THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918.

ON AUGUST 4TH, 1914 GREAT BRITAIN DECLARED WAR ON GERMAN AND HER ALLIES AFTER GERMAN TROOPS CROSSED THE FRONTIER INTO NEUTRAL BELGIUM. OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS OVER 8 MILLION SOLDIERS FROM 21 DIFFERENT NATIONS WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE. THE EXACT NUMBER OF IRISH SOLDIERS WHO DIED IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER IT IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

13,431 MEN SERVED OVERSEAS WITH THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE WAR.

APPROXIMATELY 2,500 NEVER RETURNED.

THEY LIE IN 22 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT.

THOUSANDS MORE WERE WOUNDED AND NEARLY A THOUSAND HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY, BULGARIA AND TURKEY.

THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS SERVED IN MANY THEATRES OF WAR BETWEEN 1914 AND 1918.

• FRANCE & FLANDERS
• GALLIPOLI
• SALONIKA
• MESOPOTAMIA.
• EGYPT AND PALESTINE.

FOUR BATTALIONS OF THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS SERVED OVERSEAS AND TWO REMAINED ON HOME SERVICE SUPPLYING DRAFTS OF MEN TO THE BATTALIONS AT WAR.

ON NOVEMBER 11TH 1918 WHEN THE ARMISTICE WAS DECLARED ONLY TWO OF THE FOUR BATTALIONS SENT OVERSEAS REMAINED- THE OTHER TWO HAD CEASED TO EXIST DUE TO MASSIVE CASUALTIES.