The history of the 2nd Battalion is shorter, but no less glorious. Formed during the first Afghan War in 1839 out of surplus volunteers for its sister Battalion, it took part in the great victory of Chillianwallah, went through the Burmese War 1851-53, and in the Mutiny was part of the force which stormed Delhi. In 1861 it was brought into the line as the 104th Regiment, but served for ten years more in India before it came home. In 1887 it joined the Second Burmah Expedition, and like the 1st Battalion served with great distinction in the South African War in Natal, and later under Lord Kitchener in the Transvaal and Cape Colony. The 2nd Battalion was sent to France at the beginning of the present war. It suffered very severely and has been reinforced by the 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions. The 1st, 6th and 7th Battalions have served at the Dardanelles, and after the evacuation of Gallipoli the 1st Battalion went to France. They have also suffered heavy losses. Both on the Western front and in the East the Regiment has splendidly maintained its ancient renown. To go further into modern history would be to trespass upon Mrs. Victor Rickard's admirable pages. I write these few lines about the origin of the Regiment because they may be interesting to her readers. We must not forget that though the bones come from Bengal, the blood and sinews are Irish. It is as an Irish regiment that the Munsters are celebrated in these pages. It is Irishmen who have won its new battle honours. It is Irish men and women who have suffered, Irishmen who have triumphed in the field. The record of the Regiment is splendid, and I am proud to sign myself DUNRAVEN, _Hon. Col. 5th Battalion_, _Royal Munster Fusiliers_. CONTENTS PAGE THE STAND OF THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX. 1 THE MUNSTERS AT FESTUBERT 17 THE MUNSTERS AT RUE DU BOIS 32 THE MUNSTERS AT HULLOCH 45 THE STAND AT ETREUX 55 APPENDIX 67 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE MUNSTERS AT ETREUX (_Drawn by Christopher Clark_) _To face page_ 1 MAJOR P. A. CHARRIER (_Photograph_) " 6 THE MUNSTERS AT FESTUBERT (_Drawn by Philip Dadd_) " 17 LT.-COL. A. M. BENT, C.M.G. (_Photograph_) " 24 LT.-COL. G. J. RYAN, D.S.O. (_Photograph_) " 28 THE LAST ABSOLUTION AT RUE DU BOIS . (_Drawn by F. Matania_) " 34