Irish Brigade Flags - the "True Informer" and the Irish cross controversy

TRUE INFORMER AND OTHER SOURCES

Short Introduction here






Short Introduction here

POSSIBLE IRISH BRIGADE COLORS

0011.0
Field: White, possibly spattered with red, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "AEQUUM EST PRO CHRISTO MORI" (It is just to die for Christ)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Red Crucifix
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran's source describes field as 'alibis respersis guts sanguineis' (white sprinkled with drops of blood). Blount says color was 'taken from the Irish Rebels in the late warres'
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0285.0
Field: Green (Vert), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PATIOR UT VINCAM" (I suffer that I may conquer)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ carrying his cross on his shoulder
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Moran 17
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0112.0
Field: Yellow, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI" (Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Resurrection of Christ
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "EXURGAT DEUS, DISSIPEXTUR INIMICI".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0178.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "IN NOMINE JESUS OMNE GENU FLECTITUR" (At the name of Jesus every knee shall bend)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Inscribed with the name of "Jesus" ("IHS") with a cross
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Blount (1655) claims it was captured from the Irish Rebels. First motto is from Phil. 2:10. Moran's source notes that Parliament had forbidden genuflection.
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0063.0
Field: Blue (azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "CUNCTAS HAERESES INTEREMISTI" (Thou has overcome all heresies)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Virgin Mary holding infant Jesus in her arms, and with her heals trampling on a serpent's head.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). Reid lists first motto as "CUNCTAS HARESES INTEREMIST".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0417.0
Field: Blue (Azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SOLVIT VINCULA DEUS" (God loosens the chains)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An angel in white holding a sword with a gold handle cutting the chains of St Peter.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0322.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PRO DEO REGE ET PATINA [PATRIA]" (For God and the King and the Chalice [country])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Two arms issue from clouds. One supports a chalice with a host over it, the other holds a sword to defend them.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "PRO DEO, REGE AND PATINA".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0297.0
Field: Unknown (perhaps painted clouds), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "POST NUBILA PHOEBUS" (After the clouds comes the sun [Phoebus])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Black roundel surrounded by a cloud out of which the sun is appearing.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0459.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "VICTOR REDIT DE BARATHRO" (He swiftly returns victorious from the edge of hell)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ delivering the Fathers out of limbo.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). The first motto is a line from the latin hymn "The Lamb's high banquet called to share"
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "FORTITUDO MEA DESUPER" (My strength is from above)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: To left a silver armoured arm issuing from a cloud and holding a silver lamp (or lance).
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran appears to suggest arm is holding a lance rather than a lamp. Reid lists first motto as "FORTITUDO MEADE SUPER".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: White (argent), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SIC PEREUNT HAERESES" (Thus heresies perish)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An armoured man setting fire to John Calvin's book 'Institutes. The book is inscribed "Calv:Instit".
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "SIO PEREUNT HARESES".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0088.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "DOMINUS VINDICAT POPULUM SUAM" (God will avenge his people)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: The figure of Judith holding a sword with the Holofernes severed head impaled upon it.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

THE IRISH CROSS CONTROVERSY

USEFUL LINKS & REFERENCES

http://samsflags.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/development-history-of-irish-flags-pt5.html

Flags for MacColla

Below are the flags used on my command base for MacColla. They were made in photoshop and can be printed for use in your own armies. I painted over the printed design (see here) as I prefer the hand-painted look but that is not really necessary.

The yellow flag depicts 'the black galley' common in ancient West highland heraldry, especially amongst the MacDonalds and MacDougalls, the descendants of Somerled. It is typically taken as a representation of power and is also linked to the Lordship of the Isles. 

The white sheet depicts the infamous "red hand of Ulster", a symbol linked to Ulster since at least the 16th century, and common amongst the heraldry of the O'Neill family. It is also found in west highland heraldry especially amongst the MacDonalds. 

The flags are speculative, but the designs use symbols common in the contemporary 17th century heraldry of the MacDonalds and other west coast clans with links across the water to Ulster.  There is no evidence that flags like these were carried by MacColla, or that they even existed, but both seem like fitting motifs for the Ulster-backed MacDonald. 

I can't claim this as an original idea, it is actually borrowed from a description of MacColla in Nigel Tranter's "Montrose: Captain General". Although Tranter puts a white galley on a black sheet. I changed this to a black galley on a yellow sheet to be consistent with references to MacColla's colours at Auldearn, and to be faithful to West highland heraldry.

Below is a link to great website source on West Highland Heraldry.  Some great ideas here for flags for your highland clansmen!

