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The Liverpool Irish is a unit of the 2006 Liverpool 's large Irish community formed the 64th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps on 25 April 1860 , one of many Volunteer Corps raised in Lancashire in response to heightened tension with France .Mileham (2000), p54 The Liverpool Irish became a volunteer (later territorial) battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) in July 1881. As such, it fought in the Second Boer War and First World War , sustaining thousands of casualties in numerous battles that prominently included Givenchy, Guillemont , Third Ypres , and the Hundred Days Offensive . Disbanded in 1922, the Liverpool Irish reformed before the Second World War and constituted the nucleus of the 7th Beach Group that landed at Juno Beach on 6 June 1944 . Irish heritage was asserted in the traditions and uniform of the Liverpool Irish. Once adopting a uniform similar in appearance to the 's account of its charge at Givenchy: HISTORY 1860-1914 .]] Poverty and 1860 , p4. The "Liverpool Irish" designation was formally granted to the corps in 1864.The London Gazette, 15 November 1864 . p5 James Gunning Plunkett, a young lieutenant of the 5th Regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia, was appointed Captain-Commandant in 1860 - the first commanding officer of the corps. He resigned in 1861 and was succeeded by Captain Peter Silvester Bidwill (or Bidwell), who attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1863 and held command for almost 23-years. A in Ireland and would refute the numerous accusations that were expressed during his tenure of command. Some members were indeed aligned with the movement and associated with the Irish Republican Brotherhood The Irish, p193 In his autobiography ''The Life Story of an Old Rebel'', nationalist John Denvir claimed volunteers from Ireland had insisted they were joining the 64th with the intent of "learning and perfecting themselves in the use of arms". Nevertheless, nationalist organisations based in Liverpool endeavoured to discourage prospective volunteers and condemned those who joined the corps.Denvir (1910/1972), ''The Life Story of an Old Rebel'', p92 Under the localisation scheme implemented during the in 1908 and organised it into brigades and divisions defined by region. The battalion, renumbered the 8th, became subordinated to the Liverpool Brigade, West Lancashire Division . Territorial infantry battalions inherited the composition of their volunteer predecessors: eight companies, each commanded by a Captain or Major . This structure was superseded by a four-company system adopted by the Regular Army in 1913 and extended to the Territorial Force during the First World War .McGilchrist (1930/2005), ''Liverpool Scottish 1900-1919'', pp19-21 Before its restructuring, the 8th (Irish) maintained a company of Bicycle Infantry – essentially a variant of Mounted Infantry that had acquired popularity among contemporary armies. All eight companies concentrated at Shaw Street, where the battalion maintained its headquarters. A personnel strength of 942 was recorded in 1910, at which time the battalion's commanding officer was Colonel J.A. Cooney.Richards (1910), ''His Majesty's Territorial Army'', p137 World War I At the onset of war, in August 1914, the Liverpool Irish mobilised and moved to in February 1917, with the 57th Division's 171st (2nd Liverpool) Brigade. The third-line remained responsible for training recruits and was ultimately absorbed by the 7th (Reserve) Battalion, West Lancashire Reserve Brigade. The 1/8th transferred to the North Lancashire Brigade in February 1915 and landed at without reaching the German frontline. The three companies that followed encountered similarly intense opposition. Some did penetrate the German first-line but were numerically insufficient to retain possession of the territory they had captured. Retirement to British lines was completed by midnight and the battalion subsequently returned to Le Touret. In three-days engaged in the Givenchy sector, the 1/8th had suffered 232 casualties, including three officers killed - Captain H.M. Finegan and Lieutenants G. Brown and H.L. Downes - and three wounded - Captains G. Williams and R.P. Keating and Lieutenant H.M. Drake (mortally). Orders were received in early January that the Liverpool Irish and its brigade were to transfer to the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. Dismantled in the early stages of the