"Men, cohesion, and battle : the Inniskilling Regiment" Topic

…at Waterloo.

"This thesis is a social and military history of the First Battalion of the 27th Foot, the Inniskilling Regiment, at the Battle of Waterloo. Crucial to success in battle is the cohesion of units and their ability to withstand punishment and keep fighting. This paper offers an examination of the constituent elements of unit cohesion as manifested in the demonstrable staying power of the Inniskillings. The Inniskillings' battlefield experience is a case study in cohesion: by understanding the devastating battlefield experience of the 1/27th, the only all-Irish infantry unit at Waterloo, it is then possible to examine the many elements of cohesion that allowed them to stand together. The thesis opens with a brief summary of the historiography of military history in general, and the importance of the individual in the "new" military history. The introduction is followed by three sections: the battlefield experience, a social profile of the soldiers and officers, and an analysis of the myriad factors that shaped the men. The section on the battlefield experience offers as much detail as possible on what it was actually like for the men of the 1/27th to serve in the Campaign of 1815. How far did they have to march? What did they have to carry? What was the weather like? Where at Waterloo did they stand, and what was it like there? The second section of the paper, dealing with the background of the men of the 1/27th , opens with a brief history of Ireland, and the issues that formed Irish society and culture. An assortment of primary sources and Irish census data are then used to paint a picture of just who these men were. The final section of the thesis borrows John Lynn's model developed in his landmark Bayonets of the Republic to examine the motivational and military systems in place in the British army of the Napoleonic Wars. This model considers such motivational factors as interest and morale, and military factors such as organization and experience."
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Amicalement
Armand

I think he has made a very good job of this. He is handicapped that, all too often, he has to conclude that there is simply no data and, instead, has to draw on the common experience of the British Army of the period or, indeed, the nationwide records of Ireland.

So, much is conjecture, but it seems well founded if so. I thought this was a really good find (as we expect from Tango)

(Grin)

A votre service mon cher ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I'm flattered that you find my work of some use to you gentlemen. I have since turned my focus to writing fiction, but I take satisfaction in seeing my academic work still has some life to it.

Best regards….Mark

Thanks, Mark, for doing that as your thesis! I have long been a standard bearer for advancing the concept of unit cohesion being more of a factor than raw numbers and casualties in what unit capability sould be based upon. I enjoyed the read. Thanks Armand, for posting it.

v/r
Tom

Good job Mark!… Congrats!….

No mention my friend!. (smile)

Ammicalement
Armand

By
Mark Richard Bois
B.A., University of Kansas, 1980

A Thesis Approved on
December 8, 2006

???

This is a thesis for a higher, a Masters Degree.

His Bachelor's Degree was just a little bit earlier!

Actually struck me this would have been fine as a PhD effort!

Yep, I went back for my Masters long after my Bachelor's, and this was my thesis.
Thanks, Deadhead, for your kind words. In fact, one of the thesis committee suggested that very thing. Now, if only I had the time to do all those PhD classes.
So, I content myself with fiction: Lieutenant Lockwood at Waterloo is on Amazon!
All the best…Mark

I must tell you how pleased I am to have heard that someone else thought the same, but especially that this came when you faced the thesis cttee.

One of my sons is back this week from two months research in Missouri for his History PhD (all to do with Guerilla War in ACW), so I know all too well the difference between the literary effort for a BA and a PhD.

I do hope others get to read this. We do have a few "professionals" on this forum.

Many thanks Mark!!

Amicalement
Armand

It's really a pleasure talking to you guys; my day job takes me far from such lofty topics, and to get an opportunity to banter with such knowledgeable gentlemen is a true pleasure.

Slan go foill…..Mark