Veteran’s Day ‘Lest we forget’ – The Irish who died in World War One

Yes...those poor, inoffensive Germans...rumors of a U-Boat campaign, preying on unarmed merchant ships, both Irish and American…just more propaganda, eh?

Not sure if I should take an article seriously that evidently doesn't know the difference between Irish 'nationalists' & 'republicans'. Go read a book.

Ah yes, World War I. The War fought to "Make the World Safe for the British Empire".

Richard P: They were fighting for their own country! Really?? Their same own country that sixty/seventy years before let a million die and a million more forced to immigrate. If at the end of the day people still want to honor those who fought in WW I for whatever reason fine. But it is being done at the expense of the men who fought for Irish freedom. The men who gave all for their people and their country. Men like Collins, Griffith, O Malley, Lynch, Deasy, and so many others who gave their lives for their country, men who would have excelled in othere endeavors had they chosen them. They should be honored first and foremost.

Ms. Hayes what exactly was the justice of the cause? What harm did Germany or Turkey ever commit against Ireland or her people. I don't deny that some honestly thought that serving in the British armed forces might bring a limited freedom to Ireland in the form of Home Rule.But does it justify killing others who never harmed Ireland? Nd this Hoem Rule would give Ireland just a limited freedom, not real freedom, and it still envisioned a partitioned Ireland. So Irishmen went out to fight and kill people who never harmed Ireland, all for the promise of a very limited freedom, with a partitioned country.

"Remembering the 35,000 Irishmen who gave their lives"... Unless they were singularly competent or incompetent soldiers, we can assume that these Irishmen killed a similar number of Austrians, Hungarians, Germans, Turks etc. This slaying of some 35,000 people represents by far the greatest mass killing by Irishmen in history. It far exceeds the total number of people killed by Irish nationalists in ALL military events combined, from the 1798 Rebellion up to today. Why should anyone celebrate this slaughter? Were there representatives of the people of Austria, German, Hungary, Turkey etc at these commemorations?

A WWII veteran told me a few years back that he had "done my bit", as he put it. And so did the people featured in this video. I think of an uncle I never knew, Hugh Foley, who fought with the British Army and was killed at Monte Cassino Italy in 1944. They were young. And strong. Many of them died. Rest In Peace.

I believe that Sgt. Joyce Kilmer deserves a shout out here for his service with the Fighting 69th. He left his blood and his heart in France with a sniper's bullet in 1917 along with the memory of many a tree.

A noble thought, but on Veterans Day, why would Irish Central focus only on Irish who served in the British Army. In a wood they call the Rouge Bouquet There is a new-made grave to-day, Built by never a spade nor pick Yet covered with earth ten metres thick. There lie many fighting men, Dead in their youthful prime, Never to laugh nor love again Nor taste the Summertime. For Death came flying through the air And stopped his flight at the dugout stair, Touched his prey and left them there, Clay to clay. He hid their bodies stealthily In the soil of the land they fought to free And fled away. Now over the grave abrupt and clear Three volleys ring; And perhaps their brave young spirits hear The bugle sing: “Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Slumber well where the shell screamed and fell. Let your rifles rest on the muddy floor, You will not need them any more. Danger’s past; Now at last, Go to sleep!” There is on earth no worthier grave To hold the bodies of the brave Than this place of pain and pride Where they nobly fought and nobly died. Never fear but in the skies Saints and angels stand Smiling with their holy eyes On this new-come band. St. Michael’s sword darts through the air And touches the aureole on his hair As he sees them stand saluting there, His stalwart sons; And Patrick, Brigid, Columkill Rejoice that in veins of warriors still The Gael’s blood runs. And up to Heaven’s doorway floats, From the wood called Rouge Bouquet A delicate cloud of buglenotes That softly say: “Farewell! Farewell! Comrades true, born anew, peace to you! Your souls shall be where the heroes are And your memory shine like the morning-star. Brave and dear, Shield us here. Farewell!”

died for a promise from the mother occupier

@ thetint: You chose your handle well - they were fighting for their own country as it was in that time, as irishmen in Irish Divisions and throughout the British Army. They also fought for Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and probably many other countries too - all of which was fine it seems, but not fighting for Britain even though most enlisted before the 1916 Rising. Revisionism is always easier from a distance.

Heart rending archive film footage of the sheer hell of modern warfare. Those inexplicble historical periods where humanity descends into a state of barbarism, and where one class of society manures the battle fields with the carcasses of its surplus labour. Young men were told when enquiring about the reasons: "Ours not to wonder why. Ours but to do - and die!" One "Hun" (ie English pejorative for enemy German) was gassed in such attacks. Uncharacteristically awarded the iron cross as a non-commissioned officer (ie corporal), he later ascended to some considerable notoriety as Chancellor of the Greman Exchequer, and Der Furher of the Third Reich Vaterland. Nuff said!

They would have been better off fighting for their own country.