The Veteran Issue 5

The custom of
receiving ‘royal’
shamrock on St.
Patrick’s Day began in
1901 and has taken
place every year except
where prohibited by
operations
Upon the outbreak of World War II in
September 1939, the Irish Guards were based
in the UK. In April 1940, the 1st Irish Guards
deployed to Norway as part of 24th (Guards)
Brigade. Seeing action at Pothus, holding out
against heavy German attacks for two days
until they were finally forced to withdraw as
their positions were being outflanked. The
regiment was finally evacuated back to the
UK with the rest of the expeditionary force in
June.
In March 1943 the 1st Irish Guards, who had
been based in the UK since their return from
Norway in 1940, landed in the North African
country of Tunisia. The battalion fought in the
Medjez Plain area, seeing heavy action at
Djebel bou Aoukaz, or 'Bou'. Part of the area
was taken on 27 April and further fighting
continued for several days with the Irish
Guards suffering heavy casualties.
The battalion took part in the Anzio landings
on 22 January 1944. The battalion saw action
at Carroceto where they repulsed several
German attacks. The battalion also took part
in the attack on Campoleone, where they
experienced heavy casualties. A German
counterattack was launched several days
later. The battalion inflicted heavy casualties
on the Germans, but were surrounded the
following day with little support against
German armour, and were forced to fight their
way through to Allied lines, suffering many
casualties in the process.
In 1941 the 2nd Irish Guards was
reorganised as an armoured regiment,
joining the newly formed Guards
Armoured Division. The Holding Battalion
was raised the same year, later becoming
the 3rd Irish Guards. In 1943, the 3rd Irish
Guards joined the Guards Armoured
Division as an infantry battalion.
In 1944 the 2nd and 3rd Irish Guards took
part in the Normandy Campaign. The
Irish Guards, as part of the Guards
Armoured Division, took part in Operation
Goodwood (18–20 July).
The Irish Guards were part of the ground
force of Operation Market Garden,
'Market' being the airborne assault and
'Garden' the ground attack. Operation
Market Garden was the subject of the film
A Bridge Too Far.
Right Michael Caine as Lt Col Joe
Vandeleur, Irish Guards in the film
Irish Guards and the crew of an M4 Sherman tank
Holland.18 September, 1944
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