West Highland Heraldry

Apologies for repetition, but I wanted to include the flag information, previously published here, in this post too.

MacColla Command Base WIP

Quick update on my brigade command base featuring Maj. General Alasdair MacColla, near legendary commander of the Irish Brigade. The Litko 60mm round bases arrived last night so settled on final layout and finished up the new flags.

I was thinking of adding a Covenanter casualty model behind MacColla as well as some detritus of battle (helmet, musket etc) but it just looked too busy so will likely stick with just the big man and his personal standard bearers.

The flags are speculative, but the designs use symbols common in the contemporary 17th century heraldry of the MacDonalds and other west coast clans with links across the water to Ulster. The yellow flag depicts 'the black galley' common in ancient West highland heraldry, especially amongst the MacDonalds and MacDougalls, the descendants of Somerled. It is typically taken as a representation of power and is also linked to the Lordship of the Isles. 

The white sheet depicts the infamous "red hand of Ulster", a symbol linked to Ulster since at least the 16th century, and common amongst the heraldry of the O'Neill family. It is also found in west highland heraldry especially amongst the MacDonalds. 

There is no evidence that flags like these were carried by MacColla, or that they even existed, but both seem like fitting motifs for the Ulster-backed MacDonald. I can't claim this as an original idea, it is actually borrowed from a description of MacColla in Nigel Tranter's "Montrose: Captain General". Although Tranter puts a white galley on a black sheet. I changed this to a black galley on a yellow sheet to be consistent with references to MacColla's colours at Auldearn, and to be faithful to West highland heraldry.

Will post the finished command base soon, together as well as the flag sheets. 

Flags for the Irish Brigade III

Below are the flags I used for my latest Irish unit, MacColla's Lifeguard. They are another pair of flags from the 12 listed in the contemporary "True Informer" news sheet (1644). There are no contemporary illustrations of the flags, so layout and imagery are based entirely on the True Informer descriptions. 

All of the colours are thought to have featured a red saltire on a yellow field in the canton, and the Royal Crown and cypher (CR), together with the latin motto "Vivat Carolus Rex", or "Long Live King Charles". There is often debate about the use of a red saltire on a yellow field in the canton of the Irish flags. This is based upon a suggestion by Hayes McCoy in his book on Irish flags that the cross was actually an Irish cross. This is often accompanied by an assertion that the saltire was not used as an Irish national flag in the mid-17th century. However Young, in Emblematic Tradition (3), reckons Father Wadding, whose description Hayes McCoy cites, may be describing earlier flags or prototypes, whereas the eye-witness reporting in the True Informer saw the actual colours. There is also plenty of evidence for contemporary or earlier use of the red saltire (and note this is not a burgundy cross mis-described) in Ireland by 1640,s and 50's. Click on this link for more info – yes its wiki, but there are good citations. 

It is most unfortunate that none of the contemporary Scottish chroniclers bothered to describe the flags they saw the Irish carrying at Auldearn, or Aberdeen (Spalding, where are you when we need you!), and so like Stuart Reid, I have chosen to favor the True Informer descriptions.

 The first colour is a white sheet with "a blood red cucifix". There is no illustration of the flag, so the cross with the gold light flare is my own interpretation. The motto on this sheet is "AEQUUM EST PRO CHRISTO MORI", which translates as "It is just to die for Christ". When I made this flag I made a spelling mistake so AEQUUM is AQUUM. doh!

The second is a yellow sheet, with "the resurrection of christ". No illustration of the original flag design exists but I have based the picture on the famous illustration by Graham Turner in the Osprey "Scots Armies of the English Civil Wars", written by Stuart Reid (Men-at-Arms 331). The motto on this sheet is "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI", which translates as "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered". The motto is incorrect in Reid's book, but I had made the flags before I discovered about the error, so my flag reads "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPEXTUR". Easily fixed with a dab of paint or pixels.

I chose to include this iconic flag with Lifeguard as one of the contemporary chroniclers describes MacColla as being accompanied with a yellow flag at Auldearn. This may have also have been the King's Standard, which Wishart reports that MacColla carried to distract the Covenanter attack at Auldearn while Montrose was busy getting the rest of the foot in order.

As previously, both flags were made in photoshop, and printed on good quality paper. They were subsequently entirely re-painted, to give them the hand-painted look. They were cut out, folded and glued to a 6 cm steel pin using superglue. At the same time the paper was glued together using a glue stick. The flag was then folded by rolling gently around a paint brush handle while the glue is still wet, and once dry was cut using scissors to give a more ragged campaign look.

