Tuesday Tidbit: Duke of York and Albany

Frederick Augustus (1763–1827), Duke of York, 

Reviewing Troops in Flanders, by William Anderson

In Smuggler's Captain, Captain James St. Clair is under the Duke of York's command. There's a very specific reason for this! Well, several. One, I need James to be flexible for the stories and being in the army during war didn't offer that flexibility.

Two, The Duke of York and Albany (Frederick Augustus, the 2nd son of George III) was responsible for the British Army reformation. Which was fascinating reading! Also, there's a cool jingle about the duke's failure in Flanders, which is what caused him to reform the army.

Apparently, it's a nursey rhyme. 

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

When they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down
The Grand Old Duke of York - Wikipedia

Flanders Campaign 1793-1795 | Napoleonic (british-history.co.uk)

Flanders campaign - Wikipedia