Indeed a beautiful flag Gentlemen!
Hey Gen Blake - are you related to the Colonel Blake who commanded the Irish Brigade fighting for the Boers against the Brits in the Boer War in South Africa?
The Irish Brigade was originally the idea of John MacBride, born in Westport County Mayo Ireland, towards the end of the 19th century. With a colleague Arthur Griffin and the Irish Society of Johannesburg, he decided this was his opportunity for Irishmen to strike a blow against an old enemy, Great Britain. The Brigade was a unit of 500 men, mostly Irish but also included Americans and French and, once accepted by the Boer Army, they were called the Irish Transvaal Brigade. All members were volunteers and lived in the same manner as their Boer compatriots, off the land. A graduate of West Point, John Fillmore Blake, was chosen as their commander.
The Transvaal Irish Brigade joined the war in October 1899 and over the next year fought in many major battles such as Colenso, Spionkop, Dundee, Tugela Heights, and the siege of Ladysmith. When Blake was injured in the battle of Bergendal, MacBride took over command. Sadly, the Brigade found they were fighting against their fellow countrymen in the British Irish regiments such as Inniskilling Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers and others, some even recognized neighbour’s from Dublin in the British ranks. During the Siege they were situated to the right of Pepworth hill
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But someone has to make sure you all get shoes and cigars.... 