George Laurie: Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie

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Major Herbert Stepney, Irish Guards, was killed while commanding the Battalion in the first Battle of Ypres.

Major Osbert Clinton-Baker, of Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire, Second-in-Command 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, gazetted Colonel of the Regiment in May, about two months after Colonel Laurie fell. He was mortally wounded and missing at Fromelles on May 9th, 1915.

Capt. Haliburton Laurie fell in the South African War at Philippolis, on a kopje, while rescuing a wounded patrol.

Afterwards Brigadier-General Napier. Previous to the war he commanded the 2nd Bn. Royal Irish Rifles in Aldershot and Dover. He was killed while landing troops in Gallipoli during the summer of 1915.

Sir Nevil Macready, at this time Adjutant-General of our Forces.

The number of killed amounted to 44 and 88 wounded.

Colonel Horsborgh was taken ill suddenly on the transport returning from Aden, and he was buried at sea by Colonel Laurie.

See page 119 SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING. [14] See page 29 . Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men— I am very glad to have been able to see my Army in the Field. I much wished to do so in order to gain a slight experience of the life you are leading. I wish I could have spoken to you all, to express my admiration of the splendid manner in which you have fought and are still fighting against a powerful and relentless enemy. By your discipline, pluck and endurance, inspired by the indomitable regimental spirit, you have not only upheld the tradition of the British Army, but added fresh lustre to its history. I was particularly impressed by your soldierly, healthy, cheerful appearance. I cannot share in your trials, dangers and successes; but I can assure you of the proud confidence and gratitude of myself and of your fellow countrymen. We follow you in our daily thoughts on your certain road to victory. GEORGE, R.I. December 5th, 1914. General Headquarters. .

General Laurie and his brother, Colonel Dyson-Laurie, went to the Crimean War when quite young boys, aged respectively 18 and 15. Appended is an article written by the former, and is of interest in drawing a contrast between the conditions of war in 1854 and those of the late war.

Brigadier-Gen. Lowry Cole fell in action at the Battle of Fromelles, May 9th, 1915.

General Bird commanded the 2nd Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, and was through the severe fighting of the Battle of the Aisne and the Retreat from Mons, where he was terribly wounded and lost his leg.

Lieut. W.F.E. Denison (Sherwood Foresters) served in the Great War, and fell mortally wounded in the last German advance near Cambrai on March 24th, 1918.

Civil and Military.

See page 29.