Waterford author pens book on Waterloo General Sir Denis Pack
A new book on a man who fought at Waterloo and was one of Wellington’s leading generals is to hit the shelves in the coming weeks.
Marcus de la Poer Beresford
They are just side bars when you come down to it and this book, which will be launched in the Book Centre in Kilkenny and also in Waterford in the coming weeks, will delight both the military historian and those interested in local characters who made their mark.
Denis Pack was the son of the Church of Ireland Dean of Ossory and his wife Mary Sullivan, from Cork. He joined the British Army in 1791, and was court martialled for striking a senior officer two years later. Instead of ending his career, he can thank Napoleon and his aggressive moves in Europe for keeping him in the ranks as once the enquiry concluded, he was allowed re-enlist as there was a shortage of officers.
About a third of the ranks of the British Army was from Ireland during those times and Denis went on to serve in Europe, Africa and South America. He also served in Ireland, in the 1798 rebellion, escorting the force of General Humbert to Dublin following their surrender at Ballinamuck.
He served in expeditions to capture Cape Town and Buenos Aires, and was captured in Argentina but managed to escape with then General Beresford. In 1810, he transferred to the Portuguese Army, fighting the Peninsular War notably in the battles of Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Burgos, Vitoria, Orthez and Toulouse.
It was noted that he was injured nine times during his military career, and was praised repeatedly by Wellington and other senior officers. He received more battle honours than any other officer other than Wellington and Beresford during these times.
At Waterloo, he was noted as being Wellington’s ‘most able brigade commander'. In 1815 following Napoleon’s escape from Elba, Pack served again with Wellington leading a brigade at the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. In the thick of fighting in both battles, the brigade suffered serious losses but was never broken.
Following Napoleon’s defeat Pack remained in France until 1818 as part of an occupation force designed to support the restored Bourbon monarchy. During that time he married Elizabeth Beresford from County Waterford.
The couple had four children before Pack died suddenly in July 1823, aged 48 years. On 9 August 1823 the remains of this redoubtable Kilkenny man were laid to rest in Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, where today he is remembered in a beautiful memorial by Sir Francis Chantrey. The inscription gives just a slight glimpse on Pack’s life, but Marcus’ book offers so much more to anyone who either wondered about the story of Denis Pack, or who has an interest in Napoleonic times, 19th century warfare or indeed, the birth of a global empire.
Published by Pen and Sword, and on sale shortly.