Western Front, 1917.
The winter of 1916 -17 was the worst in European memory since 1880 -81. Despite the advent of the submarine and the huge Allied losses in shipping (the unrestricted submarine campaign was proclaimed on 1st February 1917), the Central Powers were already suffering severely from the Royal Navy’s blockage; yet they obtained much from conquered Allied territory.
In Eastern Europe, the Russian armies were sinking in spite of Brusiloff’s brilliant offensive and Rumania was quickly overcome. In the west, there appeared to be “no way round” the strongly fortified German lines stretching from Switzerland to the sea. The fact that the foundations of final victory had been laid in 1916 was hardly recognised with two more years of setbacks and mistakes ahead; the war could only be won when the German army had been utterly defeated.
In Britain, there were changes in personalities at the head of the Government, the dynamic Lloyd George replacing Asquith as Prime Minister, leading representatives from the Dominion, like General Smuts, were called in to take part in War Cabinet discussions. Lord Kitchener was dead, drowned in HMS Hampshire, on this way to rouse Russia. In France, the arrogant and confident Nivelle had replaced Joffre; the former promised his countrymen “Laon in 24 hours and then the pursuit”.
Under Haig’s command, operations took place on the Ancre in January and February 1917; preceding the British spring offensive general known as the Battle of Arras (9th April to 24th May); the French preliminary attack was directed between the Oise and the Avre, with their main effort to follow between Rheims and Vailly on the Ancre.
Anticipating an Allied spring offensive, the Germans withdrew to an immensely strong line, running across the base of the great salient formed by their front between Arras and Rheims (25th February – 5th April 1917). In their strategic retirement, the Germans presented the Allies with a desert in which roads were mines, trees cut down, wells fouled, houses demolished and the ruins strewn with booby traps.
The year, 1917, was to see 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) Divisions remaining in France, while 10th (Irish) moved from Salonika in time to take part in General Allenby’s autumn offensive known as the battle of Gaza – Beersheba.
Most of the Irish units in other formations were employed in France, except 1st Connaught Rangers, who remained in Mesopotamia until the spring of 1918. It should be realised that, in these last two years, the Irish Regiments still relied upon volunteers to fill their ranks, while in the other home countries, there was conscription. Heavy casualties ever since 1914 was making the problem of reinforcements more and more difficult; yet the Irish soldier made his presence felt in all the theatres of war until 11th November 1918.
During 1917, the various Irish infantry units on the Western Front were distributed as follows:
1st Bttn, Irish Guards - 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division.
2nd Bttn, Irish Guards - 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division.
1st Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - 87th Infantry Brigade, 29th Division
2nd Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - 96th Infantry Brigade, 32nd Division.
1st Bttn, Royal Irish Fusiliers - 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division joined 107th Infantry Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division in August 1917.
1st Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles - 25th Infantry Brigade, 8th Division.
2nd Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles - 74th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division joined 108th Infantry Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division in October 1917.
2nd Bttn, Leinster Regiment - 73rd Infantry Brigade, 24th Division.
2nd Bttn, Royal Munster Fusiliers - 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division.
1st Bttn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers - 86th Infantry Brigade, 29th Division and joined 48th Infantry Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division in October 1917.
2nd Bttn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers - 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division.
1/18th Bttn London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) - 141st Infantry Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division.
1/8th Bttn King's (Liverpool) Regiment (Liverpool Irish) - 165th Infantry Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division.
24th/25th/26th/27th Bttns Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Irish) - 103rd Infantry Brigade, 34th Division. (24th and 27th Bttns amalgamated in August 1917).
16th (Irish) Division.
47th Infantry Brigade.
6th Bttn Royal Irish Regiment.
6th Bttn, Connaught Rangers.
7th Bttn, Leinster Regiment.
1st Bttn, Royal Munster Fusiliers.
48th Infantry Brigade.
2nd Bttn Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
7th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles transferred to 49th Infantry Brigade during August 1917.
8th Bttn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers was merged with 9th Bttn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers in October 1917 to form 8th/9th Bttn.
1st Bttn Royal Dublin Fusiliers joined from 86th Infantry Brigade, 29th Division in October 1917.
10th Bttn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers joined from 190th Infantry Brigade, 63rd Division in June 1917.
49th Infantry Brigade.
2nd Bttn, Royal Irish Regiment.
7th Bttn/8th Bttn, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
7th Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was amalgamated with 8th Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in August 1917 to form 7th/8th Bttn.
7th Bttn, Royal Irish Regiment was formed from the dismounted 1st and 2nd South Irish Horse, joined in October 1917.
36th (Ulster) Division.
107th Infantry Brigade.
10th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles.
15th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles.
8th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles merged with 9th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles in August 1917 to form 8th/9th Bttn.
1st Bttn, Royal Irish Fusiliers joined from 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division in August 1917.
108th Infantry Brigade.
11th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles was merged with 13th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles in November 1917 to form 11th/13th Bttn.
12th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles.
9th Bttn, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
2nd Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles joined from 74th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division.
7th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles joined from 49th Infantry Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division and then merged with the 2nd Bttn during October/November 1917 to form 2nd/7th Bttn.
109th Infantry Brigade.
9th Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
10th Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
11th Bttn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
14th Bttn, Royal Irish Rifles.
Source: "A History of the Irish Soldier", Brigadier AEC Bredin DSO MC DL.
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