theres a devil in the drum

[bradley]

thank you so much for john lucy`s photograph........ive been captivated by this mans book for months now,and i when i finish start again.love reading about the old contemptibles and their endeavours........a great account of a regulars duration of the great war......

[Desmond7]

For those who read this book, the account below will be of interest ... this is one of the men who fought alongside Lucy.

Private Daniel Lorimer of the 2nd Btn R Irish Rifles has given an interesting account of his experiences. He is recovering from a wound received at the Aisne

An army reserve man, Pte. Lorimer was called up at the outbreak of war, proceeding to the front with the first BEF. He was through the Battle of Mons and describing his experiences there and on the Aisne, he said:

"We busily engaged in firing on the enemy when we got the order to fix swords in order to make a bayonet charge. Just then, the word came down from the aeroplanes scouting over the German lines that the enemy had also fixed swords ready to charge and that they outnumbered us by almost ten to one.

"We then got the order to remain where we were and when the enemy attackedwe were given the order for three rounds of rapid firing which we did with good effect and the Germans were checked here and lost heavily.

"We subsequently retired on the right flank till we came to a little village on the 26th of the month. We opened out and the word came that the German lancers were in the village. Our artillery opened fire on the village and cleared it as far as possible and then our infantry advanced and unfortunately some considerable damage was done to them by a couple of shells fired by a British gun in the rear.

"We got the word to retire again and were lying in a green field when we were directed to return to the road and all the wounded were put on horseback and removed to a church which had been converted to a temporary hospital.

"Private David McClintock (of Garfield Place, Ballymena) was wounded in this battle, being shot in the back and he was taken to this hospital. The church was afterwards blown up by a German shell and almost all the occupants killed. I looked for Private McClintock afterwards and made inquiries about him but I could find no trace of him and I am afraid he must be dead.

"After the turning movement which led up to the Battle of the Aisne on 14th September we saw some very severe fighting. Across the river a bridge was blown up by the Germans and there was a single plank left across the river resting on a small pontoon boat on which we had to jump to get to the bank.

"As soon as 'A' coy of the Rifles got across, rifle fire was opened on us and we had to run for a plantation and later on we got cover of an embankment.

"Captain Soutery gave us orders to advance but had not gone 100 yards till he was wounded and we had to retire. Captain Durant, who was next in command, took charge and we were within 300 yards of the Germans when he was wounded on the thigh and Private Clarke who went to bind his wounded was also wounded.

"Captain Durant then gave orders for Colour Sgt. Lynas to take charge and when I was passing along this word I was wounded. The bullet passed through my left shoulder and grazed my lung. I was wounded between three and four o'clock in the morning and lay there till between five and six o'clock at night.

"Captain Durant was also lying wounded and I crawled over to get a drink out of his water bottle. I told Private Clarke that I was going to make a dash for it, but he said I was wrong to remain where I was.

"However, I made the attempt and I had only gone about fifty yards when I fell as the result of weakness and loss of blood. I had to lie there for a considerable time as the bullets both from out side and the Germans were passing close. All I was able to do was shout out 'Royal Irish Rifles' and I saw an officer in the British lines who had a maxim gun, waving on me to come on.

"I got up again and the officer, whom I do not know, but belonged to one of the Irish Regiments, and who was a very plucky man kept the Maxim going till I reached safety.

"All I had by this time was my shirt and my trousers and I was in a bad state, but I was soon removed to a hospital on the outskirts of Paris. Private Abernethy of Harryville who was wounded in the leg and Private T. McCluggage (formerly of Thomas Street, Ballymena) who had one of his fingers shot off were with me and looked after me in the train.

"The French people were very good to us all along the line and my comrades gave me my share of the good things which were offered to us. I also saw Private Joe Richardson of Harryville in the battle and Private Jack Martin of Ballymena too. I am sorry to say that Private Martin was killed and I fear Pte McClintock met the same fate."

Name: McCLINTOCK, DAVID

Initials: D

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 28

Date of Death: 26/08/1914

Service No: 7300

Additional information: Son of Patrick and Sarah McClintock, of Flag Lane, Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Cemetery: LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL

Name: MARTIN, JOHN

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 31

Date of Death: 18/09/1914

Service No: 8490

Additional information: Son of the late John and Kathleen Martin, of Ballymena; husband of Margaret Martin, of 52, Abercorn Rd., Londonderry.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Cemetery: LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL

Name: RICHARDSON, JOSEPH

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 30

Date of Death: 24/10/1914

Service No: 8068

Additional information: Son of James and Isabella Richardson, of 7, Alfred St., Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 42 and 43.

Cemetery: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

[Chris_Baker]

It's one of my favorites too. Thanks for posting the pic of John - never seen it before. Doesn't he look young?

[JohnBurnett]

Its funny how I too had an Inter-library loan of There's A Devil in the Drum back in the early 1990s before it was republished by Navel and Military Press. And it too was the original 1938 edition. I photocopied the book and I still have the photocopy.

I cherish all the classics -- Blunden, Chapman, Richards, Binding, Junger, Hitchcock, etc -- but few books moved me like Lucy's. 15 years since I have read it, and the book still rates as my favorite. Perhaps it is his humble Irish tone, the loss of his brother and and his description of 1st Ypres that I will never forget.

I don't know how I first learned about it, but along with the Giles books, it solidified by passion for the Great War.

John

[dunmore44]

Many thanks for the sharing the picture of John Lucy, after reading his book you almost feel that you know the guy so its nice to finally see what he looked like

regards

dunmore44

[staunton]

I think this is the 1911 Ireland Census entry (the place they accidentally burned down !) as John and his brother Denis had left home by April 1911 per his book: interestingly Denis is given as the elder brother. incorrect spellings surnames not unusual - 'Lucey' instead of 'Lucy'

Residents of a house 20.3 in Drawbridge Street (Cork No. 2, Cork)

Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion Birthplace Occupation Literacy Irish Language Marital Status Specified Illnesses Years Married Children Born Children Living

Lucey Denis 18 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Cork City Dispatch Messanger Can read and write En Single

Lucey John 17 Male Brother Roman Catholic Cork City Dispatch Messenger Can read and write-Single

http://www.census.na..._Street/391786/

His widowed father Denis Patrick is probably:

http://www.census.na...ey_Lane/388304/

Residents of a house 9 in Hattons Alley Lane (Cork No. 4 Urban (part of), Cork)

Lucey Denis 50 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Cork Cattle Dealer Read and write Irish and English Widower----Lucey Norah 14 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Cork City Scholar Read and write

Brother Denis in CW WGC Site http://www.cwgc.org/...casualty=879538

Name:LUCY, DENIS

Initials: D

Nationality:United Kingdom

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Rifles Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 15/09/1914 Service No: 9895

Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Memorial:LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL

[Jimmy Taylor]

There is a clear photo of Lucy, as a 2nd Lieutenant taken in 1917, in my 2nd RIR history that I got from his son, Major Denis Lucy, RUR, who died this year.