The colours of Jacobite Infantry Regiment Sir Maurice Eustace 1689-1691

I did these some time ago and had almost forgotten them!

D'Alton's King James Irish Army List 1855 has a list of officers (see attached table below) and mentions that on the 10th May 1689, in a letter to Lieutenant General Hamilton, King James mentions (inter alia) that "Ten companies of Eustace's will be soon with you, all well armed and clothed" (quoted from King James's Letters, Trinity College MSS E 2 19).

The motto "Dum Spiro Spero" means "While I Breathe I Hope".

From Sapherson William III At War In Scotland and Ireland: Eustace's is given as 51 officers and 783 men (British Museum list) and 454 men from a list by the Comte d'Avoux. 13 companies and one battalion strong according to John Stevens.

After the Boyne listed as 13 companies strong with a total (nominal?) of 650 men (Sapherson).

D'Alton quotes from Story's Impartial History (which seems to be far from impartial!) that, after the Capitulation of Limerick, "On the 16th of October there marched out of Limerick Sir Maurice Eustace's Regiment, Major General Talbot's, Lord Bellew's, Prince of Wales (so Story styles Fitz-James's), Lord Clanricarde's, and Colonel Bermingham's; yet they made in all only 618 men". So by that late date Eustace's was clearly very weak.

Mark Allen in his article THE WAR OF THE GRAND ALLIANCE French Foreign Regiments Part Two: The Irish shows Eustace's in red with yellow facings, which I suspect is supposition rather than fact but most wargamers do seem to depict Eustace's dressed like that.

The last and sadly least of the "Give Them A Second Chance" Units - French Infantry Regiments Destroyed At Blenheim 1704 Number 5 - Infantry Regiment Franquières

For the sake of completeness - "I've Started So I'll Finish... ;-) - here are the flags of the last of the five French infantry regiments destroyed at Blenheim. Yes, they are sadly "vanilla" and nowhere near as interesting as the flags of the previous four regiments. And we do not even know the details of the uniform nor can I discover where in the Franco-Bavarian battle line they were positioned. But it is sobering to think that these flags were perhaps the last thing some of those poor devils saw in the centre of the regiment as it was wiped out by the Allied attack...

But now see below; this unit was not at Blenheim and not in fact destroyed! 

First raised 18th January 1702 by the Comte de Franquières

1704 Not In Fact Destroyed at Blenheim!

Uniform unknown

UPDATE (from comment by an Anonymous Correspondent with seriously useful connections :-)):

"AND THE ANSWER IS! This regiment first formed part of the garrison at Belfort in 1703 and then became part of the garrison at Old Breisach when the French took it that same year (M de Regnac Commanding, Foix Infantry (2 bns), Franquieres (1) and D'Anlezy Horse (2), remaining there until it was disbanded end of year 1704. The Allies actually tried to retake the town in November that year, but were driven off, Franquieres taking heavy casualties and losing a color. Upon disbandment its soldiers were used as a replacements for the Foix Regiment. AND FOR THE RECORD, when the British had their victory parade in London, January 1705, all trophies were officially credited as having been taken at 2d Hochstadt [Blenheim] whether they were at the battle or not. Thus, Franquieres was given battle credit for 2d Hochstadt [Blenheim] (as in the campaign), but was not physically on the battlefield. It was at Breisach."

And expert Iain Stanford writes further:

"Hi All,

I thought I would add to this discussion since my initial assumption that this regiment was disbanded in 1704 was incorrect. I looked further, via Pelet and Vault Vol V and the records of the Hotel des Invalids. Franquieres is still recorded as part of the garrison of Breisach in May 1705 (Pelet Vol 5 Page 775 - AH Vol 1844 no 106)
The Hotel d'Invalids https://www.hoteldesinvalides.org/format_liste.php records 11 admissions of soldiers who served in the Regiment of Franquieres. Have a look at the link and type in the name. There are 2 direct admittances from the regiment:

December 19, 1704
Jean Vallier, known as Dragon, aged 62, born in St Vallier [26333] in the diocese of Vienne in Dauphiné, soldier of Lord Du Sauset, Regiment of Franquieres, where he served for 3 years, previously 9 years in the King's Dragoons, 15 years in Vermandois, and 5 years at sea. All this is shown by his certificate. His weakness of sight, together with his other inconveniences, put him out of service, and is a Catholic - soldier.

June 19, 1705
Denis Auger known as La Fumée, aged 60, Born in Erricy near Fontainebleau, Soldier of the Sieur de Scot Regiment of Franquieres, where he served 3 years, previously 14 in the Regiment of the King, and 16 years in Artois and La Motte, All of which is supported by his Certificate, his decent together with his injuries and other inconveniences put him out of Service, and is Catholic - Soldier - April 5, 1717. He died.

6 men later served in the regiment of Franclieu (Susane 1305) - a regiment raised at the same time (1702). La Londe/Franclieu/Bouzy served on the Rhine from 1702-5 and moved to Flanders in 1706.

Marlborough Goes to War was published over 20 years ago, and needs to be updated as I have additional data on the battle. [That volume can be bought from the Pike And Shot Society website for only £8 plus postage: https://pikeandshotsociety.org.uk/store-2/?model_number=-Marlborough-Goes-to-War ] I am currently researching Malplaquet, the orders of battle and casualties.

I hope you find this of use."

Very useful! Many thanks to Iain for that.