Napoleon's Irish Regiment Part 1 

It's always interesting to hear about the history Irish regiments. Would love to hear about Irish regiments in the British army and how they were rated in battle.

At least the Irish were 'unshackled' fighting overseas. Slightly off topic, but a Welsh acquaintance post-Falklands/Malvinas war, was telling me that native Welsh were not allowed to rise above NCO level in the British Army, only English Officers allowed. So, the Welsh speakers would converse in their own language, passing comment on the incompetence of their senior officers! Cymru Am Byth!🐉

Two things: The French had an Irish brigade from 1692 to 1792. These were refugees from the war between James II and William of Orange. Another reason that 1745 was a pivotal year was the battle of Fontenoy where the the French Irish brigade played a key role in the French victory. Some elements of that brigade also played a role in the 1745 and fought at Culloden in April 1746.

Love the look and history of the Irish Regiment, to the point that even though my French are largely based around II Corps at Wagram, I have two battalions in the que of Irish for "what if!" Games. Great looking Regiment that really breaks up the blue tide of French on the board.

Initially I thought how on earth could you spin this out for an hour never mind 2 videos but I have to say you cracked it, great content and very enjoyable. Thanks 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Some of my Irish ancestor's were officer's in the French and English army before and during this time.

There was an Irish regiment in the royal French army, it was disolved during the revolution as it was seen as loyal to the crown. The Irish who arrived in France after 1798 were republicans, and so seen by the french as politically reliable.

I would be interested to hear more stories of the overseas Irish soldier diaspora and their descendant's such as Napoleons '100 Days' aide de camp Clarke, Hennessey of the Cognac, General (and later Field Marshal) Nicholas Taaffe who served at the Siege of Vienna and Marshall MacMahon of Franco Prussian War and Paris Commune fame (even Charles De Gaulle has some Irish ancestry). Then there are the Irish in the Americas. Admiral Brown 'Father of the Argentine navy'. John Barry 'Father of the US navy'. Captain Myles Keough who died at the Battle of the Little Big Horn (Battle of the Greasy Grass to the Native Americans) and John Riley of the Irish Foreign Legion of Patricios who fought for Mexico in the Mexican American war. Then there are the forgotten invisible Irish like Major general William Johnson, an Irish Catholic, who converted to Protestantism to pursue a career denied to him as a Catholic. He served with Wolfe at Quebec and is seen in the famous painting 'The Death of General Wolfe' by Benjamin West, in a green jacket. I may be wrong but I don't think another people have fought in so many foreign conflicts, sometimes on opposite sides. But the fact that Irish Americans are the main recipients of the Medal of Honour and that per head of population the Irish have the most VC's says something. N.B. Then after writing this wish list I saw your channels name: Napoleonic wargaming.

The British loved their Irish soldiers. Irish people were poor, English rule, landlords kept them that way. But their diet, though simple, was nutitious. Potatoes and Buttermilk, was the staple. With this diet they grew big and strong. My family on my G'fathers side were British army men. His g'father was in the 8th Hussars and took part in the charge of the light brigade in Balaclava. His horse was shot from under him and he walked back through the valley carrying his saddle and other equipment. My G'father went into Guinness Brewery as a messenger to start his working life. When WW1 broke out Guinnesses asked for volunteers from the workers. My G'father volunteered. I'm not 100% certain, but I believe he went into the Royal Horse Artillery of Army Service Corp. He did survive the war, went back to Guinnesses, their jobs guaranteed, and joined the fire brigade, He eventually commanded on of the barges that brought the barrels of Guinness up the Liffey to the boats. My G'mother (his wife) was born in the artillery barracks, Woolwich, London. He father was, by all accounts, an absolute madman. Shot in the behind in one of Victoria's wars. Was a sergeant while stationed in Gibraltar, while being on guard duty there he was found to be drunk and disorderly, he was busted back to private. My dad broke tradition. When WW2 broke out he joined the Irish Army. All on my mother's side of the family were Irish Republicans.

Excellent video I am really interested in the foreign regiments of napoleons grande armee. I would enjoy to see a series being done on these, such as the vistula legion, legion du nord or regiment joseph napoleon

Great vid as always! I always find it funny how foreigners call Irish, Gaelic no-one calls it that over here!

Great video, Tim! Can’t wait for part two!

this is super interesting stuff, thank you. it does seem a good bit of the units history is related to pr, but that just adds to the really compelling subject. it kinda also reminds me of some of napoleons polish projects. the nation and cultural aspects of regiments is fascinating. anyways always like your layed back and informative stuff.

Tim came back from holiday with a vengeance! Great ep!

The elite companies (grenadier, voltigeur and carabinier companies) were made of such veterans. Each war battalion had one grenadier company (carabinier in light infantry).

I truly enjoy your videos. I think they are informative and entertaining. Well done you.

