The Royal Dublin Fusiliers (102nd/103rd)
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers was formed in 1881 from the linking of two former East India Company regiments, the 102nd (Royal Madras Fusiliers) with the 103rd (Royal Bombay Fusiliers).
On 25 April 1915, The 1st Battalion the Royal Dublin Fusiliers landed on V Beach under Sedd el Bahr Castle to the east of Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The troops met heavy resistance from the Turkish 26th Regiment.
The regiment was disbanded in 1922 on the foundation of the Irish Free State.
The 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1902 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
25 Nov 1902 The 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers arrived in South Africa on 1 Dec 1899. It embarked in Durban on the transport Dominion on 3 Nov 1902, arriving in Malta on 25 November.
1903 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
27 Feb 1903 HQ and four companies left for Crete, arriving there on 2 March. The remaining three companies were stationed in Mtarfa Barracks.
2 Mar The 1st Bn arrived in Crete accompanied by their medical officer Major Charles Joseph MacDonald RAMC. One company landed in Cyprus on 4 Mar 1903.
Burials in 1903:
- 8 Jan Pte Albert Edward Aukett, aged 20 years was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.
- 5 Oct Pte Robert Nicholls aged 3 years, son of Sgt Nicholls 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers was buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery.
1904 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
11 Mar 1904 HQ Coy and four companies returned from Crete on the Dunera. The whole battalion occupied St George's Barracks Pembroke. The main barracks was built in 1860 but additional buildings were added over time. During 1904 the battalion had only four cases of Mediterranean fever, one of which was contracted in Cyprus.
Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1904:
- 3 Oct Richard Turner born on 16 August 1904, son of Margaret and Pte Richard Turner, resident at the Married Quarters, Pembroke Camp.
Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1904:
- 8 June Pte Edward Finingan, aged 20 years 4 months.
- 16 Aug Infant Joseph Nicholls, aged 11 months, son of Sgt Nicholls.
1905 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Jan – Sep 1905 The Bn was located at St George's Barracks Pembroke but moved to Floriana Barracks in Sept 1905. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers developed an association with the Floriana Football Club which adopted the Irish green and white checkered shirt as their club colours.
From Jan to Sep 1905 the battalion had 41 admissions from Mediterranean Fever. "A" Coy had 13 cases, while "H" Coy had only one case. In "A" Coy there was a sequence of five cases between 16 June and 6 July, and again a sequence of cases between 16 Aug and 15 September. In "D" Coy three cases occurred close together between 16 and 30 August. In "E" Company there were three cases between 11 and 14 August, and another three admissions between 27 Aug and 10 September.
16 Nov 1905 The 1st/Royal Dublin Fusiliers embarked for Alexandria Egypt on the Assaye.
The 7th/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1915 – 7th/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 27 Aug Pte Powell W F.
- 2 Oct Pte Albert William Nasau aged 26 years.
Bibliography
- Farmer J. S., 1984. The regimental records of the British Army Reprint Edition, Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Crecy Books.
- Edwards T. J., 1980. Regimental Badges First Edition, Tonbridge, Kent: Ernest Benn Ltd.
- Origins of the late 102nd Foot. The Naval and Military Magazine (1827) i; 233. London 1827.
- TNA:WO 379/15. Stations of Regiments 1901–1920.