Tag Archives: ww1

Ireland’s Wars: Some Last Words On The First World War

Posted on Apr 17, 2018 by NFB

Having spent thirty entries on the First World War, offering an outline of the Irish experience of the conflict and a basic look at the course of the war in general, at least on the western, Salonika and Middle-Eastern fronts, … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: 11th November 1918

Posted on Apr 10, 2018 by NFB

Long before the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Central Powers knew that the First World War was essentially over. Bulgaria had bowed out at the end of September, the Ottoman’s at the end of … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: Breaking The Hindenburg Line

Posted on Apr 3, 2018 by NFB

By the end of September 1918, the Allies’ success in the first two thirds of the Hundred Days meant that they were knocking on the door of the Hindenburg Line, that series of defensive trenches that the Germans had constructed … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: The 69th On The Western Front

Posted on Mar 27, 2018 by NFB

The last stage of the war, following the end of the Spring Offensive and the beginning of the Hundred Days, was, looking at it from a distance, a time of unrelenting Allied gains and success, as their combined armies seemed … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: The Hundred Days

Posted on Mar 20, 2018 by NFB

On the 8th August 1918, a combined assault of British, Australian, Canadian, American and French troops smashed into the German lines near Amiens, doing so without a major artillery bombardment beforehand, but relying instead on the support of over 500 … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: The End Of The Spring Offensive

Posted on Mar 13, 2018 by NFB

The latter part of Spring 1918 appeared a grim time for the Allies, and for the Irish. Germany’s offensive had gained significant amounts of ground, casualties had been high, the Irish divisions had taken a pounding and, to cap it … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: The End In The Holy Land

Posted on Mar 6, 2018 by NFB

The Egyptian Expeditionary Forces had pressed into the Holy Land, taken Jerusalem, and secured their lines to the north. The Ottoman Empire’s military, despite the support of German advisors, was not in a great state to resist them, and, with … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: The Last Fight Of The 16th Division

Posted on Feb 27, 2018 by NFB

Operation Michael had stunned the Allies on the western front. A huge gap had been opened in the Somme sector by the ferocious German assault, and now enemy troops were pouring in, the likes of Ludendorff and Hindenburg more concerned … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: Operation Michael

Posted on Feb 20, 2018 by NFB

At 3.30 AM on the 21st March 1918, the Spring Offensive, Germany’s last great gamble, began with the launching of “Operation Michael”, an attack in the Somme sector, aimed squarely at the British Army lines, just north of where they … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Wars: Awaiting Kaiserschlacht

Posted on Feb 13, 2018 by NFB

As 1918 began, Germany was on the ropes. There was continued unrest at home from a populace that was increasingly war weary, unhappy with the military oligarchy now in control of the country. The Allied superiority at sea was causing … Continue reading →

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