down. Irwin had joined the North Irish Horse in 1908, and arrived in France as a Lance Sergeant with C Squadron in August 1914. He was killed in action during a trench raid on 3 November 1917, aged 32. Irwin is buried at Neuville-Bourjonval British Cemetery, grave E.17. His gravestone inscription reads:

41268 SERJEANT

R. IRWIN

ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS

3RD NOVEMBER 1917 AGE 32

NOT DEAD TO THOSE THAT LOVED HIM

The Battalion diary for that day states:

At 4.30pm C Company left Ruyaulcourt and marched up to the line to carry out a raid. The enemy's front line was successfully penetrated from the Canal (K.26.d.05.95) to about 150 yards east of it. The fighting was very severe as the enemy refused to surrender. Our men stayed in the enemy trenches for twenty minutes and bayonetted and shot at least forty Germans. We suffered some
12 casualties, mostly from bombs: one Officer severely wounded, one Officer slightly wounded; one NCO killed, three Other Ranks missing believed killed, thirteen Other Ranks wounded, one R.E. (NCO) severely wounded.

Richard Irwin had a number of letters published in the Lurgan Mail during the War. The following was sent to Mr James Pennington:

I see by the 'Lurgan Mail' that you are still taking the same hearty interest in the Ulster Volunteers in Waringstown. Keep it up. I see some of the volunteers have joined Lord Kitchener's army. Bravo Waringstown! When all is over and Germany well beaten, it will be said that Waringstown has done its duty to King and Country. All the boys here are doing well and in good health and spirits. We get plenty to eat and an odd smoke; so we are not badly off. We thought it a bit rough here at first, but have got used to it now. I am very sorry to say that Lieut Combe has been captured. Of course he will be all right, but we miss him, for he was loved by every one of us. He was a gentleman and every inch a soldier. You might give my best wishes to the company and tell them I am always glad to hear from them.

Another letter which he sent to his brother Samuel, contains the following description of the Germans as "...a great pack of cowards, one man could chase a dozen of them; in fact I have seen one Lancer capture ten Germans without firing a shot, so you see they are a poor lot when out from cover."

The following letters were received by his wife Maggie early in December 1917:

Dear Mrs Irwin. I would have written to you very much sooner only I was dangerously hit myself the night your husband was killed and when able to write had to get your address from the battalion. On account of recent movements it has taken till today for me to receive it. I do not want to stir up your sorrow afresh, but I simply must write and tell you how much I thought of him. I have been in charge of his troop since August 1916 and when we joined the Fusiliers lately, we were in the same company and on the night of the raid he was with me at the head of our party and I always felt that when he was with me I had a good pal as well as a good Serjeant, God himself only knows why I should have lived and he taken, ever since I was out of danger I have felt the loss of a good friend. Please if there is anything I can do let me know. I am still in bed and will not be up for a couple of weeks yet, I got six wounds but the dangerous one was a piece of shell that ripped up my lung. Please write if there is any information I can give you and believe me
Yours very sincerely W.H. Hutchinson Lt.

A second letter followed a week later:

Dear Mrs Irwin. I was very glad to hear from you and to know that you had received my letter. You asked me about your husband's last moments. As far as I know he was unconscious when the stretcher bearers went to bring him in and I understand that he died before he was actually brought to our lines. If you know any of the Boys out there I am sure they could tell you more details, but you see I was hit practically at the same time, but being able to walk a little I got on a bit before I collapsed and was taken back by some of the men returning from the enemy lines. I hope you will not be angry at the enclosed, which I want you to accept as a little xmas box for the little ones. It will be a sad time for you and if this little token of my sympathy will help to give pleasure to the children and through them to yourself, believe me it will be a very great pleasure in-deed.
Sincerely W.H.Hutchinson

Irwin 3

Irwin 4

The images of Sgt Irwin, some of the biographical information, and the letters above, have been sourced from The Story of a Banner: Waringstown during World War 1, by Leslie Elliott and David Stevenson.