Remembering our past comrades
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Col William Harvey Kelly
William Harvey-Kelly was a 15-year-old schoolboy when the war broke out in 1939. Though his family lived in the Irish Free State, he was a boarder at Public School in England. His House master advised him "If you're going to join an Irish Regiment, join the best". That was the Irish Guards.
In late 1943 William Harvey-Kelly was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Irish Guards. The last leave before D-Day was on St Patrick's Day, 1944.
The Irish Guards was part of an Armoured Division, so they didn't land at Normandy until about a month after D-Day. They missed Operation Goodwood, but were in time to take part in the last offensive that helped close the Falaise Gap.
The German SS and Paras were very well-trained, very tough. Once, William Harvey-Kelly was in a shoot-out with a German para. His platoon Sergeant, from Cork, shouted to him, as if he was on the firing range, that he was firing too low! Just then, William Harvey-Kelly's sten-gun jammed. Luckily the Sergeant fired over his head, and the German ran away.
The Irish Guards were later involved in the Liberation of Brussels. In September 1944 they were part of the Market Garden offensive, and captured a bridge known as "Joe's Bridge". Then the Grenadier Guards took over the advance, but they were still not able to save the British troops trapped at Arnhem.
William Harvey-Kelly was wounded and evacuated back to Britain, but he returned to his unit for the final conquest of Germany.
William Harvey-Kelly was a 15-year-old schoolboy when the war broke out in 1939. Though his family lived in the Irish Free State, he was a boarder at Public School in England. His House master advised him "If you're going to join an Irish Regiment, join the best". That was the Irish Guards.
In late 1943 William Harvey-Kelly was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Irish Guards. The last leave before D-Day was on St Patrick's Day, 1944.
The Irish Guards was part of an Armoured Division, so they didn't land at Normandy until about a month after D-Day. They missed Operation Goodwood, but were in time to take part in the last offensive that helped close the Falaise Gap.
The German SS and Paras were very well-trained, very tough. Once, William Harvey-Kelly was in a shoot-out with a German para. His platoon Sergeant, from Cork, shouted to him, as if he was on the firing range, that he was firing too low! Just then, William Harvey-Kelly's sten-gun jammed. Luckily the Sergeant fired over his head, and the German ran away.
The Irish Guards were later involved in the Liberation of Brussels. In September 1944 they were part of the Market Garden offensive, and captured a bridge known as "Joe's Bridge". Then the Grenadier Guards took over the advance, but they were still not able to save the British troops trapped at Arnhem.
William Harvey-Kelly was wounded and evacuated back to Britain, but he returned to his unit for the final conquest of Germany.
Frank Robinson joined the Regiment in May 1962 and on completion of recruit training at the Guards Depot Pirbright, under the eagle eye of Sergeant Larry Fanning, was posted to Regimental Headquarters where he was trained as a shorthand-writer. During his time at RHQ Frank was shorthand writer to two Regimental Lieutenant Colonels, Colonel M.J.P O’Cock MC. and Colonel William Harvey-Kelly. Frank travelled to Milan with Colonel O’Cock who commanded the British Military Tattoo in 1964, and ran an inter-service orderly room with Lcpl Colm Boland from 1IG. In November 1966, by this time a Lance Sergeant, Frank was posted to the Battalion which was at that time serving in Aden and completed the reminder of the Battalion’s tour returning to Elizabeth Barracks on completion of the Battalion’s tour in August 1967. Promoted Sergeant in 1969, Frank travelled to Hong Kong with the Battalion in October 1970 and was appointed Orderly Room Clerk the same year. Following an incident of medical misadventure in Hong Kong Frank was returned to UK for treatment and left the Colours in August 1972.
Frank returned to Dublin and was employed by the late Captain Mungo Park as a stockbrokers clerk. In about 1980, Captain Park and Colonel Harvey-Kelly decided it was time to get the Southern Ireland Branch of the Association active again, it had been inactive, except for welfare, during the troubles, and asked Frank to become the Honorary Secretary. The first annual dinner of this period was held in October 1980 in Wanderers Football Club, Dublin. The Branch has run an annual dinner each year since. Frank was invited to sit on the Regimental Council and served from May 2003 to May 2011
In addition to his work with the Association, Frank joined the Royal British Legion in Dublin and became involved in ex-service affairs and at the request of the Legion was appointed a Trustee of the Irish National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin by the High Court in 1988. The culmination of his and his fellow trustees work over the years was amply rewarded when HM The Queen and President Mary McAleese laid wreaths in memory of the fallen during Her Majesty’s State Visit to Ireland in May 2011.
Frank’s involvement with the Royal British Legion included terms as Chairman of the Irish Metropolitan Branch RBL and Chairman of the Republic of Ireland Area from 2003 to 2008.
Frank handed over as Secretary of the Republic of Ireland Branch, Irish Guards Association in March 2011 having held the post for thirty-one years.
