Regiment Dillon, Irish Brigade, Army of Louis XV - 1745

Pricing:  $85 USD SRP per set Features: - white metal - hand painted - historically accurate Delivery: In Stock

It is late in the day when The Irish Brigade, 3,800 men , officers chanting ‘Cuimhnigidh ar Limerick argus feall na sassonach’*, falls upon the defiantly undefeated Anglo-Hanoverian columns of the Duke of Cumberland that are close to fatally piercing the French lines of Marshal De Saxe on the field of Fontenoy. The Irish Brigade, on this day the 11th of May, is the last French reserve and their intervening tips the struggle in favour of the French. This battle will forever be seen as the high water mark of Irish military prowess.

‘What finer reserve than six battalions of Wild geese’ De Saxe exclaims. The Irish regiment of Bulkely takes two Coldstream colours! Cumberland’s infantry leaves over 5,000 on the field. The victory is a cruel one however for the Irish Brigade, 656 men are lost including the colonels of the Regiments Dillon and Lally.

The Irish Brigade, with its distinctive red uniform and Latin inscribed standards provided a colourful spectacle in contrast to the white clad French line regiments. This uniform reflected their origins as troops of the exiled King James II of England. Given the choice in 1691 of returning to British service under William of Orange, or of going into exile the vast majority chose the latter, forming a distinctive part of the French army for over a century.

*’Remember Limerick and Saxon perfidy’

Each set consists of three crafted and hand painted models. Please use the links on the left of the screen to view each set, with images and artwork of each piece. Coming soon are four more unique soldier sets to add to The Warrior Irish models. Please make sure you check back here often, as new sets will continually be added.

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