Patrick O'Byrne GCI/4

[Leonidas]

[quote=Graham Boak;53432]Mythical romantic history again, I'm suspect. There were as many Scots on the side of the central government in the suppression of the Highland clans, as there were on the Stuart side. Unless this emigration dates back to Edward 1st? (Athelstan being pre-"Scots" as understood today).

You may be suspect but it is relatively easy to do some research.

http://www.scotland.org/about/histor...ture/1576.html


Scots in Poland

From as far back as the mid 15th century there were Scots trading and settling in Poland. A Scot's Pedlar Pack in Poland, which became a proverbial expression, usually consisted of cloths, woollen goods and linen handkerchiefs. Itinerants also sold tin and ironware such as scissors and knives. Along with the protection offered by King Stephen in the Royal Grant of 1576 a district in Krakow was assigned to Scots immigrants.
Records from 1592 reveal Scots settlers being granted citizenship of Krakow giving their employment as trader or merchant. Payment for being granted citizenship ranged from 12 Polish florins to a musket and gunpowder or an undertaking to marry within a year and a day of acquiring a holding.
By the 1600s there were an estimated 30,000 Scots living in Poland. Many came from Dundee and Aberdeen and could be found in Polish towns from Krakow to Lublin. Settlers from Aberdeenshire were mainly Episcopalians or Catholics, but there were also large numbers of Calvinists. As well as Scottish traders there were also many Scottish soldiers in Poland. In 1656 a number of Scottish Highlanders who were disenchanted with Oliver Cromwell's rule went to Poland in the service of the King of Sweden.
The Scots integrated well and many acquired great wealth. They contributed to many charitable institutions in the host country, but did not forget their homeland; for example, in 1701 when collections were made for the restoration fund of the Marischal College, Aberdeen, the Scottish settlers in Poland gave generously.
Many Royal Grants and privileges were granted to Scottish merchants until the 1700s at which time the settlers began to merge more and more into the native population. Bonnie Prince Charlie was half Polish, being the son of James Edward Stewart and Clementina Sobieska, granddaughter of Jan Sobieski, King of Poland.

[Brian]

Most interesting, Leonidas - thanks!

However, not really relevant to Patrick O'Byrne, methinks!

Cheers all the same
Brian

[Leonidas]

You're right Patrick but I could not refrain from addressing this sub-thread on Scots in Poland :)

With regard to Hugo O'Brien de Lacy...his ancestor was a certain Mary de Lacy, sister of general Count Maurice de Lacy of Grodno (Polish territory occupied by Russia). The general had no children and therefore it was arranged that the husband of his sister Patrick O'Brien would adopt his wife's name or rather extend his own. That is the origin of the family name O'Brien de Lacy (also spelled de Lascy, de Lassy). The general's nephew inherited most of his fortune.

The de Lacy family has Norman roots. Numerous members of this family left Ireland in the 17th century and hence the presence also in Eastern Europe.

Up until 1939 the O'Brien de Lacys owned an estate in Augustówek (now Belarus) - once a gift from Catherine II for general Maurice de Lacy.

http://www.pinakoteka.zascianek.pl/O...Augustowek.jpg


Hugo's father was a lieutenant in the Polish army before the war. Hugo's sister Margaret lives in Warsaw.

I hope this closes up the speculations :)

[Franek Grabowski]

Gents, whatever, it was then believed that there was nothing worse than the Scotts!

[FalkeEins]

...meant to add that his picture was published by Chris Ehrengardt in his 'Pilotes de chasse' tome - tall, thick-set chap, big bushy eyebrows - typical Breton if you ask me..haven't got the book to hand so don't recall what the caption says..

..credited with a Swordfish on 25 Sept 1940 in the aforementioned tome - a photocopied 'compte rendu d'engagement' for the action states that after O'Bryne's first burst from the rear 3/4 and another from ' plein travers', his machine guns jammed and that the Swordfish continued to take evasive action pursued by O'Bryne's wingmen capitaine Gauthrin and lieutenant Minot before it was lost from view...