THE Connaught Rangers, an Irish regiment of the British Army, was formed in 1881 by an amalgamation of the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) and the 94th Regiment of Foot.
They are normally referred to as the 88th and are nicknamed the Devils Own.
In a conflict of actions, the Rangers fought against the Irish rebels in the 1916 Easter Rising.
But they mutinied in 1920, when based in India, against the atrocities committed by the British in Ireland. More on these actions later, but let’s return to the history of the regiment.
The 88th was raised by Colonel, the Hon De Burgh, the Earl of Clonricarde, under an order signed on 25 September 1793 to counteract the threats from Napoleon’s France.
The majority of personnel were from Connaught, hence the name. Their regimental headquarters was in Renmore Barracks, Galway.
A small museum of memorabilia exists there, and can be viewed by appointment with the curator.
Their badge was the crowned harp, with the words ‘Connaught Rangers’ on a green field underneath, and their motto was Quis Separibit (Who shall divide us). Their most famous song was A Long Way to Tipperary.
They first saw action in the Duke of York’s army at Flanders in 1794.
This was the disastrous Walcheren campaign against Napoleon, and despite their inexperience, they fought with distinction. But hundreds died in the British army’s winter retreat.
They embarked for the West Indies in 1795. That particular winter was memorable for its storms, one of which split the Rangers’ transport.
Their headquarters ship was blown as far as Cartagena, later putting in to Gibraltar – only two companies made their destination. They saw service in Grenada and Santa Lucia.
The 88th was reformed in 1799 and left for India, arriving in Bombay in 1800, with two companies landing in Madras. They moved to Egypt, where they served until 1802, when they sailed for home. Their involvement in the Peninsular War was next, under Wellington, who described them as “That most astonishing infantry.”
It was during this campaign that they earned their nickname from their direct commander, general Thomas Picton, a man who had a love/hate relationship with them, but never failed to admire them and made them his heavy stormtroopers.
They were given the honour of providing the Forlorn Hope at the battle of Cuidad Rodrigo. This entailed leading the attack on a defended position when the risk of casualties was high.
The French had taken this fortified and important cathedral town after a 24-day siege in 1810, defeating a 5,500-strong Spanish garrison, who had defended it bravely.
Wellington’s army attacked the town on the night of 19 January 1812, having directed his cannon to open two breaches in the walls.
The 88th stormed the largest breach, which was defended by two embedded cannon, and it was these which caused most of the 195 deaths sustained by the attackers. Two generals – Craufurd and McKinnon – were among the dead. The British forces then sacked the entire town.
Lieutenant William Grattan served with the 88th during this campaign.
A note in his published diaries is interesting. In it he mentions the Rangers: “They were the most Irish of all Irish regiments. They were a parcel of lads who took the world aisy, and without shoes, they fancied themselves at home, without food, they were nearly at home.”
Back to earlier days in the war. In July 1808, the Rangers played a minor role in the Battle of Talavera. But it was during the Battle of Busaca in September 1810 that the 88th put in one of their finest hours.
Wellington was in retreat towards Portugal; he was also under pressure from England for a victory which would calm unrest concerning the cost of the war.
And to compound matters, he was being chased by a far superior French force. He choose to fight a delaying action – a sound decision under the conditions – and one which was working well, until on a misty morning, a French unit which was somewhat off-course, found itself at a weak point of the British lines on the crest of a ridge.
This meant the French could cut the opposition in two and roll over one flank. The fiery colonel of the 88th Alexander Wallace saw the danger and, leading from the front and supported by four companies of the 45th (1st Nottinghamshire), charged the French and drove them back down the mountain. Wellington witnessed the charge and shouted to Wallace: “Upon my honour, I never witnessed such a gallant charge as that just made by your regiment.”
On 3 May 1811, it was the French offensive in Portugal which was in decline. They were in retreat towards the Spanish border, and during this sequence came the Battle of Fuentes De Onoro. On the second day of fighting, the village changed hands several times, with the French finally defeating the Scottish 71st and 79th Highlanders, plus the 24th Foot.
All now depended on the Connaught Rangers.
Wallace sent word to Wellington: “I shall take it with my regiment and keep it.” So the 45th Nottinghamshire and the 74th Highlanders, led by the Rangers, attacked.
As they passed the battered and beaten highlanders, they received a rousing cheer, but continued in grim silence. Followed by the Scots and English, they swept the French away. The village was in ruins and 4,000 died in the battle – but victory was achieved.
The Rangers fought many battles in the second Boer War: Colenso, a British defeat on 15 December 1899; Spion Kop – another defeat on 23-24 January 1900; and the relief of Ladysmith during the last week of February. Although not as heavily involved thereafter, they would see further action in that particular war.
Just a brief look at the Rangers’ movements during WWI.
They were divided prior to the outbreak of war.
The 1st battalion was based in Lahore, India. They sailed from Karachi to Marseilles in France, arriving on 26 September 1914. They served on the western front until leaving France on 19 December 1915. They then moved to Basra.
The 2nd battalion, based in Aldershot, arrived in Boulogne on 10 January 1916 before sailing from Kuwait to Egypt on 3 April 1918 for service in Palestine.
The battalion suffered heavy losses in fighting a rearguard action at Le Grand Fayt, following the battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914, and were absorbed into the 1st battalion at Le Touret on 5 December 1914.
We have outlined some of the battles the Rangers were involved in, but there were many more which brought honour to this Irish regiment of the British Army.
The reserve 3rd and 4th battalions served as part of the Dover Garrison in England from 17 May 1917 to the end of the war. Some sections of the Rangers, along with other Irish units of the British forces, fought against the rebels in the 1916 Rising. No ranger was killed and just one was wounded. In 1919, the 1st battalion returned to India, while the 2nd went to Poland.
On 28 June 1920, five members of the Rangers, who were based at Wellington Barracks, Jalandhar in The Punjab, protested at British atrocities in Ireland by refusing to soldier. They were soon joined by others, and the protest spread to Solon – the unit in Jutogh did not take part.
Two men – Patrick Smyth and Peter Sears – were killed in an attempt to seize the armoury in Solon. Their leader, 21-year-old James Daly, was shot by firing squad on 2 November 1920, thereby becoming the last British soldier to be executed for mutiny. Of the 89 charged, 18 others were sentenced to death. This was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Fifty-nine received 15 years’ imprisonment, while ten were acquitted.
Major Hans Garrett Moore, born in Carlingford, County Louth on 20 September 1830, was the first Ranger to win a Victoria Cross on 29 December 1877 at Komgha, Africa.
Private Francis Fitzpatrick, Tullycorbet, Co Monaghan won his VC at the age of 20, in action at Sekukunis town, South Africa on 28 November 1879. Private Thomas Flawn was an English-born Ranger recipient of the VC in the same action as Fitzpatrick.
Private John Danaher, born in Limerick on 25 June 1860, won his VC during the Boer War for bravery at Elandsfontein on 16 January 1861. So too did Cork-born James Murray, aged 21, in the same incident.
Three County Carlow men died in service with the Rangers: Jimmy O’Rourke, aged 18, in 1914; and nineteen-year-olds Joseph Roche in 1915 and John Kelly in 1916.
The Connaught Rangers were stood down on 12 June 1922 at a ceremony in St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.