THE BLUES AND THE ROYALS IN IRELAND 1689-1691 BY C. W. FRIEARSON
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On December H. 1688. King James ll abdicated and fled from London to France and the protection of the French King. Louis XIV. He was driven out by a combi— nation of the Protestant ‘establishment‘ in England and the advance of the Dutch Regiments of King William of Holland and his Queen. Mary. elder daughter of James II. The English troops of the former King were divided between religious and national loyalties but due to the defection to the Dutch King of the more senior English officers. the army eventually supported the new Protes— tant King. William III. or William of Orange. King James ll’s former lrish regiments, Catholic to a man. remained loyal to the old King and on March 14. 1689. King James II landed at Cork to organise his lrish army in the attempt to regain his throne. The
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wars which followed, both in Ireland and Flanders are
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known as the ‘Jacobite Wars’—they were continued by James [1. his son and his grandson until 1746. James
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”‘5 first actions were around Londonderry. which he besieged from April 20. 1689. to July 30. of the same year. when the City was relieved by forces under Gen Kirke. whose reputation had been made in Tangier. The Royal Dragoons. who had been on duty in Scotland. sailed from Kirkudbright for Carlingford, Ulster. on October 9. 1689. They remained in winter quarters until the spring of 1690 when they were employed in the siege of Charlemont which terminated in mid-May.
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On June l4, 1690. William III landed at Carrickfergus
and some days later. The Blues embarked from Hoylake in Cheshire and joined King William‘s Army at Loughbritland. Most evidence shows that James ll‘s Irish forces were fairly ragged and ill—equipped. having been chosen for their religious persuasions rather than their military skills. At the threat ofa southward advance by William‘s Army. under the Dutch General. the Duke of Schom— berg. James II fell back to the south bank of the river Boyne. a few miles to the west of Drogheda. Schomberg ordered his Army to cross the Boyne on
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July I. l690. The ensuing battle has. of course. left its
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mark in Ulster even down to the present day. The Dutch Army has not forgotten it, since they were also engaged. but they remember ‘the Boyne‘ on July I2 since they had adopted the Gregorian calendar. which added ll days to the old “Julian” calendar. some 200 years before Britain changed to the ’New Style‘ dates in 1752. Alone. among the present Household Division. the Regiments of the Household Cavalry took part in the Irish Campaign and the victory of ‘the Boyne‘. William of Orange was present at the crossing of the river. The Blues and The Royals camouflaged their wide brimmed hats with greenery during the battle and were among the first troops to breach the Jacobite line on the opposite bank. The Irish Jacobites lost about |.000 men. ‘ ~ James ll had never been a coward. but the rout of his troops during the battle and the southern advance of
A Trooper in The Blues circa 1684
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