I have some alternate Flags for MacColla's Lifeguard which are of a more Highland/Ulster flavour. I will use these on a MacColla command base for Pike and Shotte. I have also put taken a few WIP shots of these flags and will share all this once the command base is complete (I am just waiting on the bases from Litko). 

The flags for my first Irish Regiment can be found here.

The flags for my second Irish Regiment can be found here.

Descriptions of all 12 of the Irish colours, including the latin motto with translation can be found in "The English Emblematic Tradition (3): Emblematic Flag Devices of the English Civil Wars, 1642-1660" by Alan R. Young (Ed.). This excellent tome can also be previewed online at Google Books. The flags are also described by Stuart Reid in "Scots Armies of the C17th. III: The Royalist Armies, 1639-46" (published by Partizan Press). 

MacColla's Lifeguard ready to take the field

Managed to get some time to complete the flags and basing so MacColla's chosen men are ready for battle. Didn't get time to set up a proper photo shoot on the table with scenery (maybe later), which is a shame as last week I also painted up 3 new houses for the village of Auldearn that would have made a great back drop.

I have included MacColla in the unit accompanied by a trusty bodyguard armed with lochaber axe. He is based separately so can be removed if he is not with his lifeguard. I am also preparing a separate MacColla command base for 'Pike and Shotte', using my other MacColla model so he can also make an appearance in his more typical role as brigade commander.

The lifeguard is made up of a mix of highland and Irish shot, representing MacColla's most trusted Irish veterans and Hebridean clansmen. I have chosen to represent the unit as a kind of 'elite' commanded shot, rather than as traditionally armed highlanders with claymore's etc, although I have given one personal bodyguard figure a lochaber axe, and he is based with MacColla.

Most figures are Eureka ECW Irish and Highlanders. There are also four Perry figures; the two Ensigns, the Irish Captain with pistol, and the Irish musketeer in floppy hat.

The lifeguard companies were picked from amongst the 3 regiments of the Irish brigade, and Reid in his Osprey on Auldearn estimates there were about 140 men in the unit at the battle. At 1:10 this is 14 figures, and the unit can be fielded as a "standard" sized shot unit. Some play testing will determine whether or not this unit should be fielded as commanded Irish shot with 'elite 4+' or as the hard bastards included in the Scots Royalist army list in the 'Pike and Shotte' rule book, which should be fielded as a 'small' sized unit.

For flags this unit gets another couple of Irish sheets from the True Informer list, including the famous yellow sheet featured in the Osprey MAA on Scots in the English Civil War. As usual, I will share the flags on the blog, with more info as soon as I get some time to post them.

Finally, this is the unit in their new movement tray, made from the GW plastic tray kit. The tray still needs to be painted and textured.

Next unit up on painting table is Gordon of Monymore's Regt, they are the black primed figures in the background, and then onto the Gordon Horse...

MacColla's Lifeguard WIP 4

Lifeguard all painted and ready for basing. Basing scheme shown. Working of the flags for this unit just now. Will give the Lifeguard another pair of Irish flags, most likely with yellow and white fields. I also have a couple of 'personal' flags for MacColla, which I will use on a "Pike and Shotte" Command Base. You may notice the small pieces of Foundry blister card I use to jack up the bases. Despite the fact that real folks have different heights, aesthetically I just like less big height differences in my units.

The remaining photos are some other odds and ends I have also recently completed and ready to base. I have a couple of MacColla's from Eureka. The original figure (just below) I will base in such away that he can be placed amongst his Lifeguard. 

My other MacColla (below) is a conversion based on Angus McBride's Auldearn plate in the Osprey "Highland Clansmen". Added bunnet, beard, sporran, targe (on back) and shoulder belt. He will go on a command base with the two highland ensigns carrying his personal standards.

Below are a couple of spare highland pikemen/axemen. They are destined for Monymore's Regt...

Next is some spare Perry Irish Command, a sergeant (left) and officer (right), who are ready for the third and final Irish Regiment and a Eureka Irish priest (centre) who will probably end up as a covenanting minister (although the crucifix may have to be carefully removed for that).

A Foundry officer, painted as a Royalist and who will end up on an Irish command base. Love the pipe and the flamboyant hat.

Finally, my first attempt at a couple of Warlord figures. On the left is a metal piper for the Scottish Infantry box set, and on the right a plastic musketeer with firelock. Nice figures. They are taller than Perry and Eureka, but very similar to Bicorne is size. You probably wouldn't want to mix them in the same unit but the difference is not so noticeable with paint on, so they look fine on the table with the Perry sized stuff. They paint up nice, even the plastic chap with the face only a mother could love.

