{"id":3694,"date":"2017-04-23T23:19:13","date_gmt":"2017-04-23T22:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=3694"},"modified":"2017-12-04T12:55:03","modified_gmt":"2017-12-04T12:55:03","slug":"this-far-and-no-farther","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/this-far-and-no-farther\/","title":{"rendered":"This Far and No Farther"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Second Battalion of the Worcesters did not know that the Welsh were still left, and were delighted and surprised to find them in the Chateau, before they advanced and retook the village, their attack and retreat covered by a motley crew under the leadership of John Dopping Boyd . The meeting in the Chateaux is imagined here in the painting by J P Beadle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

World War One was a savage conflict, and long before the invention and application of Blitzkrieg the Germans were “masters of shell and attack” tactics, and were within four miles of Ypres when they faced two small but signifigant obstacles, a tiny remnand of the Welsh Borderers, who were relieved by the Second Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment.<\/p>\n

You’d know a chap of Longford extraction was involved, a John Dopping Boyd, grandson of James Henry Boyd of Derrycassin via his daughter Charlotte Agnes Dopping.<\/p>\n

While their politics were loyalist and they were landed gentry, they are the Orange on our flag, and deserve to be remembered as Irishmen in the First World War.<\/p>\n

Verse has been edited, reflecting new information from <\/b>Spenser Jones<\/a> which indicates that the 2nd Battalion\u00a0Worcsters took the village on advance from the Chateaux, and Dopping Boyd independently commanded a unit of 200 men from various\u00a0shattered groups which held one side of the village, then crossed and held the village for 24 hours enabling the successful retreat of the Worcesters and other Allied forced in the area, and straigning out the line of defense which held back the Germans ehough to protect the remains of the British defense\u00a0and stop the German attack…<\/b><\/p>\n

It will be re-edited should clearer information come to hand.<\/p>\n

Ray Douglas<\/a> has <\/b>the story ot was Boyds actions<\/a> was instrumental to the retaking of the village., so the issue us rather up in the air!<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Gheluvelt<\/a>
Gheluvelt just after the War — Photo – NELS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>
John Dopping Boyd – son of Charlotte Agnes Dopping who was daughter of James Henry Dopping of Derrycassin in Longford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Gheluvelt, on Flanders fields
\nWith Ypres itself set to fall
\nThe Second Battalion of Worcesters stationed
\nMassed to answer to advance the call.<\/p>\n

The German shells fell like hail
\nShrapnel mercilessly cut the skies
\nThe roar of guns and of wounded mothers sons
\nWere to the enemy the reply.<\/p>\n

Last out were not to see least of the action
\nAs was seen in Biblical times past
\nAs they followed orders to retake Gheluvelt
\nThe best action was kept for last.<\/p>\n

This far and no farther
\nThe Germans could be allowed to advance
\nAt all costs retake the village came the order
\nNo matter how small the chance.<\/p>\n

The Demon FitzClarence was on the line
\nThe Welsh Borderes held the Chateau
\nThe Church steeple was their only landmark clear
\nArising over the burning village below.<\/p>\n

That the Welsh held out it was unknown
\nAs the Wocesters set out at the double pace
\nBelow the crest Reutelbeek waters babbled
\nWith blood was red from battle was a dreadful place.<\/p>\n

In a wide khaki line in irregular wave
\nBe bayonets showed above the crest
\nGerman guns quickly affixed took their toll
\nThe Battalion passed this savage test.<\/p>\n

They crashed in on the Chateau
\nCaught the Welsh in a welcome surprise
\nThinking all theirs lost that some were left
\nWas moral boosting to realise.<\/p>\n

But this was but a stage post to be passed
\nFrom and for which too many had fallen
\nAn advance troop to take the village itself
\nFor heros the mission was calling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Gheluvelt<\/a>
Gheluvelt Church – its steeple was the only reliable landmark the soldiers had to guide them to retake the village<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The village they entered, and house by house
\nBy bullet and bayonet each street they cleared
\nDeath itself forgotten in the hear of war
\nAs the enemy was shot and speared.<\/p>\n

They were not alone though they knew it not
\nA motley crew led by one of lowly rank
\nPut life and limb beyond duties call
\nProtected the villages flank.<\/p>\n

There was in the massed British ranks
\nMany smashed regiments remains
\nFor great were the ranks losses
\nFor each hundred yard gains.<\/p>\n

Among those standing a lieutenant
\nOn these Flanders fields so cruel
\nA Donegal man stood proud and tall
\nJohn Dopping Boyd of Ballymacool<\/p>\n

