Daniel Desmond Sheehan

“ Then over the parapet like one man leaped eight hundred forms, the four green company flags leading. Three hundred yards of ground had to be covered. A devastating fire was opened on our men by the Germans. Hundreds of the Munsters went down in that fatal charge, but they never wavered and they never faltered. Right onward to the German trenches they swept, the green flag still waving at their head.
The regiments at the right and the left who were to take the trenches at the same time were unable to do so. The Munsters were fighting by themselves. ”

“ I know it is sometimes said that the religious man does not make the best fighter, and fine theories are stated in support of this view. But I have my own observation of how the Catholic Irishmen can fight; and in the face of positive knowledge, psychological theories, no matter how eruditely they may be constructed, are only so much rubbish. ”

“ Every man had his rosary beads out, reciting the prayers in response to Father Gleeson, just as if at the Confraternity at home, instead of having to face death in a thousand hideous forces the following morning."
And then our sergeant-major tells us how Father Gleeson went down the ranks saying words of comfort, bidding good-bye to the officers, and "telling the men to keep up the honour of the regiment."
At dawn the German position was subjected to an intense bombardment for seven minutes to sweep the wire out of the way. Then the query came from the officers: “Are you ready, lads?” ”