"Bejabers Buoys I have the cuckoo" cried Sgt Masterson of the 2/87th Foot, as he captured the French 8th Regiments Eagle on 5th March 1811 at the Battle of Barossa. (A French Regiments Eagle was personally presented by Napoleon and this was the first to be captured by a British Army Regiment)
Mastersonâs regiment, the 87th Foot, were known in the Peninsular for their battle cry âFaugh a Ballaghâ, the Irish for âClear the wayâ. They also captured the French Regiments Officers mess wagons full of fine wines, cognac and other delacies. You can guess what happened to the contents of the wagons!!
Following Barossa, the regiment was ârecommended to the Prince Regentâ who awarded them the title of âPrince of Walesâ Own Irish Regimentâ and directed that they wear an eagle on their colours and appointments.
87th Foot lost 5 officers and 168 soldiers killed and wounded. From 1882 they were renamed The Royal Irish Fusiliers and are now amalgamated into The Royal Irish Regiment.
Let todays Royal Irish Regiment join with me, celebrate and remember this Barossa day in traditional Regimental fashion. I will look forward to my Barossa dinner this week-end!!
"Faugh-ah-Ballagh"
TZA
Mastersonâs regiment, the 87th Foot, were known in the Peninsular for their battle cry âFaugh a Ballaghâ, the Irish for âClear the wayâ. They also captured the French Regiments Officers mess wagons full of fine wines, cognac and other delacies. You can guess what happened to the contents of the wagons!!
Following Barossa, the regiment was ârecommended to the Prince Regentâ who awarded them the title of âPrince of Walesâ Own Irish Regimentâ and directed that they wear an eagle on their colours and appointments.
87th Foot lost 5 officers and 168 soldiers killed and wounded. From 1882 they were renamed The Royal Irish Fusiliers and are now amalgamated into The Royal Irish Regiment.
Let todays Royal Irish Regiment join with me, celebrate and remember this Barossa day in traditional Regimental fashion. I will look forward to my Barossa dinner this week-end!!
"Faugh-ah-Ballagh"
TZA
