Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me

TOPIC:

Medals to the Royal Irish Regiment 1 month 3 weeks ago #103899

  • djb
  • djb's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 34579
  • Thank you received: 5369

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Egypt (1) Tel-El-Kebir (2135 Drmr. G. Dowie. 2/R. Ir; R.);
[ QSA ]
[ Khedive Star ]

George Dowie was born in Liverpool and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment, serving with them in Egypt. Discharged after 12 years’ service, he re-enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment at Kilkenny on 2 May 1891, and saw further service with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. He was killed in action at Monument Hill, Belfast, on 8 January 1901, on which date the garrison, manned by 83 men of the 1st Royal Irish Regiment under Captain F. L. Fosberry, was overwhelmed after a desperate fight, in which 40 men were killed or wounded. For his great gallantry that day in rendering the post’s maxim gun useless, Private John Barry, of the same battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Dr David Biggins
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Medals to the Royal Irish Regiment 1 month 2 weeks ago #104022

  • Sturgy
  • Sturgy's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Senior Member
  • Senior Member
  • Posts: 498
  • Thank you received: 693
Just to add a bit more detail on the death of Lance Corp Dowie:

Boer Objectives
On 7–8 January 1901, Boer commanders launched coordinated attacks across seven locations (Wonderfontein, Nooitgedacht, Wildfontein, Pan, Dalmanutha, Machadodorp, and Belfast).

Their main aim: cut Lord Roberts’s railway communications and isolate Belfast.

General Louis Botha commanded ~2,000 men, with General Ben Viljoen’s force (750 Johannesburg & Bocksburg Commandos) tasked to seize Monument Hill, considered decisive terrain due to its strategic position and the presence of a British heavy gun (fortunately redeployed before the attack).

Attack on Monument Hill
Boer forces infiltrated under fog, overrunning trenches and surprising the Royal Irish Regiment.
The Maxim gun team fought desperately; Private Barry disabled the gun with a pickaxe to prevent capture, sacrificing his life in the process. His bravery was later recognised with a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Collapse of the Defence
Boer detachments encircled the hill, demanding surrender.
Despite being trapped, small groups of Royal Irish soldiers resisted until killed or wounded.
The defenders’ trenches, with restricted fields of fire, left them vulnerable to close assault.

Lance-Corporal George Dowie
Lance-Corporal George Dowie, a veteran who had served in the Egyptian war of 1882, met his death. He was in command of a small trench, which he succeeded in holding during the first assault; he refused to surrender, though he must have realised that resistance was hopeless, however with tenacity he continued to fight on desperately until a number of burghers, rushing in from behind, overwhelmed the party and left Dowie dead in the position he had defended with honour.

Ref: kmhp.ie/2014/06/the-victoria-cross-on-monument-hill/
Speak my name so that I may live again

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: djb
Time to create page: 0.117 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum