posted on 2024-06-05, 17:39authored byTheir Finest Hour Project Team
CG Irwin played rugby for Ulster and Blair 'Paddy' Mayne was his captain. During his service he also played for the Welsh Guards.
He served as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and was part of the 6th Guards Armoured Brigade. He was 'Mentioned in Despatches' for actions while serving in Belgium in 1945.
He was seconded to 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Welsh Guards and was singled out for dealing with over 60 casualties in 3 hours in Normandy.
History
Item list and details
1. Framed 'Mentioned in Despatches' citation from Gazette.
2. Ulster Rugby photo x 3 featuring Captain Irwin and Blair 'Paddy' Mayne.
3. Ulster Rugby photo x 3 featuring Captain Irwin and Bob Alexander.
4. Photo of Captain Irwin. Unknown team versus New Zealand.
5. Photos x 3 of 6th Guards Armoured Brigade rugby team and 5th Guards Armoured Brigade rugby team.
6. Photo Captain Irwin.
7. Message from Lieutenant General Dempsey to 2nd Army Group and 83 Group RAF - commemorative.
8. Reference to Captain Irwin in 'Welsh Guards at War' by LF Ellis. Pages 187 and 225.
9. Copy of German report on Belfast Blitz 4 / 5 May with translation and note from Public Records Office Northern Ireland acknowledging acceptance. British newspaper article on same.
10. Thanksgiving service booklet - 2nd Army Group.
11. Black propaganda newsletter printed by allies to be dropped on German soldiers.
12. Photos - possibly distributed by Germans in Belgium. Suspect it is part of a collectors series.
13. BAOR XV rugby team x 3. In uniform, in playing kit and match play.
14. Newspaper article, 'Home from Germany'.
15. Divisional newsletters.
16. Group photo.
17. 'The Eyes Have It' - Guards Division Revue.
18. 'The News Guardian' - picture supplement.
19. Newspaper cutting April 1945.
20. Photos of Dutch girls in Nijmegen 13 Feb 1945.
21. Ulster Rugby Team.
22. 'War' - Army Bureau of Current Affairs issue No. 82 - 25 November 1944.
23. Welsh Guards Comrades Association Annual Report 1949.
Person the story/items relate to
Captain CG Irwin (died circa 1981)
Person who shared the story/items
Anon
Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor
Father-in-law
Type of submission
Shared at Ulster Reform Club, Belfast on 7 October 2023.