The Loose Association of Wargamers

Le bheith cinnte they do.

Will, very nice too. Look forward to seeing your S/Smiths as well.

Peeler wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:06 pm Look forward to seeing your S/Smiths as well.

Me too

Shahbahraz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:08 pm You do know I'm going to need a pronunciation guide too? I'm going to assume the Irish regiments in French service that sent piquets to the '45 spoke French.

I'll check it out for you. I used to think that Scots Gaelic was very similar, but in fact it is a minefield comparing the two in terms of pronunciation, spelling etc. However, based on holidays in Scotland with my Irish-speaking father, I can say that the two groups could certainly converse with each other with some degree of understanding - the "posh Scots" would have spoken French (Latin was also a common language between the Scots and actual Hanoverian/Hessian troops), but the rank-and-file would have probably conversed in their native tongues. Bear in mind that in the pre-Industrial era, Celtic languages would have been the norm outside the towns and cities (which were much fewer and smaller back then).

In 1745, there was still a substantial Irish character to the Brigade, as it wasn't until the SYW that the British government actively banned French recruitment - until then about 750 men a year were being taken over to France and there was even a secret treaty between the two countries allowing recruiting to continue as long as it remained clandestine. The French government allowed for about half of the officers being Irish-born, the other half being born to Irish families living in France. Whilst the officers would also have been required to speak French (as with all foreign regiments), the rank-and-file would not, so I would say hardly any of them could do more than order a beer or some food in a tavern. At least up until the French Revolution, Irish passwords were still used (although claims of chanting by the rank-and-file have been dismissed by serious historians). and new officers were expected to speak the language, or learn it if they didn't, since Irish would have been widely spoken outside of the main cities in Ireland itself, to the extent that officers in "new" Irish regiments in the British Army, such as the 87th and 88th Foot, and the Militias in rural counties, were also expected to learn it ("old" Irish regiments, such as the 18th and 27th, would have spoken English).

Thanks for that. Yes, it was my understanding that the Gaelic Irish and Scots troops would have been able (broadly) to understand each other, and every Scots gentleman would be expected to speak French.

The additional information is very interesting, the challenges of multi-lingual command.

Shahbahraz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:08 pm You do know I'm going to need a pronunciation guide too?

Seas ar a suaimhneas.
Shass air ah soyness.

Seas éasca.
Shass airsca.