A chill wind whips through Lille. It whispers tales of sacrifice around the 16th Irish Division Memorial. This memorial stands as a testament to Irish soldiers in World War I. It honors their courage and their ultimate sacrifice.
The 16th Irish Division Memorial marks the victory at Wytschaete on June 7, 1917. It commemorates all Irishmen who died in the Great War. The inscription reads “Do cum gloire de agus onora na heireann”. This translates to “To the glory of God and the honor of Ireland”.
Imagine these men. They were National Volunteers. They joined the British Army to fight for Belgium’s fate. John Redmond urged them to defend “the highest principles of religion and morality and right”. More Catholic Irishmen enlisted than Protestants.
The 16th Irish Division began forming in late 1914. Irish recruits from England and Belfast filled its ranks. They trained in Ireland. Fermoy and Buttevant prepared them for war. Later, they moved to Aldershot in England for more intensive training.
In December 1915, the division arrived in France. They joined the British Expeditionary Force. Major General William Hickie, an Irishman, commanded them. They spent the war on the Western Front.
The 16th Irish Division faced brutal trench warfare at Loos. They suffered greatly at the Battle of Hulluch. They raided German trenches during May and June. In late July, they moved to the Somme Valley. There, they fought in the Battle of the Somme.
The division played a key role in capturing Guillemont and Ginchy. However, they suffered massive casualties. Between September 1 and 10, they lost 224 officers and 4,090 men. Despite these losses, they gained a reputation as first-class shock troops.
In early 1917, they fought at the Battle of Messines. They fought alongside the 36th Ulster Division. This added to their recognition and reputation. Their major actions concluded at the Battle of Passchendaele.
The 16th Irish Division suffered heavy losses during the German Spring Offensive in 1918. The division was practically wiped out. In June 1918, the division returned to England to rebuild.
Due to the Conscription Crisis in Ireland, fewer Irish recruits were available. The division that returned to France in July 1918 contained English, Scottish, and Welsh battalions. Only the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers remained from the original Irish battalions.
The 16th Irish Division Memorial reminds us of their bravery. It also reminds us of the complex history of Irish involvement in World War I. The monument stands as a place to remember the past and to contemplate the cost of war. It is a place to honor the fallen.