MacColla's Lifeguard WIP 3

MacColla's Lifeguard WIP 2

Finished a grey plaid this evening and pretty happy with the result. Base is Foundry Granite 31 ABC. Stripes are watered-down Foundry Slate Grey 32A. GW Chaos Black on the cross points of the stripes to complete. Just started working on a reddish tartan on the chap to the left.

Again figure is by Eureka from the ECW Highlanders. This model is a regular highland musketeer loading matchlock. He is wearing the sleeveless highland long coat as seen in the "Stettin Print" of 1631 (see article posted above), which shows highland mercenaries in Germany during the Thirty Years War.

"The Flag" - a short film about Irish Confederates

Stumbled across this film (link at bottom of post) by accident on the Facebook page of an Irish historical re-enactment group called Claíomh (Irish for sword) Living History. The group, based in Ireland, re-create many different periods from the Middle Ages through to Early Modern. Photographs of this group portraying troops of the Irish Catholic Confederacy were featured in the excellent Osprey book, "Ireland 1649-52: Cromwell's Protestant Crusade" (Campaign 213).

Irish Confederate Ensign with colours, as portrayed by Claiomh

This short film is set in the aftermath of Cromwell's sack of Drogheda, shows 3 surviving Irish Confederacy soldiers, including an Ensign with his Confederacy colours, considering the course of action. The flag is based on the same descriptions for those of the Marquis of Antrim's Irish Brigade sent to the Scottish mainland to intervene in the war on behalf of the King. Antrim (see side bar) was himself on the council of the Irish Catholic Confederacy during 1644, and was Lt General of all confederate forces (although he resigned this commission before sending the Irish Brigade to Scotland).

"The Flag"

Anyway, I love the look these guys have achieved for the Confederates, it is very close to how I imagined them to look, so I reckon this is a great little short for all fans of the Irish soldier during the ECW! They have also added a second film on the Irish galloglas. And have a look at their Facebook page for more great photos like the one above.

Click here to watch film "The Flag" on You Tube

Click here to visit Claíomh on Facebook

Click here to visit the Claíomh blog

MacColla's Lifeguard WIP

Been spending Sunday afternoon trying out some different color schemes and practicing painting tartan for MacColla's Lifeguard. This excellent Hebridean chap is from the Eureka ECW Higlanders range that I commissioned via the 100 Club a few years back. He is wearing the highland long coat (as opposed to the belted plaid).

Shirt is painted a drab yellow ochre using a mix of GW Tausept Ochre and Coat d'Arms Negro for the Base. GW Tausept Ochre (and a pinch of CdA Negro) for mid and GW Tausept Ochre plus GW Bleached Bone to highlight.

The plaid coat is painted using GW Charadon Granite (mixed with a little black) for the base. The stripes are GW Gnarloc Green. Where the stripes cross is a square of GW Gnarloc Green mixed with GW Bleached Bone. The final thin red stripe is watered down GW Scab Red with. Dot of GW Blood Red plus GW Macharius Solar Orange where the lines cross.

All my Scots Bonnets are painted as follows; (Base) GW Necron Abyss (Blue) mixed mixed with a little Black, (Mid) GW Shadow Grey mixed with a little of the Base, and (Highlight) GW Shadow Grey mixed with Foundry Sky Blue 21C.

This is also my first attempt to blog from my iPhone so fingers crossed.

Flags for the Irish Brigade II

Below are the flags I created in Photoshop for my latest Irish Regt. They are another 2 of the 12 flags listed by Reid in "Scots Armies of the C17th. III: The Royalist Armies, 1639-46" (Partizan Press). Descriptions of all 12 of the Irish colours, including the latin motto with translation are also included in "The English Emblematic Tradition (3): Emblematic Flag Devices of the English Civil Wars, 1642-1660" by Alan R. Young (Ed.). This excellent tome can also be previewed online at Google Books. I was lucky enough to pick up a good copy of this book a few years back and if you can get it for a decent price, it is a must for all civil war flag-o-philes.

Most of the 12 colours described, including these two, have overt catholic imagery, and latin religious mottos, both features that would have horrified the zealous presbyterian Scottish citizenry of the time. All of the colours are thought to have featured a red saltire on a yellow field in the canton, and the Royal Crown and cypher (CR), together with the latin motto "Vivat Carolus Rex", or "long-live King Charles".

The first colour is a blue sheet with "the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms, and with her heels trampling on a serpent's head". The motto on this sheet is "CUNCTAS HARESES INTEREMIST", which translates as "Thou hast overcome all heresies".

