Page 35 - All About History - Issue 12-14

Michael

John O’Leary

WWI, THE WESTERN FRONT, 1 FEBRUARY 1915

Written by Andrew Brown

he men fixed their bayonets onto the tip “The machine guns brutalities and harsh reality of trench warfare.
of their rifles and listened to the rattle The Irish Guards were stationed around the La
of machine-gun fire that hammered could spit out up Bassée district in France and were subjected to
incessantly above their heads. The position frequent German bombardments. On the morning of
T the Germans held was strong; their troops to 400 deadly 1 February 1915, the Germans attacked British forces
had already repulsed two counter attacks by the where O’Leary was stationed and pushed them
British forces. Many of the casualties sustained rounds a minute” back. The ground they had gained was strategically
in these attacks had been caused by the two important – in the grind of trench warfare land was
machine-gun barricades the Germans had, which and football. Wanting more from life than working often gained and lost frequently – but this territory
were only 55 metres (180 feet) apart. The barricades on the family’s farm, he joined the Royal Navy had tactical significance and would need to be
held five German soldiers each, one to fire the aged 16 where he initially worked as a stoker. After retaken. The 4th Company of the Irish Guards and
deadly weapon while the others helped feed the serving for several years an illness – believed to be the Coldstream Guards attempted to do just that at
ammunition through and pointed out potential rheumatism of the knees – forced him to leave the 4am but the German barrage – including that from
targets. The machine guns could spit out up to 400 service and he returned home to Cork. However, their two machine-gun encampments – scythed
deadly rounds a minute and their presence on any he was soon on the move again, joining the Irish them down. Part of the company did make it back to
battlefield during World War I had the potential to National Guard in 1909 and serving with them until their own trenches – some limping, some crawling –
alter an entire battle’s balance of power. 1913. In August that year he emigrated to Canada but the damage had been done.
The 50 men of the Coldstream Guards and 30 (a journey that took several weeks) and joined the O’Leary’s 1st Company, under the command of
of the 1st Company of the Irish Guards had some Royal North-West Mounted Police. Second Lieutenant Innes, were ordered to organise
sappers with wire cutters and sandbags. These men While employed in the Canadian police force he the survivors of the assault party and assist the
were trying to succeed where the first two attacks displayed the bravery that would later see him come Coldstream Guards in a second attempt to take
had failed. The Coldstreams went first and charged to international prominence, when he captured two back the territory. The British artillery commenced
the 180 metres (600 feet) separating them from the criminals following a long gunfight. O’Leary was what was at that point one of the conflict’s larger
German trench. Peppered with fire, their charge commended for his actions, presented with a gold bombardments, in order to break down the barbed
began to falter. The Irish Guards rushed to join them ring and was well thought of by his colleagues. wire in front of their trenches. Meanwhile, the 2nd
and raced toward the enemy, but there was one However, he would not stay there long, as at the Company fired at their enemy to keep them in
among them who quickly outpaced the rest. This outbreak of World War I he was given permission their trenches and prevent them from being able to
figure was Lance Corporal Michael O’Leary. to return to Britain to re-join the army. O’Leary and return fire. This last point was important because the
O’Leary was a keen sportsman from an early age, his old regiment, the Irish Guards were sent to the Company were preparing to charge straight at them
and particularly excelled in competitive weightlifting front in November 1914 where they experienced the and O’Leary was about to display staggering bravery.
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