Originally posted by jembo
The 'bionic' Irish soldier who fought and spied for Russia
A decade on from the launch of Russia Today, we’ve opened our digital hub in Dublin, Ireland. In part one of our series about Russian-Irish connections, journalists Luke Holohan and Jonny Walls look at warriors from the Emerald Isle who fought for the Russian people.
Russia is known for its hardened fighters, but buried deep in the annals of history is the story of an Irishman who became the Tsarina’s first bionic soldier.
Dating back to the 1700s, Russia’s military success has been inspired by the “Fightin’ Irish”.
Limerick man Peter Edmund Lacy, aka Pyotr Petrovich, perfected marksmanship in the Russian army and Joseph Cornelius O’Rourke helped to end Napoleon’s hold over Eastern Europe.
Yet it is George Browne’s epic journey through slavery, espionage, and blood-drenched battlefields during the 18th century which stands out.
George Browne 1698-1792
“He had a fascinating life - we’re talking Hollywood movie,” explains Dr Eamonn O’Ciardha, a visiting professor at the University of Vienna.
Browne, described as a soldier of fortune, left his native Ireland for mainland Europe in the 1720s as part of the Flight of the Wild Geese and there he distinguished himself as a major-general in the Russian army.
Captured during fierce fighting to oust the Turks from Crotska, a region near modern day Serbia, he pretended to be a low ranking officer to avoid being held for a heavy ransom or executed.
In captivity, it is said he managed to gain access to Ottoman Empire secrets, which he eventually relayed back to Russia on his release.
“He was captured and held as a slave in Istanbul by the Ottomans, Russia’s great enemies. He was basically bought by a French ambassador and then released,” says O’Ciardha, who specializes in 17th and 18th century Irish history. “He supposedly walked from Constantinople to St Petersburg… [and] he’s alleged to have been privy to military secrets which he gave to the empress on his arrival back in Russia.”
O’Ciardha believes George Browne could be the original bionic soldier after part of his skull was blown off in battle. Rather than debilitating him, the vicious wound struck fear into his enemies.
“He was hit with either a bullet or a shell and they inserted a brass piece, I suppose as a sort of protection to part of his brain - his external membrane might have been exposed. He was probably the first bionic soldier in the 18th century, but it didn’t seem to affect his military career,” says O’Ciardha.
“There is well documented evidence of soldiers tearing off their shirts on the battlefield to show off war wounds - Browne didn’t have to do that,” he adds.
https://www.rt.com/news/325260-bioni...ne-napoleonic/
A decade on from the launch of Russia Today, we’ve opened our digital hub in Dublin, Ireland. In part one of our series about Russian-Irish connections, journalists Luke Holohan and Jonny Walls look at warriors from the Emerald Isle who fought for the Russian people.
Russia is known for its hardened fighters, but buried deep in the annals of history is the story of an Irishman who became the Tsarina’s first bionic soldier.
Dating back to the 1700s, Russia’s military success has been inspired by the “Fightin’ Irish”.
Limerick man Peter Edmund Lacy, aka Pyotr Petrovich, perfected marksmanship in the Russian army and Joseph Cornelius O’Rourke helped to end Napoleon’s hold over Eastern Europe.
Yet it is George Browne’s epic journey through slavery, espionage, and blood-drenched battlefields during the 18th century which stands out.
George Browne 1698-1792
“He had a fascinating life - we’re talking Hollywood movie,” explains Dr Eamonn O’Ciardha, a visiting professor at the University of Vienna.
Browne, described as a soldier of fortune, left his native Ireland for mainland Europe in the 1720s as part of the Flight of the Wild Geese and there he distinguished himself as a major-general in the Russian army.
Captured during fierce fighting to oust the Turks from Crotska, a region near modern day Serbia, he pretended to be a low ranking officer to avoid being held for a heavy ransom or executed.
In captivity, it is said he managed to gain access to Ottoman Empire secrets, which he eventually relayed back to Russia on his release.
“He was captured and held as a slave in Istanbul by the Ottomans, Russia’s great enemies. He was basically bought by a French ambassador and then released,” says O’Ciardha, who specializes in 17th and 18th century Irish history. “He supposedly walked from Constantinople to St Petersburg… [and] he’s alleged to have been privy to military secrets which he gave to the empress on his arrival back in Russia.”
O’Ciardha believes George Browne could be the original bionic soldier after part of his skull was blown off in battle. Rather than debilitating him, the vicious wound struck fear into his enemies.
“He was hit with either a bullet or a shell and they inserted a brass piece, I suppose as a sort of protection to part of his brain - his external membrane might have been exposed. He was probably the first bionic soldier in the 18th century, but it didn’t seem to affect his military career,” says O’Ciardha.
“There is well documented evidence of soldiers tearing off their shirts on the battlefield to show off war wounds - Browne didn’t have to do that,” he adds.
https://www.rt.com/news/325260-bioni...ne-napoleonic/
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