The second is a white sheet, with "an armed man setting fire to John Calvin's book Institutes". The book is inscribed "Calv:Instit". The motto on this sheet is "SIC PEREUNT HARESES", which translates as "Thus Heresies Perish". The motto is incorrect in Reid's book, but I had made the flags before I discovered about the error, so my flag reads "SIO PEREUNT HARESES". Easily fixed with a dab of white paint or pixels.

I did not intentionally select the two flags containing latin tirades against heresies, but it's safe to say, this unit does not like heretics.

Both flags were made in photoshop, and printed on good quality paper. They were subsequently entirely re-painted, to give them the hand-painted look. They were cut out, folded and glued to a 6 cm steel pin using superglue. The paper fold was then glued together using a glue stick. The flag was then cut to give a torn and ragged campaign look, and folded by rolling gently around a paint brush handle while the glue is still wet.

I have more Irish Flags ready for MacColla's Lifegaurd and will share these once the unit is ready. The two flags for my first Irish unit can be found here.

Wild Irish

It has been a lot longer between Irish regiments than I originally planned, almost 4 years in fact! In the meantime I have been living and working in India with my family. Apart from a little work on this unit the Royalist half of Project Auldearn has essentially been in mothballs while I was in India. I returned to Texas about 6 months ago, and finding a house, moving and unpacking took me through to January. I then spent some time setting up a gaming room, built a couple of gaming tables (but that's for another post) and eventually got around to setting up my painting table. After working on some terrain and a War of the Ring Army for my son, I finally sat down earlier this year, and finished up this second regiment of Fightin' Irish.

Shot Sleeve led by (Perry) Seargent

Looking along the line

There were three Irish regiments in Montrose's Irish Brigade; (1) Lt. General Alexander McDonnell's Regt, commanded by Major Thomas Laghtman as McDonnell had pulled a sickie and stayed at home, (2) Colonel Manus O'Cahan's Regt, and (3) Colonel James MacDonnell's Regt. The brigade was led by Major General Alisdair MacColla "The Devastator". As a result of severe attrition (desertion, sickness and battle casualties) the Irish Brigade is thought to have mustered only around 800 men at Auldearn. Of this a detachment of 140 was under direct command of MacColla, serving as his lifeguard (more on this unit soon).

Montrose leads his Irish to victory again

Both regiments together with Montrose

My latest regiment represents MacDonnell's Regiment. At 1:10 figure to man ration, it is over-strength for Auldearn, but I have painted larger units than I need to facilitate gaming the other earlier battles, as well as fictional scenarios.

Unfortunate covenanter infantryman is run down by the Irish

Left Shot Sleeve

Pike and Command

Right Shot Sleeve

The figures are mostly Eureka Irish, for the most part selected from various 'charging' poses. As with the first Irish regiment, I have added the occasional scots bunnit using greenstuff, and the highland targes (shields) are from the Old Glory ECW range. Casualty figures and Sergant are from Perry. Selecting good command models was difficult for this unit as Eureka do not make 'charging' Irish Command figures, only 'standing' command. Fortunately I was able to use Perry ECW command models from their English Command Advancing pack.

The colours

More on the flags soon

Pikes are 8cm steel pins from Foundry. I was tempted to equip this unit with 'half-pikes' as suggested by Reid in his various books on the subject, however they just didn't look right so i reverted to the full length pikes. I may still equip the third and final Irish regt with half-pikes.

CHARGE!

Another close up of the colours

The unit is based on Litko 3mm plywood bases with self-adhesive flexible steel bottoms. The bases are textured with wood-filler, sand & gravel, primed black and then painted GW Scorched Brown. They are then dry-brushed 3 times; (1) GW Graveyard Earth, (2) GW Kommando Khaki, (3) GW Bleached Bone. The painted bases are finally decorated with Static Grass, adhesive tufts, and finally clump foliage (occasionally topped with purple flock to look like heather).

Hold the line!

The Eureka 'charging' pike models are superb

Flags are prepared in photoshop by hand and printed on good quality paper. The are then hand-painted over, cut and glued onto a 6cm steel pin (Foundry) using super glue and a Pritt Stick. The flag is folded when the paper glue is still wet and when dry, final highlights are applied. The flags were then attached to the ensign models, and the flag staff was painted. Careful placement of the ensign and pike models was required on the bases to avoid the flags and pikes from interfering with each other.

The Irish were painted using mostly Foundry paints, with some Games Workshop and Coat d'Arms colours. Colours used were mostly drabs, greys, browns and other muted colours. I can provide the exact palettes used on request.

NEXT UP for the Royalists - MacColla's Lifeguard.