war when its constituent battalions were deployed to overseas theatres, the 55th reformed at Hallencourt under command of Major-General Hugh Jeudwine. Specially-trained volunteers from the Liverpool Irish were selected to conduct the division's first major raid on German trenches, at Ransart on the night of 17 April . Split into two parties of Wirecutters and raiders, the Liverpool Irish entered the trench system and proceeded to grenade three dug-outs and destroy a munitions storeCoop (1919/2001), p26 The raiders' sole fatality, Second-Lieutenant Edward Felix Baxter , was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross . The division was committed to the was renewed the following night but the village was not captured until September. Severe manpower shortages necessitated extensive restucturing in early 1918 with the intent of alleviating the problem of understrength divisions.Baker, The manpower crisis of 1918 , 1914-1918.net. Accessed 2 May 2007 . This entailed the amalgamation or disbandment of numerous battalions, including the first and second lines of the Liverpool Irish.Wyrall (2002), p607 Hundreds of the 1/8th's personnel were dispersed to other King's battalions, principally the 1/5th (Rifle), 1/6th (Liverpool Rifles) , and 1/7th . Those retained were integrated into the second-line, located near Pont-de-Nieme. The consolidated Liverpool Irish reverted to its prefix-less designation under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward C. Heath, formerly of the 1/8th. Assigned to the 171st Brigade, the 8th Battalion first occupied positions in the L'Epinette sector in early February. Hostilities ceased after the signing of the Armistice on 11 November . The Liverpool Irish, billeted at Hellemmes , noted the cessation of hostilities in the battalion war diary: "Armistice signed".Wyrall (2000), p692Wyrall (2000), p700 Almost four-years of service on the 2006 Demobilisation commenced after the Armistice, reducing the 8th (Irish) Battalion to a small 1922 . World War II The Territorial Army was expanded in March 1939 and the Liverpool Irish resultingly reformed with headquarters at the Embassy Rooms, and assumed command. For three-years, the battalion trained and was assigned various duties across Britain, initially in Morecambe and Yorkshire . As Allied plans to invade Occupied France developed in 1943, the Liverpool Irish was selected to form the nucleus of the 7th Beach Group. The group's objectives on an invasion beach were to maintain organisation, secure positions, and provide defence against counter-attack. Extensive specialist training occurred in Ayrshire and other parts of Britain under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.J. Humphrey. approaching Juno Beach.]] On 30 May , the Liverpool Irish moved from its camp in southern England to the port of Southampton and embarked aboard Troopship s and Landing Ship Tank s in early June. Part of the Liverpool Irish embarked aboard the ''Ulster Monarch'', formerly a passenger ship on the Belfast -Liverpool line.Fitzsimmons (2004), p44 After a delay of 24-hours, the invasion fleet Proceeded To Normandy on 5 June . The 7th Beach Group landed at Juno Beach with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on 6 June . Two companies of the Liverpool Irish were assigned to the "Mike Green" and "Mike Red" areas, at s exposed the landing infantry to heavy machine-gun fire. The company's officer commanding, Major O'Brien, and the second-in-comannd were among those wounded.Fitzsimons (2004), p49 While under fire, the beach group collected the wounded and dead, located and marked Minefield s, attempted to maintain organisation, and directed vehicles and troops inland.Mileham (2000), p165 On 7 June , a bomb released by a lone Luftwaffe fighter exploded amongst the anti-tank platoon, killing 15 and badly wounding seven.Fitzsimons (2004), p65 Employment with the beach group continued for a further six-weeks. Notification was received on 14 July , via a letter written by General Montgomery, that personnel from the Liverpool Irish would be dispersed to other battalions.Fitzsimons (2004), p68 Depleted by losses and the transfer of soldiers as reinforcements, the battalion was placed in a state of "suspended animation" on 31 August . When the Territorial Army was reconstituted in 1947, the Liverpool Irish reformed as 626 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The regiment was reduced to "Q" 2007. NOTES REFERENCES
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