London Irish Rifles
Captain Michael Tasker in Tunisia and Italy
We were pleased to see the story of Michael Tasker being featured in the recent BBC documentary series, ‘A House Through Time’ and noted the references to his service with the 2nd Battalion London Irish Rifles (2 LIR) during the Second World War. In the making of the programme, we were able to help the…
Read MoreCorporal Edward O’Reilly MM
We have received a note from Ben Guiden, the great nephew of Corporal Edward O’Reilly, who served with E Company 2 LIR in Tunisia and Italy and was killed near Cassino in the early afternoon of 16th May 1944, alongside his platoon commander on that day, Sergeant Edward Mayo MM. In his note to us,…
Read MoreSgt George Guild’s photo collection
We are pleased to be able to share a number of photographs from the collection of Sgt George Guild MM, who was a platoon sergeant with F Company in the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles. We would like to thank the London Irish Rifles’ Museum for allowing us to share these intimate studies of a…
Read MoreGuts and tragedy: the London Irish Lofting brothers
It’s not unusual for brothers to serve together in time of war but John and Harry Lofting, junior officers in the London Irish Rifles when the Second World War began, were exceptional. Their father, Henry, was a Londoner who worked for the Eastern Telegraph Company, which owned and operated telegraph links between the UK and…
Read MoreThe London Irish officer killed in Tunisia who lost two brothers in the Great War
On 20 January 1943, Captain Sydney Montrose Ekin was walking in the footsteps of two brothers who had fought and died in the First World War when he crossed the attack Start Line on the Bou Arada to Goubellat road, 50 miles south west of Tunis, A Cambridge University law graduate who had been commissioned…
Read MoreThe London Irish Rifleman who walked to freedom
January and February of 1945 were among the coldest winter months recorded in Europe in the entire 20th century. In Silesia, then part of the Third Reich but now in Poland, temperatures fell to 25 degrees centigrade below freezing. These were the conditions that faced Prisoners of War (POWs) at the Stalag VIII camp near…
Read MoreFusilier Harold Mellor
We received an excellent note from the son of Fusilier Harold Mellor, who served with the 6th and 2nd Inniskillings in Italy and Austria. In his note to us, Stephen Mellor told us: “ My father died in 2000 and three years ago I commenced research into my father’s war experiences in order to…
Read MorePiper Albert Jeffrey at the Vatican
Excerpt of The Wartime Memoirs of Albert “Jeff” Jeffrey. The 2 LIR’s visit to the Pope in June 1944 is well documented but nothing has been written of the Band’s performance. On arriving we did the usual trick of counter-marching on arrival at any church, so as to be facing the following marchers who then…
Read MoreSergeant Thomas Renshaw
We have recently been contacted by the grandson of Sergeant Thomas Renshaw, who served with both the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the London Irish Rifles during the Second World War. In his note to us, Darren Russell explained that his grandfather had served with the 2nd Battalion London Irish Rifles throughout the Tunisian campaign but…
Read MoreLance Corporal Joseph Ransley
We have received a note from Gary Sherrington about his grandfather, Lance Corporal Joseph Ransley, who served with the Irish Brigade in North Africa and Italy. In his note, Gary told us: “My grandfather served with the 2nd Battalion London Irish Rifles during 1943. Incidentally, like your father Edmund, he was also from Peckham and…
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