Royal Irish Artillery facts for kids
The Royal Irish Artillery was a special group of soldiers from Ireland who were part of the British army in the 1700s. They were experts at using cannons and other big guns. This group started in 1755 and was first called The Artillery Company of Ireland. A few years later, in 1760, their name changed to The Royal Regiment of Irish Artillery.
Training and Early Missions
These soldiers were recruited from all over Ireland. They learned how to be gunners and artillery experts in places like Dublin Castle in Ireland and then in Woolwich, England.
In 1777, some parts of the Royal Irish Artillery were sent to Canada. They joined Major General John Burgoyne and took part in the American War of Independence. This was a big war where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Britain. Other gunners from the Royal Irish Artillery went directly to New York, led by Brigadier-General James Pattison.
Challenges and Recognition
Brigadier-General James Pattison was in charge of the British artillery in North America during part of the American War. He wrote a lot about his Irish soldiers. While he sometimes had strong opinions about them, the Royal Irish Artillery was recognized for their skill. They were even given special white leather stocks (a type of neckwear) as a sign of how good they were at using their cannons.
End of the Regiment
In 1801, a big change happened. The Act of Union joined Ireland and Great Britain to form the United Kingdom. Because of this, the Royal Irish Artillery became a part of the main British artillery group, called the Royal Artillery. They became part of the 7th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Artillery and stopped being a separate Irish regiment.
Legacy Today
Even though the Royal Irish Artillery no longer exists as a separate group, their history is still remembered. Buttons from their uniforms have been found in places like Somerville, Massachusetts, and at Fort George in Castine, Maine. The design from their buttons can still be seen on a shield today. This shield is part of the badge for the 206 (Ulster) Battery, which is a unit in the 105 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers). This unit is part of the Territorial Army, which is a reserve part of the British Army.
