Anita Arnon

I mean, you know, remember, these are troops that were sort of sent all around the British Empire to deal with problems wherever they occurred.

Nothing gets past you.

Yes, he's Dublin born.

So he turns up with his men.

And in time, they're joined by Germans.

And I know you'll love this, a scattering of Bengalis.

Again, they're mercenaries.

They're up for hire.

So you have sort of, you know, Bengalis, smattering of West Indians, smattering of Americans who are also, you know, they've just fought.

They've got, you know, time on their hands, money to be made.

They were here.

I did a deep dive.

I was trying to find some names for you, but I couldn't.

But they are very much recorded as Bengali troops and a Bengali regiment, even.

Love it.

You have Wellington himself encouraging soldiers to join the fight.

Because we talked about Wellesley meeting him in London, Wellington's brother.

And being really taken with this idea that, oh, we could sort of nip the Spanish nose and we can do it through South America.

So you've got sort of volunteer units in Venezuela, collectively known as the British Legions.

Some 1,700 Irishmen turn up, then recruited by John Devereaux, this Irish adventurer, and they form the Irish Legion.