YES please Tim. I'm slowly putting together a "what if" scenario as in, what if Napoleon had been sent to Ireland to support the 1798 rebellion instead of haring off to Egypt to waste a lot of men & resources to no gain, except getting him out of the hair of the Directory. If this fictional rebellion succeeds, I'll be building up a force to threaten the invasion of England and then of course I'll have to do so. So I'm anxious to learn all I can about uniforms & such from the uprising & the dastardly British gear too (no offense Tim but check out the term "Pitch Capping") especially the French support and supply, inadequate as it was. Thanks so much for this video on the Irish Legion, the first Napoleonic unit I ever put together. Now I know I can justify 2 additional battalions. So happy to hear there's another episode to come and that your back in the saddle.

Another great video. 👍 Some pronunciation tips (not perfect, but close enough): Vendee - VAWNday Irlandais(e) - EERlawnday/EERlawndezz Legion - LAYyzhong Augereau - OHzhayrOH Voltigeur - VOHLteeZHURR Berthier - BAYRtyay ("zh" is like the "s" in "treasure", "leisure", etc.

really enjoyed part one looking forward to part two

Awesome video. So informative and interesting. I also appreciate your enthusiastic attitude, as ive noticed whenever Ireland/irish people is sometimes used as a punching bag, and people think they can get away with the odd disparagment. So thanks!

I really enjoyed this Tim,I'm buying some warlord french to paint as Irish

Truly terrific ! Can't wait to watch & listen again. What a movie this would make "THE WILD GEESE" or "LAWLESS". If I were a multi-millionaire I''d be shopping around for a leading man & a script writer. Maybe Tim Richardson ?

They had Carabiner Company when set up. Got the Voltigeur company in 1807. See Napoleons mercenaries by G Dempsey for good run down on their history. There is an officers gorget in the Dublin Irish Army museum, which belonged to one of my ancestors who was killed at Flushing. They were not an elite unit from a war gaming point of view, just a normal but attractively uniformed regiment. Cheers

What a pity that the best of Irish warriors were lost in service to foreign potentates. As Patrick Sarsfield is reported to have said, in his last words uttered as he lay dying at the Battle of Landen "Oh, that this were for Ireland"!

Fantastic stuff , facinating , your best yet ,makes me what to paint them up in 28mm.

The “Fishguard Fiasco” is interesting when read in conjunction with any proposed Napoleonic/Revolutionary invasion of the British Isles.

We have a great history for foreign fighters even for Britain in India Africa and Sri Lanka where both us and British took extreme losses and kept going. Majority of the Irish fighting for British then were born in Ireland from western parts where the actual Irish were.

You're really making it hard for me to focus on my (very slowly growing) british :p And yes, I'd love a companion video to this, dealing with the Irish regiments of the british army (and not just because I will have some of those on the table)

I alway like the Irish Regiments in many different army in different time periods!!!!

Now I want some Irish.

Please do a video on Irish regiments in the British Army please.

Dean swift was the famed writer Jonathan Swift, by the way!

The Irish Legion split during the Hundred Days, with some supporting Napoleon and others Louis XVIII. For this reason, Louis XVIII disbanded it after his return in 1815.

I was so excited that it would be a video about the croats, but they where irish. But it is a great video still, and their regiment is so cool. (sorry for bad grammar)

Great video! Hope you're doing a little better. As always, I know its in the backlog, but I just gotta comment once again about your take on expanding both sides of the waterloo box set so that two people can play fairly. My friends and I, as well as many other who want to get others into the hobby would really appreciate it ;)

The probably 19th century illustration of Irish troops in the 18th century gives them green uniforms, but in fact at the time they wore red.

Excellent stuff!

Amazing that you could mention 1745 without reference to the charge of the Wild Geese at Fontenoy and the Coldstream Guard "retiring" from the field....

An interesting regiment, I've thought of painting up these. I'm looking forward to the next update. FYI the word Catholic means universal, it doesn't only all to the church of rome but any faith that is made up from people from different country's and skin colour ect. Therefore the Islamic, Jewish and protestant faiths are in fact Catholic. Your videos are inspiring, keep them coming as you can. 👍👏

Looking forward to part 2

Great stuff... Im just painting up a set of miniatures for this unit! Serendipity.

I had heard that this regiment was really crap. As a descendant of Irish Republican bent I stand happily re-educated. Excellent work.

In wargaming terms, I am trying to 'get a handle' on their classification for gaming: Are they classed as a Regt. of Lt Inf? They count as Veterans, but would they be also classed as Elite?

Do you know if the second battalion in Spain had a fanion, as per standard french line infantry, whilst the first battalion's eagle was being smuggled around the low countries?

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Lots of irish fought in foreign army's when they fled ireland and the english invasions, some went to Europe some went to the Americas ,and fought against the English, including the second World war some irish fought in the german army.GOD SAVE IRELAND AND ITS EVENTUAL UNITY.

At one point 8% of Bavarian officers were Irish

Gaeilge not gaelic

So, more a general foreign legion than an Irish unit?

Sir do you have a Patreon?

You need to read the Irish Regiment's by R.G Harris

The Tudors did not invade started with the Norman's Henry 8th went at request

Vive les républicains irlandais !!!!!!!

Slainte

Flinches as gaeilge. That's some bad Irish language skills

Most of the Regiment were not in fact Irish.