While marching through the French town of Verdun, the Irish legionnaires became aware of the presence there of British prisoners of war they proudly unfurled their colour and uncovered their eagle while the Legion band belted out their regimental air, Saint Patrick’s Day, to the astonishment of British prisoners billetted in the town. Morale hit a new low after a fist-fight between Captains Thomas Corbett and John Sweeney ended in a duel and Corbett’s death in the subsequent inquiry McSheedy lost command of the corps.įollowing the defeat of the Franco-Spanish fleet at Cape Trafalgar in 1805, the anticipated invasion of the British Isles was cancelled and the Irish unit was instead ordered east to join the German campaign in Mainz, where France was at war with Austria and Russia. Although important, such duties were uninteresting and led to much boredom, frustration and infighting in the corps. ‘Freedom of Conscience/ Independence of Ireland’-the Legion’s flag or ‘colour’.From 1803 to 1806 the Irish awaited the anticipated invasion of Ireland in the sleepy, rainy towns of Brittany, where they were primarily engaged in humdrum coastal defence. The ‘imperial eagle’ symbolised the very soul of the regiment, which was pledged to defend it to the death its loss brought dishonour and consequently it became a prized enemy trophy on the battlefield. They also received one of Napoleon’s cast-bronze eagles. They were kitted out in emerald green uniforms with parchment yellow facings and were presented with a green flag or ‘colour’ with four gold harps in the corners and inscribed with Liberté des Consciences/ Indépendance d’Irlande (Freedom of Conscience/Independence of Ireland). The Irish Legion was commanded by Dubliner Bernard McSheedy and was at this time mainly an officers’ unit with few rank-and-file, as they were expected to be swelled by a locally raised cadre when landing in Ireland. This new unit comprised many United Irishmen who were exiled in Paris following the recent rebellions and former officers from the ancien régime Irish Brigade. In 1803, following lobbying by Irish generals in the French army for the creation of a new Irish corps, Napoleon approved the formation of a light infantry battalion, La Légion Irlandaise (Irish Legion), to spearhead another invasion. (New York Public Library).The French revolutionary government had launched two unsuccessful Irish invasions-in 17-believing that Britain’s naval superiority would be much reduced by the loss of Ireland. The green uniform with parchment yellow facings of a light infantryman in Napoleon’s Légion Irlandaise.