An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 21 military and financial aid to the Irish Jacobites in return for military assistance against the Dutch. While other soldiers left Ireland and formed five regiments under the command of Justin McCarthy, this new Irish Brigade were to see action in Europe. Thousands of Irish soldiers, having migrated to France formed the Irish Brigade (1688- 1791) within the French army. However, in 1691, Patrick Sarsfield sur- rendered his army at the Treaty of Limerick. He was permitted to leave Ireland for service within the French Army. His force consisted of 14,000 soldiers and 10,000 'camp followers'. It was this exodus that became popularly known as 'The Flight of the Wild Geese'. On May 11th, 1745 the French army numbering an estimated 70,000 men under King Louis 15th, met Maria Theresa's allied army of 50,000 men between the town of Fontenoy and Barry Wood. The French commander, Marshal Maurice de Saxe, ordered half of his forces including the Irish Brigade, to remain in reserve at Barry Wood, just north of the battlefield. The allied forces under the command of Duke Cumberland attacked and almost broke through the French lines but they were beaten back by a charge led by the Irish Brigade, giving victory to the French. In the centuries that followed, the title of the 'Wild Geese' was not only to be used for Sars- field's Army but it was to be used for any group of soldiers with similar aims that left Ireland for service in the armies of several countries, not just France. Formed into their own regiments and units, they fought along- side regular troops in a number of battles. In 1803 French leader Napoleon Bonaparte created an Irish Legion, comprised of Irish exiles given commissions in the French army. When a planned invasion of Ireland was cancelled, the Irish Brigade within the French army ceased to exist as a separate entity and were merged with a number of regiments of Swiss troops and then in- tegrated into the line infantry of the French army that later fought in Spain. This prompted many Irish troops to leave and seek their fortune elsewhere. Irish soldiers found employment in the armies of Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Poland. With the relaxation of the penal laws in Ireland in the late 18th century, the British government began recruiting Irish Catholics into the British army. This gave rise to a number of Irish regiments in the British army such as the Connaught Rangers, the Dublin Fusiliers and the Leinster regiment to name but a few. While many chose to join the British army, others still sought adventure and excitement in the many armed conflicts that were erupting throughout the world. However, as the 20th century dawned, books and film would fuel the imagination of many who sought to become soldiers of fortune. Look out for par t two 'The Dogs of War' which will be in July's issue. Painting 'Retreat of the ten thousand, at the Battle of Cunaxa' by Jean Adrien Guignet. Painting 'The Battle of Fontenoy, 11th May 1745' by Horace Vernet.

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