World War I Volunteers
July
When war broke out in August 1914, Ireland had been on the brink of Civil War between those who opposed the introduction of Home Rule for Ireland (the Ulster Volunteer Force) and those who supported it (the Irish Volunteers).
The response of both the UVF and the Irish Volunteers to the appeals of their leaders to enlist and fight for King and country was impressive. Whole units of the UVF were incorporated in the 36th Ulster Division. The Division's first major engagement was at the Somme: in the disastrous attacks made on 1-2 July 1916 they suffered some 5,500 casualties, dead and wounded.
Many Irish Volunteers ended up in the 16th Division. They fought alongside men of the UVF at Guillemont and Guinchy in northern France in the autumn of 1916 - indeed, members of the 36th Ulster Division brought in the mortally wounded Willy Redmond (brother of the Irish Party leader, John Redmond) from No Man's Land.
Image: (left) Irish Volunteers in 1914; (right) UVF Volunteers before their departure for France
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