THE LONDON IRISH RIFLES AT LOOS: KICKING A FOOTBALL OVER THE TOP...

The London Irish At Loos

A measure of rum, the fears, their tears:

On the parapet, not daring to breathe;

The massive barrage, the smoke, the stink,

The enemy shells wailing deep in men’s ears…

The treasure of rum, under fire, through mire:

Over the top, no time now to breathe;

The leather football, the kick, the chase,

The opposition defending behind barbed wire…

The pleasure of rum, a dream, their team:

No man’s land, no need now to breathe;

The instep volley, the rush, the fall,

The shrapnel, a fatality, an unbearable scream… 

Pete Ray

December 2018

The London Irish Rifles made a successful rush at the German lines on 25th September 2015 but Sergeant Frank Edwards, the skipper of the soccer team used the kicking of a football to add incentive to the infantry’s assault. 

The deflated ball was apparently found near the German lines and eventually conserved and placed in the regimental museum.

Lady Elizabeth Butler’s painting illustrates the humour and the bravado of those volunteer soldiers…