Major-General W.B.
Hickie, C.B., who had greatly distinguished himself in France, now took over command.

It would be disingenuous to say that John Redmond was not content with this change; but his brother was deeply impressed by the hardship inflicted on a gallant soldier.
The Ulster Division had preceded us by three months.

All three Irish Divisions were now in the field, and reserve brigades were established to feed them.

Redmond could feel that in great measure his work was done, and that he could await the issue in confidence.
He wrote at this time, in a preface contributed to Mr.MacDonagh's book _The Irish at the Front_, a passage of unusual emotion which tells what he thought and felt upon this matter.
"It is these soldiers of ours, with their astonishing courage and their beautiful faith, with their natural military genius, carrying with them their green flags and their Irish war-pipes, advancing to the charge, their fearless officers at their head, and followed by their beloved chaplains as great-hearted as themselves--bringing with them a quality all their own to the sordid modern battlefield--it is these soldiers of ours to whose keeping the Cause of Ireland has passed.

It was never in holier, worthier keeping than with these boys offering up their supreme sacrifice of life with a smile on their lips because it was given for Ireland." He wrote this when fresh from a sight of troops in the field.