Hugh Costello

Killed in Action on the 09/10/1917 at the Battle of Poelcapelle (the 3rd Battles of Ypres/Passchendaele)

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 17/08/1915 and were part of the 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. This Division has the unusual distinction of being formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the rest of the war. Hugh was Killed in Action at the Battle of Poelcapelle on the 09/10/1917 which was a phase of the Battle of Passchendaele (officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres), 31st July - 10th November 1917 : Progress had been slow and casualties were high. The 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards played a relatively small part until early October. On the 9th October, as part of an attack in support of the main thrust towards Poelcapelle, the Guards Division attacked north and west of the village of Langemark. The 2nd Battalion Irish Guards had to cross the Broembeek and reach the Houthoulst Forest, on a front from the Ypres - Staden railway, to the junction with the French army near Craonne Farm. In a dry summer, the Broembeek is a small stream that a fit guardsman could easily jump. In 1917, heavy rain and and constant artillery bombardment had turned it into a series of muddy pools, in which a heavily laden soldier could sink and drown. The two attacking Brigades moved up late on the 7th October in torrential rain, which stopped at midnight on the 8th / 9th October and the morning dawned fine with a drying wind. The barrage came down prompt at 5:30 a.m. and after four minutes began to creep forward at a rate of 100 yd in eight minutes. Crossing the Broembeek was easier than expected, as the German infantry nearby surrendered readily. Rudyard Kipling, in his tribute to his son, The Irish Guards in the Great War, remarks that "The two leading Companies (of the Irish Guards) crossed the river without a hitch and carried on until the reached their objective. The casualty list was amazingly small, 1 Officer Killed and 2 Wounded; among the Other Ranks there were 20 Dead, 89 Wounded and 2 Missing". SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1917, PHOTOS x 27 FOR THE GUARDS DIVISION BOOK OCTOBER 1917 and PHOTOS x 14 FOR THE 2nd BATTALION IRISH GUARDS BOOK 12th SEPTEMBER -10th OCTOBER 1917 (book edited and compiled from the diaries and papers of the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards by Rudyard Kipling. His son 2nd Lieutenant John Kipling was Killed in Action at Loos on the 27/09/1915 and is listed on the casualty list attached under OFFICERS MISSING). ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 7 FOR THE CASUALTY LIST OF OFFICERS and PHOTOS x 18 FOR THE CASUALTY LIST OF OTHER RANKS FROM THE 2nd BATTALION IRISH GUARDS WHO FELL BETWEEN 1914 - 1918 (Hugh's information and 800 Other Ranks who fell is listed). Hugh is listed as 3rd BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. Hugh was 11 years as a Stoker in Coatbridge and before that he was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary. He is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church Roll of Honour. See photos for Hugh's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial x 2, family on the 1901 Ireland Census, his listing in the Irelands Casualties WW1, the Irish Guards Cap Badge, Hugh's Pension Records x 2 and an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial. Finally, see photos for a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 21/11/1917 and the Guards Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Hugh was with when he fell).