Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Laying-up of the Colours of the Disbanded Irish Regiments of the British Army
Sometime during the year 1922; on the partition of Ireland, along with the creation of the Irish Free State; six Irish Regiments of the British Army; five Infantry and one Cavalry; were disbanded as they were recruited from men mainly from the South of Ireland.
Moreover, this was a sad blow to these brave and gallant Regiments; whose history, service as well as loyalty to the British Crown went back for hundreds of years.
Thinking back, on 12th June 1922; the five Irish Infantry Regiments paraded their Colours in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle for the last time; when they were handed over to His Majesty King George V; on an emotional and emotive day.
Receiving the Army Colours
His Majesty said; “I pledge my word that, within these ancient as well as historic walls, your Colours will be treasured, honored; as well as protected as hallowed memorials of glorious deeds of brave and loyal Regiments.”
Not to mention, each Regiment had two Battalions; as well as each Battalion had two Colours; the King’s Colour, and also the Regimental Colour, making a total of 20 Colours in all. The Colours have remained at Windsor Castle for 80 years; surviving the great fire at the Castle in the early 1990’s, when they were carried to safety.
I decided that this year, 2002
Notwithstanding, the 80th anniversary of the laying-up of the Colours, the event should be remembered. Also accordingly, having received the gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen; a Service to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Laying-up of the Colours of the Disbanded Irish Infantry Regiments; was held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on 12th June 2002; eighty years to the day of the original laying-up.
HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Colonel in Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment attended the Commemoration; together with His Excellency the Ambassador of Ireland, Mr Daithi O’Ceallaigh ; General Colm Mangan, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. Anyhow, many senior retired Officers of the British Army and the Irish Defence Forces. Also, attending were members of this Association; representatives from the Irish Regiments past as well as present; members of ONE (the Irish Army Ex-service Association); as well as many notable civilian organisations from the UK and Ireland.
The opening address
Nonetheless, this was given by General Sir Roger Wheeler and the Service was conducted by the Rt Rev Dr Victor Dobbin; former Chaplain General to the Forces. Mr Tom Burke from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association read the Lesson; as well as General Corran Purdon read the Collect of the Combined Irish Regiments Association.
A very powerful and eloquent closing address was given by the Irish Ambassador.
Although, 80 years have passed since the Regiments were disbanded, there are still many links with the present day.
On the other hand, General Corran Purdon’s cousin, Lieut WCV Galway MC was in the Colour Party of the 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment; and carried their Regimental Colour at the laying-up ceremony in 1922.
Mr Desmond Moraghan; who lives in Wrexham, North Wales; and who also attended the Commemoration, is the son of the late RSM J Moraghan MC. He who paraded with the 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers Colour Party, again in 1922. The RSM’s hand was on the Colours; as they were handed over to His Majesty The King. Tonight, Mr Moraghan placed his hand on the Colours in the same way his father would have held them 80 years ago.
It was a most moving ceremony
However, this ceremony was held in the splendour of the beautifully renovated St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
Nevertheless, the 80th anniversary of the laying-up of the Colours of the Disbanded Irish Regiments of the British Army; had been well as well as truly celebrated.
Be that as it may; the bravery and gallantry of those loyal Irish Regiments has not been forgotten. And never will be forgotten.
Irish Regiments disbanded in 1922:
- The Royal Irish Regiment (18th Foot)
- Connaught Rangers (88th and 94th Foot)
- The Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians); (100th and 109th Foot)
- The Royal Munster Fusiliers (101st and 104th Foot)
- Royal Dublin Fusiliers (102nd and 103rd Foot)
- The South Irish Horse
Rest in Peace
Major JM MacLeod
Project Officer
Representation
- Headquarters, Chief of Staff Irish Defence Forces
- Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (London)
- Regimental Headquarters, Irish Guards
- Regimental Headquarters, Royal Irish Regiment
- Irish Defence Forces
- Irish Guards
- Royal Irish Regiment
- North Irish Horse
- London Irish Rifles
Regimental Associations:
- Combined Irish Regiments OCA
- Royal Irish Regiment
- Connaught Rangers
- Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
- Royal Munster Fusiliers
- Royal Dublin Fusiliers
- The Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers
- Royal Ulster Rifles
- Royal Irish Fusiliers
- The London Irish Rifles
- Ulster Defence Regiment
- North Irish Horse – also representing the South Irish Horse
- Oglaigh Naisiunta Na Heireann
Organizations:
- The Irish Embassy, London
- The Irish Military Heritage Trust
- Bandon War Memorial Committee
- The Irish Peace Institute, Limerick
- Westminster Cathedral Project
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