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There’s an Ireland-1776-Waterloo story to be told.
Catholics can only join the British Forces from the 1778 Catholic Relief Act on. In fact, need for soldiers was a key motivation for the Act. Its effect was quick: 16% of GB rank & file + 31% of officers in AmRev war were Irish.
Catholics can only join the British Forces from the 1778 Catholic Relief Act on. In fact, need for soldiers was a key motivation for the Act. Its effect was quick: 16% of GB rank & file + 31% of officers in AmRev war were Irish.
In 1805, 1/4 of Nelson’s sailors whose origin can be identified are Irish. Same for Waterloo: around 25% of the British Army (which made up 33% of the Anglo-Allied Army) was Irish.
Gainsborough’s 1776 portrait of Irish officer Richard St George, just before he shipped off to NY
Gainsborough’s 1776 portrait of Irish officer Richard St George, just before he shipped off to NY
As my friend @mcribbHistory points out, the 27th Inniskilling held land off the crossroads at Mt St Jean, dying in Square as threat of cavalry prevented them moving & the position exposed them to Napoleon's Daughters. Crucial to bigger strategy of waiting for Prussians’ arrival.
Another big lesson of 1776 for 1815 was a new emphasis on Light Infantry tactics. (W good use of Dutch and Nassau/German allies.) 3 Rifles battalions were at Waterloo, 2 in line, 1 in the Sandpit w reinforcements coming down as needed until 5.30pm when forced back up the slope.
This was new military thinking. Light infantry trained to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect a main force with skirmishing. They were equipped with formidable Baker rifle, more accurate and longer range than muskets. They were encouraged to think for themselves.
These were all points where scrappy American forces ate the British lunch 1775-1783. And in turn, helped the UK eat Napoleon’s dinner in 1815. You could argue it’s part of the British way of war, learning from defeat - Somme to Helmand. James Graham, ‘bravest man at Waterloo’
