| When
war broke out, General Kitchener's regular British Army comprised
of only six divisions. The British Expeditionary Force, sent to France
in August was practically decimated at Mons. Kitchener began recruiting
a new volunteer army, with a target of 100,000 men. The first volunteer
army was called K1, the second, K2, and so on up to K5. |
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The first Irish volunteers were placed into the service battalions
of the Irish Regiments which made up the 10th (Irish) Division.
These were: 5th Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment (18th Foot);
6th Battalion the Royal Irish Rifles; 5th Battalion the Connaught
Rangers; 6th Battalion the Leinster Regiment; 6th and 7th Battalion
the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; 6th and 7th Battalion the Royal Munster
Fusiliers; 5th and 6th Battalion the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers;
5th and 6th Battalion the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
The British used a territorial numbering system for their army divisions:
the 9th (Scottish) Division, the 10th (Irish) Division and the 11th
(Northern) Division, etc.
Kitchener was very suspicious of both the Ulster Volunteers and
the National Volunteers and rejected Redmond's offer to form an
Irish Army to fight along side the English, Scottish and Welsh troops.
About 200,000 Irish people volunteered during 1914 - 18.
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Members
of the 10th Irish Division. |
