- Welcome to the Irish Brigade Website
- News
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- Formation of the Irish Brigade
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- Roll of Honour 1939-45
- 2 LIR – January to October 1942
- 2 LIR – November 1942
- 2 LIR – December 1942
- 2 LIR – January 1943
- 2 LIR – February 1943
- 2 LIR – March 1943
- 2 LIR – April 1943
- 2 LIR – May/June 1943
- 2 LIR – July 1943
- 2 LIR – August/September 1943
- 2 LIR – October 1943
- 2 LIR – November 1943
- 2 LIR – December 1943
- 2 LIR – January 1944
- 2 LIR – February 1944
- 2 LIR – March 1944
- 2 LIR – April 1944
- 2 LIR – May 1944
- 2 LIR – June 1944
- 2 LIR – July 1944
- 2 LIR – October 1944
- 2 LIR – November 1944 to February 1945
- 2 LIR – March 1945
- 2 LIR – April 1945
- 2 LIR – May 1945
- Honours and awards
- They Shall Not Grow Old – 1 London Irish Rifles
- They Shall Not Grow Old – 2 London Irish Rifles
- War Diaries of 1 London Irish Rifles
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- Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – “The Skins”
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- At Rest in Rome and Egypt
- In Sidi Bishr
- Back To Italy
- With the 5th Army
- Plan to capture Imola
- The Spaduro battles
- The Rains come
- Patrolling and Artillery Duels
- San Clemente
- And with the Skins and Irish Rifles
- Clamping Down for the Winter
- With the Faughs
- Raid on Casa Tamagnin
- Continuing in the Mountains
- Goodbye to the Mountains
- The Beginning of a New Phase
- Preparing for the Final Battles
- Senio Floodbanks
- London Irish Raid on the Floodbank
- Visitors to the Irish Brigade
- St Patrick’s Day in Forli
- Ready for Action
- The Last Offensive – The Plan and Opening Phase
- The Po and the End of the War
- Northern Italy
- Into Austria – Settling Frontiers
- Balkan Troubles
- Postscript
- Irish Brigade Awards: May 1944 to March 1945
- Irish Brigade Awards: April to July 1945.
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- December 1942
- February 1943 (1)
- January 1943 (2)
- January 1943 (1)
- January 1943 (3)
- April 1943 (3)
- April 1943 (4)
- July 1943
- June 1943
- August 1943 (1)
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – November 1942
- March 1943
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – December 1942
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – January 1943
- May 1943 (1)
- May 1943 (2)
- May 1943 (3)
- December 1943 (1)
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – March 1943
- December 1943 (2)
- November 1943
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – May 1943
- October 1943 (1)
- October 1943 (2)
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – June 1943
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – July 1943
- October 1943 (3)
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – August 1943
- September 1943
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – September 1943
- April 1943 (1)
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – November 1943
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – December 1943
- April 1943 (5a)
- February 1943 (2)
- February 1943 (3)
- April 1943 (2)
- February 1943 (4)
- November 1942
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- October 1944 (1)
- March 1944
- February 1944
- June 1944 (1)
- January 1944
- April 1944
- June 1944 (2)
- May 1944
- October 1944 (2)
- November 1944 (1)
- July 1944
- August 1944
- November 1944 (2)
- December 1944
- September 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – January 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – March 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – April 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – May 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – July 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – August 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – September 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – October 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – November 1944
- 38 (Irish) Brigade – December 1944
- Officers’ Roll : November 1942 to December 1943
- Officers’ Roll : January 1944 to May 1945
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- April 1944
- July 1944
- June 1944
- March 1944
- May 1944
- 1 RIrF – January 1944
- 1 RIrF – February 1944
- 1 RIrF – March 1944
- 1 RIrF – April 1944
- 1 RIrF – May 1944
- 1 RIrF – June 1944
- 1 RIrF – July 1944
- 1 RIrF – August 1944
- 1 RIrF – September 1944
- 1 RIrF – October 1944
- 1 RIrF – November 1944
- 1 RIrF – December 1944
- Officers’ Roll : November 1942 to June 1944
- Officers’ Roll : July 1944 to May 1945
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- April 1944 (1)