Frank returned to Dublin and was employed by the late Captain Mungo Park as a stockbrokers clerk. In about 1980, Captain Park and Colonel Harvey-Kelly decided it was time to get the Southern Ireland Branch of the Association active again, it had been inactive, except for welfare, during the troubles, and asked Frank to become the Honorary Secretary. The first annual dinner of this period was held in October 1980 in Wanderers Football Club, Dublin. The Branch has run an annual dinner each year since. Frank was invited to sit on the Regimental Council and served from May 2003 to May 2011
In addition to his work with the Association, Frank joined the Royal British Legion in Dublin and became involved in ex-service affairs and at the request of the Legion was appointed a Trustee of the Irish National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin by the High Court in 1988. The culmination of his and his fellow trustees work over the years was amply rewarded when HM The Queen and President Mary McAleese laid wreaths in memory of the fallen during Her Majesty’s State Visit to Ireland in May 2011.
Frank’s involvement with the Royal British Legion included terms as Chairman of the Irish Metropolitan Branch RBL and Chairman of the Republic of Ireland Area from 2003 to 2008.
Frank handed over as Secretary of the Republic of Ireland Branch, Irish Guards Association in March 2011 having held the post for thirty-one years.
Patrick Rochford
We shared so much with Pat over the last few years. but that was but a drop in a life that spanned from the Dublin of the 1940s through a changing world of conflict . there was scarcely a conflict in the time period 1952 to 1970 that Pat did not serve in. his stories read like a boys own . we the " ROI Micks have lost a number of our Doric columns. and the blow will rock us but not knock us over we will carry on and build in their memory. he belongs to all of us who share his love of the soldier! DE TO A SOLDIER
The battle's over,
The victory's won.
A soldier makes his journey home.
He fought so hard,
He fought so long.
And now he sings a victor's song.
It was not easy.
It was not slight.
But it was such a worthy fight.
The battle scars,
They tell the tale, That war sometimes can be like Hell.
But he fought the fight,
Endured the pain,
For he knew just he would gain.
Commendations,
Medals, cheers,
Those things fade across the years.
But his gain would be
Much more than that--
A place where only few have sat.
An honored seat,
A place of call,
To sit before his General,
And hear the words
That come from Him,
"You fought the fight, now enter in!"
We shared so much with Pat over the last few years. but that was but a drop in a life that spanned from the Dublin of the 1940s through a changing world of conflict . there was scarcely a conflict in the time period 1952 to 1970 that Pat did not serve in. his stories read like a boys own . we the " ROI Micks have lost a number of our Doric columns. and the blow will rock us but not knock us over we will carry on and build in their memory. he belongs to all of us who share his love of the soldier! DE TO A SOLDIER
The battle's over,
The victory's won.
A soldier makes his journey home.
He fought so hard,
He fought so long.
And now he sings a victor's song.
It was not easy.
It was not slight.
But it was such a worthy fight.
The battle scars,
They tell the tale, That war sometimes can be like Hell.
But he fought the fight,
Endured the pain,
For he knew just he would gain.
Commendations,
Medals, cheers,
Those things fade across the years.
But his gain would be
Much more than that--
A place where only few have sat.
An honored seat,
A place of call,
To sit before his General,
And hear the words
That come from Him,
"You fought the fight, now enter in!"
Mick Duffy
The Man behind the Capstar - Rest in Peace
Never a bad word to say about any body and well liked through out all the associations and well known in Battalion for his past work. All those times he use too pick up and drop off members of the Battalion to Dublin airport and he would always give them the Mick Duffy tour of Dublin. QS my Friend, condolences to his family
The Man behind the Capstar - Rest in Peace
Never a bad word to say about any body and well liked through out all the associations and well known in Battalion for his past work. All those times he use too pick up and drop off members of the Battalion to Dublin airport and he would always give them the Mick Duffy tour of Dublin. QS my Friend, condolences to his family
|
|
Chris Gore - Rest in Peace 09,11,17
Irish Guards, 1996-2008 passed away after along term illness and leaves behind his wife Mary and five young children our condolences to the family
Irish Guards, 1996-2008 passed away after along term illness and leaves behind his wife Mary and five young children our condolences to the family
Patrick McGrail Sr 1941 to 2024
Patrick served in the Irish Guards and carried that experience in his heart
throughout his entire life. He attended as many dinners and events as he could
with friends and family, and he always enjoyed these occasions.
“One last time surrounded by your friends
By your family
To celebrate the life that you have led
Sailing through the turbulences
And embracing the calm
Eager to grasp every little detail
In the rich tapestry of life
More aware and more sensitive
Now that you have the time
Grateful for everything you have achieved
And proud for everything you have given to others
Wise advice and words of wisdom
Anchor and compass to the young
All those happy memories
Golden reflections in the mirror of time
You can now share with those who love you
And although Dublin has changed so much
Throughout your lifetime
Transcendental values will stand forever
And thus, family love will endure every challenge
For it's the essential pillar
On which everything rests”
Quis Separabit
Patrick served in the Irish Guards and carried that experience in his heart
throughout his entire life. He attended as many dinners and events as he could
with friends and family, and he always enjoyed these occasions.
“One last time surrounded by your friends
By your family
To celebrate the life that you have led
Sailing through the turbulences
And embracing the calm
Eager to grasp every little detail
In the rich tapestry of life
More aware and more sensitive
Now that you have the time
Grateful for everything you have achieved
And proud for everything you have given to others
Wise advice and words of wisdom
Anchor and compass to the young
All those happy memories
Golden reflections in the mirror of time
You can now share with those who love you
And although Dublin has changed so much
Throughout your lifetime
Transcendental values will stand forever
And thus, family love will endure every challenge
For it's the essential pillar
On which everything rests”
Quis Separabit