Bulkeley was another Irish emigré unit that entered French service in 1690. As with so many French regiments there were various changes of name throughout its history, usually reflecting the name of a new colonel. It was Bulkeley from 1733 to 1775 when the regiment was amalgamated with Dillon.
For the first years of the Seven Years War Bulkeley was guarding the coasts. The regiment was sent in 1760 under the command of the chevalier de Jerningham, Charles Louis de Barfort, to join the army of Germany and it was at the combats of Corbach and Warburg. It was very distinguished in the defence of Marburg the 14th February 1761, where, according to Susane "it repulsed three attacks by the enemy, killed their commander General Breidembach and seven other officers, and took three cannons". In July it was in the battle of Vellinghausen "where the Irish captured the village and the redoubt of Schedingen". Its last act in the war was taking part in the attack on the castle of Sabbaborg. After the peace of 1763 the regiment was in garrison at Bouchain and it absorbed the remainder of the regiment of Royal-Écossais by an order of 21st December 1762.
These flags are the same as those carried by Dillon from 1690-1730.
And this is the uniform at the beginning of the Seven Years War:
This is the last French Irish regiment for now and next it's back to Prussians.
The Irish regiments carried some of the most handsome flags of the era. Yours are lovely.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Thanks, Stokes. I confess I'm pretty pleased with how they've turned out. Now I'm looking forward to seeing them in action on someone's wargames table! :-)
ReplyDeleteThe remaining French Irish flags of the period are not quite so attractive but they are still fairly handsome and I'll be doing those soon. It's back to Prussians now!
Cheers,
David.
Oh, that IS lovely. I will have tobuild a unit of these lads!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging comment, Anton. I'm very glad you like the flags but I'm sorry for the impact on your wallet!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
David.
Oh, and do send pictures of the troops and their flags if you do raise a unit of these troops, please; thanks!
ReplyDeleteD.
One of the most exciting French uniforms - even if you paint the Version without turnbacks. Great work on the flag and uniform.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andre. Yes, I agree. I really do like the French foreign regiments in their red and blue uniforms. And their flags are good too! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
David.