That's precisely what I was thinking in a - no mention because it's not different enough to mention - kind of way.barr7430 wrote:It is not uncommon for descriptions to leave out that kind of detail although they could of course be the same colour as the coat.
LOL, I know exactly what you mean. My own questions arise not because I'm desperate to be absolutely spot-on, 100%, irrefutably, correct, more because I don't want to be absolutely wrong. Does that make sense?barr7430 wrote:I think what is useful to note is that our branch of historical hobby is so unforseen that no one in their right mind would have bothered to write down such trivial information at the time (which is so critical to us that it gives us sleepless nights ) as the colours of coat linings, socks, cuffs, ribbons or field signs! We sometimes need to take a look at ourselves... don't you think.. what a bunch we are! Can you imagine the reaction of an infantryman in a 17th army if he was told that in 300 years educated gentlemen were going to be interested in the colour and length of his dirty socks!
If in 300 years humans are still around and their hobbies are as esoteric as our generation's then maybe we should be writing and recording such details as:
Printed circuit board solder-metal splash patterns on solidification
Dress worn by Thai beach massage staff at Phuket's more popular holiday resorts in the period 2011-2014
Floor discolouration rates on SouthWest commuter trains in 2nd class (vinyl finish) after the severe winters of 2009-2010....
Just in the vain hope that we do not affect the slumber patterns of our progeny and theirs
I know that was not VERY helpful Andy but it was inside and had to come out (probably been hanging around in there for about 20 years!)
Sometimes I do wonder about my hobby and me!!
Apologies for the giganto-link (tm) below, my tech-fu has failed:barr7430 wrote:Mike,
might have missed something in the thread but what is
OPW?
IIRC? in this context.
The data on flag colours is very significant. Where does that originate?
The reason I am quite excited about that is that in 20 years+ of reading on the subject I have never seen anyone reference anything, anywhere about Huguenot colours. Interested in the 'plain fields' too. Anything is possible I suppose but the development of French flags of the period shows that the older regiments had the simplest flags, and then strange systems of almost hippie psychedelia develop as the army grows through the 1690s - 1700s. Plain blue seems a step out of the pattern but very interesting nonetheless. Were the 3 proprietors senior men in the Bourbon army before exile?
thanks
B
I can't claim resposibility for the link Barry. Günter posted it to this thread:barr7430 wrote:Great link Andy. I just spent 30 minutes reading through some of the text which is packed with interesting and question provoking data.
Jan Wyck was a contemporary artist and was in Ireland at the time of the campaigns - that would substantiate to an extent, ANYTHING he painted. On the flip side of that argument, painters are known often for using license, so the blue flags thing with fleur de lys is not for me anyway, a match winner but rather a good 'lead'.
Mike, not trying to poke or be controversial but I noticed that activities which you had credited Mackay with at Aughrim are being laid at Ruvigny's door in the text of the book. Is this in your view Huguenot bias to 'big' up their contribution to the campaigns?
I also noticed a reference to 200 Hueguenot officers as casualties somewhere in a single siege action or breach assault. Couldn't find it again when I skimmed back but 200 officers seems a helluva lot of officers for such a small contingent relatively speaking. Again, maybe an issue of interpretation about what exactly an officer is but that is what is fascinating about this period...
As I said, loads of stuff to ponder but the road always seems to have just one more twist...