For the telling of the Irish part in the story of the Somme I am much indebted to the assistance given by officers and men of the Irish battalions engaged in that mighty battle. But the Irish soldiers are not only "splendid fighting material"--a rather non-human phrase now much in vogue, as if the only thing that matters in warfare is the physical capacity of man--they have souls and minds and hearts, as well as strong right hands, and of these also something is said in this book. MICHAEL MACDONAGH. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION BY JOHN REDMOND, M.P. PREFACE 7 CHAP. I.--IN THE TRENCHES WITH THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS 11 Scenes Comic and Tragic II.--EXPLOITS OF THE ULSTER DIVISION 24 Belfast's Tribute to the Dead III.--ULSTERS' ATTACK ON THE SLOPES OF THIEPVAL. 32 "Not a man turned to come back, not one" IV.--FOUR VICTORIA CROSSES TO THE ULSTER DIVISION 47 Brilliant Additions to the Record of Irish Valour and Romance V.--COMBATIVENESS OF THE IRISH SOLDIER 56 The British Blends of Courage VI.--WITH THE TYNESIDE IRISH 67 Over the Heights of La Boiselle, through Bailiff's Wood to Contalmaison VII.--THE WEARING OF RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS AT THE FRONT 84 VIII.--THE IRISH SOLDIER'S HUMOUR AND SERIOUSNESS 104 Stories from the Front, Funny and Otherwise IX.--THE IRISH BRIGADE 118 "Everywhere and Always Faithful" X.--IRISH REPLIES TO GERMAN WILES AND POISON GAS 128 How the Munsters captured the Enemy's wheedling Placards XI.--STORMING OF GUILLAMONT BY THE IRISH BRIGADE 138 Raising the Green Flag in the Centre of the Village XII.--THE BRIGADE'S POUNCE ON GUINCHY 146 Gallant Boy Officers of the Dublin Fusiliers XIII.--HONOURS AND DISTINCTIONS FOR THE IRISH BRIGADE 152 How Lieut. Holland of the Leinsters won the V.C. XIV.--THE WOODEN CROSS 158 Death of Lieut. T.M. Kettle of the Dublins XV.--MORE IRISH HEROES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS 165 Deeds of the Highest Merit and Lustre XVI.--RELATIONS BETWEEN ENEMY TRENCHES 182 Irish Kindliness and German Guile CHAPTER I IN THE TRENCHES WITH THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS SCENES COMIC AND TRAGIC