216763 Rfmn. George Attley British Army 1sr Btn. Royal Irish Rifles from:Dublin (d.9th May 1915) George Attley, the son of William and Catherine Attley, of Rathcoole, Co. Dublin was killed in Flanders age 26.
He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Update: In the 1911 census George was 21 and living with his parents. He was a general labourer in a paper mill. Also at home were his brothers Luke (19), John (17) Christopher (14) and sisters Anne (12) and Elizabeth (9).
George was killed at Rouge Bancs, Belgium. The winter of 1914/15 was terrible and the men suffered badly from frost bite, trench foot and trench fever in the muddy and flooded trenches. The 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles remained in that area throughout the winter and took part in their first major battle at Neuve Chappelle on 10th March 1915. The attack was a part of the overall strategy to capture Aubers Ridge and, thanks to intense and accurate artillery support, the village was captured and held. After three days heavy fighting, with 409 casualties (45% of the battalion), the cost in human terms was high.
The Rifles were held in reserve while they were being reinforced and, on 1st April 1915, back at full fighting strength, they returned to the Aubers Ridge sector to trenches near Fromelles. In another attempt to take the Ridge, the German held village of Rouge Bancs, was attacked by the Rifles on 9th May 1915. Although achieving the Battalions objectives, they could not hold and the order was given to retire to their old trenches. Once again casualties were very heavy, with 477 officers and men out of a total of 600 involved in the attack killed, wounded or missing.
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