(_The words of a brother officer--Major Cooke Collis, Brigade Major,
31st Brigade._)
1915.
... I hope Colonel Laurie did not suffer. It must help you to bear
your sorrow to know that he died as he would have wished, fighting
bravely for his country. I feel his death keenly; we were so much
together in the old days, and now, how the regiment is changed, and
how dreadfully they have suffered! But the name they have won for
History will not easily be forgotten....
(_Extract from a letter written by Rifleman Patrick White, "D" Coy.,
1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles._)
... Yes, it was our Battalion that Colonel G.B. Laurie commanded. I
was about two yards from him when he was killed. Before I tell you how
he came to be killed, I must tell you how sorry we all were. He was
the best Colonel we ever had, he was always merry and bright, and had
a smile for both his men and officers; he was a hero, as General
French told us.
On the morning of March 9th he (Colonel Laurie) told us that we had to
make a charge at a place called Neuve Chapelle. We were marched to the
firing line that night, and our Colonel had a very nice meal ready for
us before we went into the trenches.
About 7.30 the next morning there began the biggest bombardment I have
ever heard--our big guns roared out. I thought hell had been let
loose. I tried to look before me, but could see nothing but flame and
smoke, and the roars of the big guns were terrible. In about an hour's
time our Colonel gave us the word to fix bayonets and charge for the
German trenches. He led us with a smile, and gained victory for our
Battalion that day. During the whole time he took it nice and cool,
and kept us all in good spirits. The following morning our Battalion
was to make another advance, and it was in this advance we lost our
brave and noble hero. When a platoon went over the parapet, some of
our boys fell never to rise again, and our Colonel, seeing this, was
looking over the parapet. There was an enfilading fire from the
right, and we told the Colonel to keep his head down; but he was not
thinking of himself, but of his men lying out there. Just then he was
hit--shot through the head. We bandaged him up, but it was no good.
Our brave Colonel had departed from us, and we can only hope that he
has got his reward for his heroism in the next world....
(_From 4872 Corporal J. Lennon, "A" Coy., 3rd Royal Irish Rifles,
Victoria Barracks, Belfast._)
1915.