Paddy M'Guire

PADDY M’GUIRE

by Geert van Uythoven

Some years ago I was escorting a lady across the Place du Carrousel, at Paris: there had been some rain, and the pavement was extremely dirty. As we passed near the triumphal arch, I heard a voice, deeply tinged with a rich Cavan brogue, exclaims, "Dirty weather, your honour, for a lady's coloured shoes." I turned round, and perceived that the observation had proceeded from one of the cavalry sentries under the arch. The contrast between the Irish brogue and the uniform of the Second Regiment of Grenadiers à Cheval of the French Royal Guard, struck me forcibly, and excited my curiosity to learn something of this fine-looking Irishman. When I returned to my hotel, I asked my servant, (who had been attending his mistress when Paddy accosted me that morning, and who was an old soldier himself, and well acquainted with the English and Irish men in many of the regiments in the French army,) if he knew anything of the Irish sentry who was on duty that morning at the triumphal arch. "Oh ! Sir," said he, "that was Paddy M'Guire, a well-known character both in Paris and Versailles. He makes very free with the English gentlemen. I remember when we lived in Versailles, there was an inspection of the Garrison, and Paddy was orderly upon the General. He observed Major Jones and several other English officers on the Place d'Armes, and without the least ceremony he asked the Major, 'if he thought the Enniskillen Dragoons would be a match for the Cuirassiers then on parade ?'"

Paddy commenced his military career in the grenadier company of the Cavan Militia, and shortly afterwards volunteered into the 11th Foot. He served several campaigns in Portugal and Spain, and deserted to the French, preferring their service to the severe flogging which he expected to receive for having got drunk upon his post.

When he arrived at the French chain of videttes, he was made a prisoner, and conducted to head-quarters : there Paddy was asked a number of questions, but he could not give much information respecting either the position or strength of the Duke of Wellington's army : he could tell pretty nearly the number of the rank and file of his own regiment, but he knew nothing of the rest of the troops, except that the Spaniards and Portuguese were a dirty, cowardly, beggarly set of spalpeens, who ran away upon the first shot being fired. Paddy was placed in a regiment of Cuirassiers, and on the subsequent formation of the Royal Guard, he was drafted into the Grenadiers à Cheval. It appears that in the early part of his French military service, he was frequently subjected to sneers and ridicule, on account of his Irish accent and love of brandy. This he bore with a good deal of composure, until he had acquired a tolerable proficiency in the use of the small sword, when he retorted with both tongue and foot upon his adversaries. A challenge was the immediate consequence, and Paddy was not long in measuring swords with his antagonist ; and being strong, active, and a pretty good fencer, he soon obtained the victory.

He was now treated with more respect, but his attachment to brandy led him into frequent quarrels, and as perverse disputes are always decided in the French army by the sword, Paddy killed four of his comrades in single combat, together with an imprudent gendarme, who, not aware of Paddy's skill and prowess with the sword, had met him at a cabaret at Versailles and ventured a sneer at the boxing system of the soldiers of the English army. Such is the high estimation in which personal courage and prowess are held in the French service, that Paddy became a prime favourite in the regiment. Three times he was made a non-commissioned officer, but the love of brandy constantly occasioned his being as often reduced to the ranks.

In the affray which took place about three years ago at a fête at the village of Vereflay, near Versailles, between a party of the Swiss Guard, and some men of the Second Grenadiers ä Cheval, of whom Paddy was one, several lives were lost ; and when questioned as to his share in the business, he modestly acknowledged that he had only killed and wounded seven of the Swiss soldiers. At that period I was residing at Versailles, and wishing to improve myself in fencing, I desired my servant to inquire of Paddy, who was the best teacher of the art in town, when he naively replied, "Sure I killed the fellow about six months ago !'' With all poor Paddy's skill and courage, brandy was too strong for him, and ultimately prevailed. About eighteen months ago he got drunk, fell from his horse, and received such a serious injury as occasioned his death ; and his strong, manly, and active form, was committed to the grave in Versailles, lamented by a handsome young woman, who is often observed to visit the place of his interment, and strew it over with laurel and flowers.

Source: Anonymous, “Traits and Incidents, naval and military”, in ‘The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine’ Part I (London 1832) pp. 228-229.