Wellington or Blucher? Who defeated Napoleon

@Maggie Scott I’d broadly agree but like most things around the first Duke there is a fair amount of mythology. That famous quote about being born in a barn not making one horse was actually made by an Irish political opponent. I just like to prick the bubble of those who try to drag history into contemporary politics with the odd fact now and again. I’d make the point that Ireland was a fully integrated although devolved part of the United Kingdom since the Act of Union in 1801. It had been rebellious, but then again so had Scotland. The St Patrick’s saltire was added to the Union flag, and indeed it remains there still. It is a modern view as ‘occupied’. It was garrisoned, but so was the rest of the UK. Remember, there was no police force at this time, so supporting the civil power and the Excise was normal, so the Irish Establishment should not be thought of as an army of occupation in the contemporary sense. It is worth noting that although a separate sovereign country, the Irish retain several ‘grandfather’ rights in the modern UK. Despite Brexit, Irish and UK Citizens have complete freedom of movement and if resident a citizen of Eire can even vote in domestic UK elections. Obviously, no one can address the complex relationship in a forum post. Issues such as Home Rule and Catholic Emancipation have brought down governments in the past, as Brexit and the Irish border has in more recent years. To view Ireland as ‘occupied territory’ plays to a particular view. It is worth remembering that one man’s freedom fighter is another one’s rebel. All sides seem free to selectively invoke history to suit their purposes, however.

@david Tomlinson I have no dog in the "occupied" hunt, so "garrisoned" works for me just as well. My main point, however, which unleashed the mini-lecture, was simply that while Wellie was born in Dublin, he didn't seem to consider himself Irish. If you notice, I did not allude to the horse/barn comment.

@Maggie Scott I didn’t say you did of course, just highlighting how myths build up, particularly when the schisms still exist. Popularist and Nationalist politicians seem perfectly happy with myth rather than real history when it suits their agendas. Because of the establishment of Eire and the nationalist agenda in history, the Anglo-Irish voice is largely lost in the noise. Anti-establishment movements tend to be very vocal, the establishment itself is more reactionary. Wellington’s support for Catholic emancipation was well documented. At first sight this may have put him at odds with hard line Protestants in Ireland. This may be a factor in him apparently not ‘playing the Anglo-Irish card’?

The ‘combat Indicator’ for all to see here “Packingham” instead of Packenham, “Asai” for Assaye, “Eaton” for Eton and perhaps most weirdly “Katr Bra” for Quatre Bras! Hallmarks of meticulous research and proof reading. It’s almost as if they just wrote down what verbatim from a documentary narration. I remember a schoolmate had to do a book report, so he chose the Star Wars paperback and just watched the film. The character of Obiwan Keno bi” became “Benki Boney” much to the amusement of the teacher and the rest of the class!

@david Tomlinson I think the issue is that this was, I believe, written in Russian, then translated. The fault may well be with the translator (machine or human).

@tomholmberg

black hussars? Very unlikely to be a translation error, rather an error of an uniformed author.