Two hundred men, along with his own
\nBoyd commandeered and led
\nHeld their positions protecting their comrades
\nIn the name of the many hundreds before them dead.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Known<\/a>
Known as “The Demon” for his success against the Germans, FitzClarence gave the orders for taking and then retreat from Gheluvelt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To spite the German advance being halted
\nThe Demon knew it could not be held
\nSo gave the order, ruefully to be complied
\nTo retreat to Veldhoek from retaken Geluvelt.<\/p>\n

As the Worcesters led their commanded retreat
\nAs if protected by supernatural powers
\nThough it was not that, but grace of God and bravery
\nOf Boyds men over the next few hours.<\/p>\n

Ypres town, a mere four miles
\nWas saved byall\u00a0 these mens actions brave
\nBoyd of Donegal was of Longford stock
\nThat’s easy known, some would say.<\/p>\n

His mother was Dopping from Derrycassin
\nOf a family of fighting form before
\nWho fought for flag, glory and honour
\nWho would fight in many battles more.<\/p>\n

As the sun set on the first wartime Samhain
\nThe spirits of the dead must have looked with pride
\nOn the bravery of men led ably
\nAlongside whom they had fought and died.<\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>
John Boyd Doppings DSO citation for the Battle of Gheluvelt, according to Ray Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reference:<\/p>\n

* Boyds account of Gheluvelt<\/a><\/p>\n

Sharing online?
\nThis is your shortlink! http:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-XA<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World War One was a savage conflict, and long before the invention and application of Blitzkrieg the Germans were “masters of shell and attack” tactics, and were within four miles of Ypres when they faced two small but signifigant obstacles, a tiny remnand of the Welsh Borderers, who were relieved …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,97,213,96],"tags":[3619,249,3989,3623,3992,3995,3996,3997,3993,3994,3069,3987,3991,3622,3621,100,2372,3620,1381,3068,3618,3990,3988],"class_list":["post-3694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-north-longford","category-the-great-war","category-war","category-war-poetry","tag-2nd-battalion-worcester","tag-anglo-irish","tag-ballymacool","tag-battle-of-gheluvelt","tag-boyd","tag-boyd-family","tag-boyd-family-history","tag-boyd-in-the-british-army","tag-boyd-of-ballymacool","tag-boyds-of-letterkenny","tag-british-army","tag-donegal-roll-of-honour","tag-donegal-war-heros","tag-dso","tag-first-battle-of-ypres","tag-first-world-war","tag-flanders","tag-gheluvelt","tag-great-war","tag-irish-soldiers-in-the-british-army","tag-john-dopping-boyd","tag-letterkenny","tag-scots-irish","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-XA","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3718,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/gheluvelt\/","url_meta":{"origin":3694,"position":0},"title":"Gheluvelt","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"13th May 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the quirks behind Gheluvelt was not alone was our Donegal freind of Longford extraction in the field, but it was the battle that gave the war legs to a certain Adolf Hitler, an Austrian to have a global prominence. The 16th of which Hitler was part of were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "North Longford"","block_context":{"text":"North Longford","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/north-longford\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ist Battalion Queens Own Surrey Rgt in Aldershot in August 1914 - John Dopping Boyd at back at extreme right","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ist-Battalion-Queens-Own-Surrey-Rgt-in-Aldershot-in-August-1914-John-Dopping-Boyd-at-back-at-extreme-right.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ist-Battalion-Queens-Own-Surrey-Rgt-in-Aldershot-in-August-1914-John-Dopping-Boyd-at-back-at-extreme-right.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ist-Battalion-Queens-Own-Surrey-Rgt-in-Aldershot-in-August-1914-John-Dopping-Boyd-at-back-at-extreme-right.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ist-Battalion-Queens-Own-Surrey-Rgt-in-Aldershot-in-August-1914-John-Dopping-Boyd-at-back-at-extreme-right.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ist-Battalion-Queens-Own-Surrey-Rgt-in-Aldershot-in-August-1914-John-Dopping-Boyd-at-back-at-extreme-right.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4683,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/ruins-of-ballymacool\/","url_meta":{"origin":3694,"position":1},"title":"Ruins of Ballymacool","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"8th May 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Those ruins stand, charred by fire Not set by a rebels hand Though many of it's type out to the flame By tenants ire Anger pent, venting planned No, that was not to blame. Mammon, and what it inspires: Is said to be how this home was burned! Once imposing,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ireland"","block_context":{"text":"Ireland","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ballymacool House, home of the Boyd Family","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/BALLYMAC2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/BALLYMAC2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/BALLYMAC2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/BALLYMAC2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4769,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/john-darrell-boyd-elegy-on-an-deceased-airman\/","url_meta":{"origin":3694,"position":2},"title":"John Darrell Boyd – Elegy on an Deceased Airman","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"16th October 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the few of your clan, you died... 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