- April 1944 (2)
- April 1944 (3)
- August 1944
- December 1944
- February 1944
- January 1944 (1)
- January 1944 (2)
- July 1944
- June 1944 (1)
- June 1944 (2)
- March 1944
- May 1944
- November 1944
- October 1944 (1)
- October 1944 (2)
- September 1944
- 2 LIR – February 1944
- 2 LIR – March 1944
- 2 LIR – April 1944
- 2 LIR – May 1944
- 2 LIR – June 1944
- 2 LIR – July 1944
- 2 LIR – August 1944
- 2 LIR – September 1944
- 2 LIR – October 1944
- 2 LIR – November 1944
- 2 LIR – December 1944
- Officers’ Roll : Nov 1942 to Dec 1943
- Officers’ Roll : Jan 1944 to May 1945
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- Point 286, Tunisia – Jan 1943 by Lt-Col Jeffreys
- Lieutenant Nick Mosley at Monte Spaduro
- The Skins in Sicily
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- Percy Hamilton – On Route to Africa
- Percy Hamilton – To The Front
- Percy Hamilton – Djebel Mahdi
- Percy Hamilton – Tanngoucha
- Percy Hamilton – Advance To Tunis
- Percy Hamilton – Guelma/Hammamet
- Percy Hamilton – Arriving in Sicily
- Percy Hamilton – From Centuripe To Randazzo
- Percy Hamilton – To Mainland Italy
- Percy Hamilton – Termoli
- Percy Hamilton – Crossing the Trigno River
- Percy Hamilton – Assault on San Salvo
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- Thursday 4th November 1943 (1)
- 4th November 1943 (2)
- Saturday 6th November 1943
- Tuesday 9th November 1943
- Friday 12th November 1943
- Monday 15th November 1943
- Tuesday 16th November 1943
- Thursday 18th November 1943
- Sunday 21st November 1943
- Tuesday 23rd November 1943
- Friday 25th November 1943
- Monday 28th November 1943
- Captain David Schayek – March/April 1943
- Colin Gunner at Argenta
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- Ted O’Sullivan joins the London Irish Rifles
- Day 2
- The making of Rosie
- Training at Wimbledon
- Invasion alerts
- From Lowestoft to Haverfordwest
- Onto Goodwood
- Joining the Irish Brigade
- Operation Dryshod and ready for War
- Setting sail from Glasgow
- Arrival in Algiers
- Christmas in Tunisia
- Point 286
- Stuka Ridge
- Rest and recovery
- The Djebels north of Medjez-el-Bab
- Entering Tunis
- Rest and renewed training
- Stormy Mediterranean crossings
- The Sicilian campaign
- From Termoli to the Trigno
- Crossing the Sangro River
- Interlude at Campbobasso
- Meeting the new OC
- German raid at Montenero
- In clear sight of Vesuvius
- Defensive positions at San Angelo
- Ascending Monte Castellone
- The Liri Valley
- North of Rome
- Back to Rome and onto Egypt
- Hospitalised in Alexandria
- Out of the Line
- Back to the London Irish at last
- Resting in Forli
- St Patrick’s Day
- From Argenta to Austria
- Peace at Last
- Home on Leave
- At Ease in London
- The Atomic Sergeant Major
- RQMS Edmund O’Sullivan goes home
- Irish Brigade at Termoli, October 1943
- Termoli. 5/6 October 1943
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- Campaign Narrative
- Unit Accounts – 11 Brigade
- Unit Accounts – Other Arms
- Unit Accounts – Royal Artillery
- Unit Accounts – 36 Brigade
- Unit Accounts – 38 Brigade
- Unit Accounts – Royal Engineers
- 78 Division
- Unit Accounts – Maps
- Casualties/ Prisoners of War
- 11 Brigade
- 2 Lancashire Fusiliers
- 1 East Surreys
- 5 Northamptons
- 5 Buffs
- 8 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 38 (Irish) Brigade
- 38th Brigade
- 2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
- 2 London Irish Rifles
- 1 Royal Irish Fusiliers
- 1 Kensingtons
- The Queen’s Bays
- 9 Lancers
- 10 Royal Hussars
- 48 RTR
- Royal Artillery
- 17 Field Regiment RA
- 132 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA
- 138 Field Regiment RA
- 64 A/Tk Regiment
- Royal Engineers, 78 Division
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- Honours and Awards – 38 (Irish) Brigade
- Honours and awards – 6 Innisks
- Honours and awards – 2 Innisks
- Honours and awards – 1 RIrF
- Honours and awards – 2 LIR
- Honours and Awards – Tunisian Campaign
- Honours and Awards – Sicilian Campaign
- Honours and Awards – From Termoli to the Moro
- Honours and Awards – Cassino/ Trasimene
- Honours and Awards – Monte Spaduro / Tamagnin
- Honours and Awards – Senio/Argenta Gap
- Mentions in Brigade Orders – October 1944 to March 1945
- Mention in Brigade Orders – April 1945
- Contact Us
- Site Map
Welcome to the Irish Brigade Website
This is a resource devoted to the history of 38 (Irish) Infantry Brigade, a Second World War formation of the British Army. When it was formed in early 1942, it comprised men who were largely from Ireland or of Irish origin. The Irish Brigade gained an unrivalled reputation during Allied campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily and mainland Italy.
