London Irish Rifles Association

A blazingly sunny day, more akin to September than November, was the perfect backdrop to the parade and Service of Remembrance held at Connaught House in honour of the 1700 men from the London Irish Rifles who died during the two World Wars.

'D' Company, including some returning members of Vimy Company, the Regimental Association and detachments of the Army Cadet Force displayed a fine fleet of foot on the parade ground accompanied by the Regimental Association's Pipes and Drums.

Owing to illness, Major General Purdon was not able to attend, but Brigadier Mooney ably stepped in to inspect the hundred and fifty, who were on parade.

Reverend David Longe conducted the service in the Drill Hall and spoke most movingly about his great, grandfather Reverend Maurice Peel MC and bar, who was killed in France during May 1917. See the full text of Reverend Longe's oration below.

We will remember them all.

The Duke of Edinburgh was present at Westminster Abbey as he viewed the thousands of poppy crosses that had been planted by the Royal British Legion in memory of the fallen from two World Wars. During his hour long walk around the plots, the Duke stopped to talk to veterans of the British First Army, with whom the London Irish Rifles served during 1942 and 1943, before stopping and speaking briefly to Peter Lough, Chairman of the Regimental Association, who was attendant at the London Irish Rifles plot.

2nd Battalion veteran, Charles Ward, now 93 years of age, was also on hand as were several other Regimental Association members, including Nigel Wilkinson and Noel Gunning and representatives of 'D' Company.  A cross denomination service was held afterwards at St Patrick's Chapel in Westminster Cathedral.

A most moving occasion all in all.

A huge turnout at The Rifleman accompanied the unveiling of a new signage commemorating the actions of Rifleman Frank Edwards and his comrades from the London Irish Rifles at the Battle of Loos in September 1915 when they dribbled a football across No Man's Land into the German Army's trenches.

The Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Rita Palmer, unveiled the new signage which shows Frank Edwards, and a background scene depicting the London Irish advancing at Loos.

Fittingly, Frank Edward's granddaughter Sue Harris attended along with her husband Ed, author of the "Footballers of Loos", and there was a fine array of Pipes and Drums, who were able to provide the necessary accompaniment both outside and inside the bar. Sue and Ed Harris's two grandchildren were also there and we look forward to the time when they can join the London Irish Rifles and retrace the footsteps of their great, great grand father - it was not clear, though, whether the youngsters were overly appreciative of the fine skirls emitted by the pipers.

A link to a YouTube video of the event can be found here.
And you can read the BBC report here.

The rain was predicted and it duly arrived at 10.30am.  But the inclement weather couldn’t prevent the annual Loos Sunday parade going ahead as planned in the Drill Hall at Connaught House.

25 members of the Regimental Association and 10 members of the Pipes and Drums were inspected by the President of the Association Maj-General Purdon, before rather fittingly on the day when we remembered the exploits of The Footballers of Loos, the Chaplain to Fulham Football Club, Gary Piper, conducted a short service of commemoration.

Despite the potential for difficulties, the day went off very well, and as another rain front came over Camberwell at 5pm, members of the Association were continuing to raise a glass (or two) to the memory of Rifleman Frank Edwards and his comrades, with an occasional celebratory song thrown in for good measure.

We look forward to joining with ‘D’ Company, who this year were unable to attend as they were at their Annual Training Camp in Cyprus, and the Army Cadet Force on future occasions.

Those who weren’t able to attend this time are encouraged to join us on November 11^th to give thanks to those who gave their lives whilst serving with the London Irish Rifles.