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 which, when it was formed in early 1942, comprised men who were largely from Ireland or of Irish origin. Over the next three and a half years, the Irish Brigade would gain 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.
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.
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.
In March 2018, we started to film the route of the Irish Brigade from Algiers to Villach covering the period from November 1942 to May 1945.
The completed films will become available here on this site
and also on a
YouTube channel.
Irish Brigade Films - Part 6: Trasimeno
We have also started a series of PodCasts about the Irish Brigade and you can listen to them all here.
PodCast 20 - Lake Trasimene, Part 4
PodCast 19 - Lake Trasimene, Part 3
PodCast 18 - Lake Trasimene, Part 2
PodCast 17 - Lake Trasimene, Part 1
.
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
A truly amazing website and tribute to these brave soldiers. You must be immensely proud of your father and quite rightly. Well Done
Darren, thank you…our father, Edmund, was born 100 year ago next Thursday, on 28th Feb 1919. A great man. Best wishes Richard
It is possible Edmund fought alongside my Grandfather Thomas Renshaw. He joined Royal Irish Fusiliers ( Princess Victoria’s) in 1940. At some point he was transferred to either London Irish Riffles or Ulster Riffles after becoming a sergeant. We know he landed in Algeria and fought to Tunis. We have a newspaper cutting of him on Parade there ( poor image ). Shortly after these celebrations and after withdrawing to Algeria and during the clear up operation he received life changing injuries in a grenade explosion and his war was over. He died in 2007. What ever regiment he was… Read more »
Did members of the regiment serve at Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster in 1944, if so where were they deployed to??? I am trying to find out any information about Cpl (Dark) Ferguson
My father born 1916 Galway , was a seargant in the British Army during WW 2 Is there a database to see if I can find his name ,outfit , etc. My cousin in Galway said he has some medals in a trunk that must be my fathers. I have to make a trip back to the old county go see them.
Dear Sir, I attended a funeral in Belfast today (26/07/19) of a gentleman called Ronnie Cartlidge. He was my friend’s Father. During the course of the service mention was given to the effect on him of losing two brothers in WW2. Fred (Irish Guards) and Thomas (Inniskilling Fusiliers). My friend is named after the latter Uncle and his Brother after the former. I was able to find on the Irish Guards website that Fred had died at Anzio in 1943. Thomas however does not appear on your list of the fallen. He is listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission… Read more »
Fusilier THOMAS CARTLIDGE served with the 2nd Bn Skins and was killed in Sicily.
Hello, my father Frank De Angeli joined the 56 Recce Corps in the Summer of 1944. (previously he was in the Pioneer Corps). i dont have all the details but he was certainly in Italy sometime in the Fall – not sure where he joined his unit but i think the 78 was sent for refitting in Egypt that summer so perhaps around the time they came back. He was in Rietri for training over Xmas/New years as we have a letter from that time. He drove a Bren car at least part of the time. He said the Recce… Read more »
Thank you Jane…the 56 Recce certainly were close supporters of the Irish Brigade from Tunisia to the Po and of course Lt-Col Kendall Chevasse was a Royal Irish Fusilier “by birth”.. Faugh a Ballagh !
Hello, i have plaque made by my father when he was attached to the brigade
Thank you John – do you have a photo of the plaque?
best wishes
My father, Harold Mellor, served with the 6th and 2nd Inniskillings in Italy and Austria with the Irish Brigade. He died in 2000. Three years ago I commenced research into his war experiences in order to better understand what he went through and document them for the other members of our family. I visited Monte Cassino in 2018 and had a very rewarding and emotional experience. I hope to visit the regimental museum in Enniskillen next year (all being well). Your excellent website has been a fantastic resource and even three years on I am still discovering fresh and enlightening… Read more »
Stephen,
Thank you for your kind words. It continues to be a privilege for us to trace the journey of your father and so many other fine men,
best wishes
I have a book the 78th division in the final offensive in Italy with maps in the back if this is of any interest to you I could post it on