JOURDAIN, Colonel. The Connaught Rangers

The 1st Battalion, formerly 88th Foot; 2nd Battalion, Formerly 94th Foot; 1914-1919 the 5th and 6th Service Battalion. Three volumes. Profusely illustrated with coloured frontispieces, plates, maps, and plans. Ballydehob: Schull, 1999. Quarto. (1) 616, 37 [plates], 32 [maps], (2) 546, 59 [plates], 35 [maps], (3) 596, 54 [plates], 16 [maps]. A magnificent Irish production finely bound in quarter crimson morocco on marbled boards; spines richly gilt with raised bands and gilt floral devices, title, author and volume number in gilt on green morocco labels; cream endpapers; red and white endbands. Top edges gilt. Edition limited to 200 numbered sets. Fine.
The Connaught Rangers, the 'Devil's Own', the 'Gallant Fighting 88th', was raised in 1793 by Colonel the Honourable John Thomas de Burgh, later 13th Earl of Clanricarde. The first gathering of recruits was under the Clanricarde standard at Portumna Castle in County Galway. It is now over two hundred years since the regiment was raised and almost eighty since its disbandment, but they are still arguably the most famous of the Disbanded Irish Regiments, and are still held in high esteem, an honoured name, among the Regiments of the British Army. Their glorious Battle Honours, Victoria Crosses won, are the envy of all, chronicling their distinguished campaigns in Egypt, Europe, India, South Africa, and the West Indies. They served in the Great War mainly in France and Flanders, they were also at Gallipoli, the Balkans and the Middle East. An excellent production and a welcome addition to the 'Disbanded Irish Regiments Series'.

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