History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?

Subject: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: AKS
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 05:06 AM

A colleague of a friend of mine is writing an article on the following issue:

The King of Denmark sent some troops to Ireland sometime in the latter part of the 16th century (during Elizabeth I's reign?). Now, some sources mention that among them there was a Finn Battalion. The fact is that no Finnish troops were ever sent to Ireland (so far;-), the correct name should be the Fyn B. - or Fün B. if umlaut is used - as the battalion was recruited from Fyn which is the second largest of the Danish Islands.

And - since Ireland is concerned - there must(?) be songs about the 'events' where this particular battalion was involved. My friend is quite certain that he has seen and heard a Dubliners recording (single), but can not remember the title (I have quite a large collection of the Dubliners' but it's not there). The colleague would highly appreciate any information on the matter.

Any clues, folks?

AKS (a Finn, not Fyn nor Fün)

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 06:47 AM

There were Danish troops who served with William of Orange against James II in Ireland, I believe. That would be round about 1689. Perhaps these are the events you are wondering about. I'll see if I can find out some more details for you.

Les

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: AKS
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 07:16 AM

That might well be the case, our discussion was very brief so I could have got the wrong century!

Thanks in adv.
AKS

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 02:47 PM

At a muster at Finglas a week or so after the the Battle of the Boyne the Danish Troops in William III's Army were:

Horse
Colonel Jemel's Regiment
Colonel Jesnop's Regiment
Colonel Schescad's Regiment

Foot
Livgarde til fods (Dronningens) Regiment
Livgarde Grenadier Regiment
Prince Fredrick's Regiment
Prince Christian's Regiment
Prince George's Regiment
Zealand Regiment
Jutland Regiment
Zuitland Regiment

Although the Fyen or Funen Regiment (the way my book spells it) existed at this time, it was not included in this muster. Of course this doesn't mean that they didn't serve in Ireland. There may have had some sort of rotation system, or they may have been serving elsewhere in Ireland.

There were close links between the Danes and the Dutch in those days, and so the Danish Monarchy were happy to lend William most of the Danish Army. Of course, William would have paid for them (this was quite normal then).

I'm sorry that I can't provide any better information. Perhaps there is a Danish Army website or you can contact the Regiment concerned (or their successors). Britain has many regimental museums which would provide this sort of information. Perhaps Denmark has also.

I would be pleased to receive any more information you can find. I'll keep trying myself.

Les

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 04:04 PM

Les

Interesting. A friend of mine is an expert on the Williamite wars. Where did you get that listing from? I'd be curious to check whether he can add anything to the discussion.

Regards

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 04:47 PM

Finn MacCool had one, too.

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 03:26 AM

My contact confirms the Williamite version - there were several thousand Danish troops hired out to the Williamite side. The deal was apparently arranged by the Duke of Molesworth, after whom one of the major streets in Dublin was named!

Regards

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: Big Tim
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 04:11 AM

Never heard of the Finn Battalion but the Battle of the Boyne was a very international affair as the Irish dimension was interwoven with a major European power struggle. Various treaties resulted in Irish, English, French, German and Dutch troops on the Jacobite side and Irish, English, Dutch, German, Danish, French, Swiss, Italian, Norwegian and Polish ones in the Williamite ranks. Not very helpful but interesting.

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 01:37 PM

There were several broadside ballads written on the battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690. (See the broadside ballad index on my website) They were from early reports and contained little real news. They didn't mention that Duke Schomberg started to cross the Boyne (without his sword according to one source), but Irish cavalry made short work of him. Maybe he figured it was his time.

On Schonberg who holds predistination & talks to himself [c 1689-90]

As I walk'd by my self & talk'd to my self
My self said to me
Look to thy self, take care of thy self,
For no body cares for thee.

I answered my self & said to my self
With the self same repartee
Look to thy self, or not looke to thy self,
The self same thing shall be.

............

Tune is "Greensleeves" according to Herd's 'Scots Songs'. See the Opies in The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes for later copies.

Subject: RE: History: Finn Battalion in Ireland?
From: AKS
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:58 AM

Refresh!

(and thanks for the above...)

AKS