THE GHOSTS of the Sun King and the Emperor seemed to hover over the brief ceremony where Lieut Gen Pat Nash yesterday became an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Louis XIV built the Hôtel des Invalides as a hospital for his wounded and ageing soldiers, some of whom were Irish. Napoleon founded an Irish Legion, and created the Legion of Honour to reward those who served the Empire. Though French regimes changed, the honour system survived.
A black statue of the Emperor looked down over the cobble-stoned courtyard where the ceremony took place, a few hundred metres from the golden dome of Les Invalides where Napoleon lies buried. The place speaks of four centuries during which Irish soldiers fought for France. Gen Nash, to whom President Nicolas Sarkozy solemnly intoned, “In the name of the French Republic, we make you an officer of the Legion of Honour”, did not fight but kept the peace, and not for France but for Europe.
Seventy-two mounted horsemen of the Republican Guard stood watch outside, sabres glinting in the late afternoon sun, red plumes quivering in the breeze. Were it not for the silent blue limousine that deposited Mr Sarkozy and the French defence minister at the centre of the courtyard, and the loudspeakers that carried the president’s words, one might have felt transported to military glories of past centuries.
Inside the vast courtyard, lined with bronze cannon, some 500 white-gloved members of the French armed forces stood in formation while the Republican Guard band played reville, La Marseillaise and Marengo. Four officers, all blue and red serge and gold braid, held aloft crimson pillows from which the president took the medals. One by one, Mr Sarkozy stopped before each of 11 officers and pinned the medal on his chest.
But the military would not be the military without hierarchy. Two ancient French heroes came before Gen Nash, both of whom had joined the army in the 1930s, participated in the Second World War liberation of France, fought in Indochina and Algeria. They were promoted to the highest ranks of grand’ croix and grand officier.
It says a great deal about how much France valued Gen Nash’s contribution as the head of the EUfor Chad that he was third of the 11 men honoured yesterday, and accorded the rank of officier, higher than a mere chevalier. “Patrick Nash was particularly committed to making this military operation of the European Union a success, in a complex and sensitive environment,” said the tribute read over the loudspeaker.
Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Dermot Earley and his wife Mary had travelled from Dublin for the ceremony. Other Irishmen have received honours from France, “but not in this form and at this level,” said Gen Earley. “It’s a massive honour for Ireland. It’s absolutely huge.”
Gen Nash had known for several weeks that he would be decorated by Mr Sarkozy. “Today, on parade, was the first time that personally it hit me,” he said. “It is something I will always, always cherish.”