The (Longford) lion-killer who became an Israeli hero

An Ri rua

For those interested in history.

ps The Ghost & the Darkness was based on this guy's exploits; as were other films.

The ashes of a swashbuckling hero of the British Empire are to be reburied in Israel after a service attended by the country's prime minister. John Henry Patterson was a soldier, big-game hunter and writer, whose exploits inspired three Hollywood movies. The BBC's Kevin Connolly explains why he is so admired in Israel.

The man who was to become a hero to the British and to the Israelis was neither British nor Jewish. Like many servants of the crown in the days of Empire he was an Irishman born in County Longford in 1867 to a Protestant father and Catholic mother. Ireland was then part of the United Kingdom and military service was a popular option for many young Irishmen - partly from a want of other opportunities and partly from a sense of adventure.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30248216

Ghost Buster

An Ri rua wrote: »

For those interested in history.

ps The Ghost & the Darkness was based on this guy's exploits; as were other films.

The ashes of a swashbuckling hero of the British Empire are to be reburied in Israel after a service attended by the country's prime minister. John Henry Patterson was a soldier, big-game hunter and writer, whose exploits inspired three Hollywood movies. The BBC's Kevin Connolly explains why he is so admired in Israel.

The man who was to become a hero to the British and to the Israelis was neither British nor Jewish. Like many servants of the crown in the days of Empire he was an Irishman born in County Longford in 1867 to a Protestant father and Catholic mother. Ireland was then part of the United Kingdom and military service was a popular option for many young Irishmen - partly from a want of other opportunities and partly from a sense of adventure.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30248216

Thats interesting.
But to be pedantic, he was British.:o

An Ri rua

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Thats interesting.
But to be pedantic, he was British.:o

How so? The United Kingdom (Act of Union) was the uniting of 2 Kingdoms, Britain and Ireland. How could an Irish subject of a British monarch be British? They'd be Irish. As this man was. As Northern Irelanders still are today. Legally and any other way. QEII is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Not simply Great Britain.

Now I'm the furthest you can imagine from a royalist; but they are the historical facts. And if you love history, then you must deal with facts.

Richard

An Ri rua wrote: »

How so? The United Kingdom (Act of Union) was the uniting of 2 Kingdoms, Britain and Ireland. How could an Irish subject of a British monarch be British? They'd be Irish. As this man was. As Northern Irelanders still are today. Legally and any other way. QEII is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Not simply Great Britain.

Now I'm the furthest you can imagine from a royalist; but they are the historical facts. And if you love history, then you must deal with facts.

The fact is, people from the UK are British Citizens, whether they like it or not (assuming they meet the criteria). In the past they were British Subjects. Also, everyone from the island of Ireland is Irish (although not all may be Irisg citizens). People were also Irish pre 1922 and pre 1801.

So essentially he was an Irish person with British nationality.

radharc

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Thats interesting.
But to be pedantic, he was British.:o

Lol, talk about bull****.

Ghost Buster

Ireland was part of Great Britain. He was British.

Blind Faith

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Ireland was part of Great Britain. He was British.

By that logic anyone born in Ireland at the time was British . . I think not GB.