William Gartland

Killed in Action on the 27/04/1916 at the village of Hulloch (near Loos)

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 18/02/1916 and were part of the 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division. On the 27/04/1916 the Battalion were in the firing line at the Hulloch (near Loos) right subsection. The Battalion Officers casualties on this day were - Captain W.H. Collis Wounded, Captain J. Ritty Gassed, 2nd Lieutenant N.H. Collins Gassed and died on the way to Hospital, 2nd Lieutenant F.S. Carroll Gassed, Captain R.N. Murray Reported Missing, Lieutenant Gallagher Gassed, 2nd Lieutenant F.A. Milligan Gassed, Captain C.H. Stainforth Gassed, 2nd Lieutenant R.T. Sutton Wounded but remained at duty. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FEBRUARY - APRIL 1916. The Gas Attacks at Hulluch were two German cloud gas attacks on British troops from 27th to 29th April 1916, near the village of Hulluch, 1 mile north of Loos in northern France. The gas attacks were part of an engagement between Divisions of the II Royal Bavarian Corps and divisions of the British I Corps. Just before dawn on the 27th April, the 16th (Irish) Division and part of the 15th (Scottish) Division were subjected to a cloud gas attack near Hulluch. The gas cloud and artillery bombardment were followed by raiding parties, which made temporary lodgements in the British lines. Two days later the Germans began another gas attack but the wind turned and blew the gas back over the German lines. A large number of German casualties were caused by the change in the wind direction and the decision to go ahead despite protests by local officers. German casualties were increased by the British, who fired on German soldiers as they fled in the open. The gas used by the German troops at Hulluch was a mixture of chlorine and phosgene, which had first been used on the 19th December 1915 at Wieltje, near Ypres. The German gas was of sufficient concentration to penetrate the British PH gas helmets and the 16th (Irish) Division was unjustly blamed for poor gas discipline. It was put out that the gas helmets of the division were of inferior manufacture, to allay doubts as to the effectiveness of the helmet. Production of the Small Box Respirator, which had worked well during the attack, was accelerated. See Directory for William's younger brother Private James Gartland's page. William is listed as 6th BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. William initially joined the Royal Irish Rifles in 1914 however a week later he disappeared. His father received a letter asking about his whereabouts. His surprised father explained that he was in the barracks of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Glenfield. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel List, his name on the Loos Memorial, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cap Badge and William and his brother James' Pension Records x 4. Finally, see photos x 2 for the Wreath placed by myself at the Loos Memorial in July 2023 remembering the men who fell during the Battle of Loos 1915, PAGES x 8 FROM THE IRELAND'S UNKNOWN SOLDIERS BOOK (Terence Denham book on the 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War), the 16th (Irish) Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division William was with when he died), 2 Newspaper clippings from the Coatbridge Express 15/01/1915 (St. Patrick's Church Roll of Honour. James listed along with his brothers Edward and William) and myself and Wreath at the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Panel in July 2023 (William listed in the middle).