This is a living project that aims to preserve the memory of the thousands of men who served with the brigade during the Second World War and to build bonds of friendship today among the people of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Tunisia and Italy.
We welcome comments and suggestions about this website. Your messages can be sent using the email dialogue box at the bottom of the page.
Edmund (Gerard) and Richard O'Sullivan were inspired to create the website by their father Edmund, who served with the 2nd Battalion of the London Irish Rifles from 1939 to 1946, and their mother Patricia (nee Webb), who served with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) from 1942 to 1946. Edmund O'Sullivan is photographed right bearing the insignia of his rank as sergeant major in the summer of 1945.
Read the story of Colour Sergeant Edmund O'Sullivan before and during the Second World War
Read Edmund and Patricia O'Sullivan's life stories after 1945.
LATEST.
October 2018 - We have started a series of PodCasts about the Irish Brigade here.
Part 1 - Origin and Leadership.
Part 2 - The Men of the Irish Brigade.
Part 3 - Operation Torch: The Strategic Factors.
In March 2018, we started to film the route of the Irish Brigade from Algiers to Villach during the period from November 1942 to May 1945.
The completed films will start to become available here and added on YouTube.
Parts 1/2: Tunisia.
Still photographs from our filming in Tunisia during March 2018 can be found by following this link.
Part 3: Sicily.
Still photographs from our filming in Sicily during June 2018 can be found by following this link.
To find out more about some of the men who served in the Irish Brigade in 1941-47, click on the names below:
Rifleman James Murtagh MM at Maletto.
Charles Ward remembers his time with the London Irish Rifles and Special Operations Executive.
Lieutenant Desmond Fay at Casa Spinello, October 23rd 1944.
Major Sir Mervyn Davies MC 1918 - 2015.
Captain Strome Galloway at Stuka Farm, February 1943.
To view details of more than 1,000 men who died while serving with the Brigade click here
Follow a day by day account of the Irish Brigade's journey from Algiers to Austria here.
Read first hand accounts written by men who served in the Irish Brigade.
Read an account of the Brigade's actions from November 1942 to December 1943 written by Brigadier Nelson Russell:
Tunisia from November 1942 to May 1943.
Sicily during July and August 1943.
Italy from September to December 1943.
Italy from March 1944 to July 1945 written by Brigadier TPD Scott.
War diaries of the campaigns in Tunisia and Italy from November 1942 to May 1945:
- 6 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from November 1942 to August 1944
- 2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from July 1944 to May 1945.
Citations for honours and awards awarded to men of 38 (Irish) Brigade.
View war-time photographs from the album of RSM George Charnick of the 2nd Battalion of the London Irish Rifles, who was one of the most decorated members of the Irish Brigade.
You can view other photographs that have been sent to us here.
The Massed Pipes of the Irish Brigade in front of St Peter's Basilica in June 1944
(Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum).
The Irish Brigade website pays tribute to all those who served with the infantry battalions of the Irish Brigade but we should not forget the support provided to them by men of 56th Reconnaissance Regiment, 17th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery, 1st Kensington Regiment, 214 Field Squadron of the Royal Engineers and numerous armoured regiments as well as the RAF, Royal Navy, RAMC, Royal Signals, RASC, REME and RAOC.
With the greatest respect and utmost humility, we salute them all.
This website is a private, non-profit initiative dedicated to the memory of Edmund O'Sullivan, Colour Sergeant, E Company of the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles during its campaigns with the Irish Brigade from November 1942 until May 1945.
A twisting pathway of discovery has lead me to this amazing website. A letter from Egypt dated 20.11.1945 from Edmund O’Sullivan was found quite recently in a battered old brown suitcase, along with letters from my father to my mother, not long before he was killed on 22nd February 1943 near Bou Arada. My father, Rfn Albert Fitzgibbon 7022276 E Coy, 2 LIR was serving in the same Company as Edmund O’Sullivan and this website has been invaluable to me at almost 75 years old to learn of what my father, and everyone, endured during his part in the 2nd… Read more »
Paul, A truly remarkable connection between your father and ours…We shall be visiting Tunisia in March 2018 to pay our respects to all the men who lie at rest there. We shall pay particular attention to the final resting place of Rifleman Albert Fitzgibbon at Medjez-el-Bab CWGC Cemetery. best wishes Richard and Edmund O’Sullivan