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On the occasion of Father’s Day, we are pleased to have received a note from Les Beattie, the son of Corporal Marcus Beattie who served with the 2nd Battalion in the UK, North Africa, Italy and Austria.

“My father was born on 19^th March 1921 in Belfast, N. Ireland.

He served in the Army from 11^th March 1939 until 7^th August 1946 (Royal Ulster Rifles 1939-1940), then in the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles (1940-1946). During this period, he took part in various campaigns including those in Tunisia and Sicily and at Monte Cassino amongst others.

While taking part in the Monte Cassino battle, Dad was wounded on 16^th May and spent a few days in hospital before returning to service. Rome was liberated on 4^th June 1944 after a 8 week battle at Monte Cassino and he did mention marching into Rome and seeing Pope Pius XII at St. Peter’s.

Following the war, he transferred from the RUR to Army Emergency Reserve on 8^th August 1946 and served for almost 20 years until being discharged on 14^th July 1966.

For his service in the war, Dad was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Africa Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal 1939-45 and the Defence Medal.

After the war Dad married my Mum (Kathleen) on 21^st August 1953 and I was born two years later’ He then worked as a postman for over 25 years before retiring in 1986.

Unfortunately, in March 2019, Dad had a fall from which he mostly recovered, though, sadly, he had a stroke while in hospital and passed away three weeks later on 13^th June 2019 (at the ripe old age of 98).

Sometime after Dad died, I applied for and received his war records which filled in a few blanks but didn’t really give much new information. I also discovered a box containing documents related to Dad’s time in the Army, neither Mum nor I knew these existed.

Documents found include:
– A booklet entitled “The Road Home” containing details of the long journey taken homeward bound after the war ended, starting in Austria, going through Germany and France and ending in Calais.

– An Order of Service (front cover shown below) for a “Final Parade Service of 2^nd Battalion The London Irish Rifles (RUR) on Sunday 20^th January 1946 in The British Church, Villach, Karnten, Austria”.

Also found were Dad’s diaries for 1943/44 – he was a very private man so the contents will remain so,. Suffice to say, reading some of the entries, I am not surprised Dad did not talk about the experience. Another, fascinating discovery was a number of photos taken In Italy 1943/44, Dad was a keen photographer but I have no idea how the camera was transported safely or even survived in what I can only guess were extremely dangerous circumstances. Some of the photos are shown here, including the captions Dad had written on the back of the photo.

Even aged 98, Dad was still sharp as a tack. We all thought he would make it to the ‘Big 100’ and receive the infamous telegram but it was not meant to be. But what a remarkably long life. I believe he enjoyed every moment apart from, perhaps, the 1939-1945 years that he rarely mentioned. Such a shame as I’m sure he had lots of tales I would have loved to have listened to.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. You are missed always by Mum and I. Leslie x”

Quis Separabit

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Within our extensive archives, we have recently re-discovered a document that sheds a fuller light on the recent history of the London Irish Rifles during periods of both war and peace.

Historians of a certain vintage, especially those who occasionally like to embellish the truth, are likely to be view these valuable insights in the same way as the discovery of the remains of ‘The Piltdown Man’. The authorship of the narrative below can probably be traced to some of the more upstanding members of our esteemed Regiment and we are delighted to add it to our annals for future historical research.

Like all good stories, it starts on a Sunday morning in early September 1939.

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“1939-1945: Disgruntled Austrian corporal, annoyed that in his view the London Irish Rifles had previously changed sides – having fought for ze Germans in the 1870s, and then went on to beat his Hunnish buddies in the Great War – invades Poland. This sparks off another big war. Spin doctors realise that calling this the ‘Greater War’, which is the linguistically logical progression, might sound incorrect, plump instead for the Second World War. The LIR, never having heard of Poland, down their pints and enter the fray, but then get sent to a desert a couple of years later (Editor’s note – they were also sent to a djebel or two). They find Germans there, and bump them off, whilst getting killed in return. The Germans scarper across the Med, and sensing victory, the LIR chase them all the way from Sicily to Austria, sneering….or, in other words, winning.

Wer wird uns trennen.

1945-1989: The LIR go back on the beer, assuring themselves that after showing their prowess three times in the past (four if you count the Franco-Prussian thing), no foreigner is going to be stupid enough to kick off another scrap. The lads are told that funny Russian blokes called Communists and who want everyone to have no money, apart from those in charge, want to invade. The chaps shrug, thinking that this sounds very much like how things are in London. They are told that this is the “Cold War”. The boys look at black and white slides of T-52s T-64s, and T-72s, and are trained to shoot at these monsters with Charlie Gs that have wildly bent iron sights. Sighing, they go and see Eric for more drinks after each boring lesson. The Soviets decide not to invade Western Europe, having heard about the LIR’s nonchalance. The LIR win – of course.

кто нас разлучит

1989-2003: Drinks are on the house!!! Another win!!!…Cold War over!!!..In this hiatus period, the LIR continues to run one of the best TA recruiting centres in London, the ORs’ bar, subsequently re-named Mulqueen’s, is named after an incumbent who had worked for both the British and the Germans, very like some of his predecessors…winning every time.

Quis Separabit.

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