"To be perfectly honest, I think a lot of this is a resourcing issue. Source Information Ancestry.com. This meant that the B Specials had to be deployed, although they were not trained or equipped for public order situations. Special Operations Forces: Overview Funct, police. [72] The unsuitability of the use of the B Specials in such situations was clear: "The 'Specials', untrained for such a job, contained no Catholic members, were inevitably regarded as sectarian, and their presence tended to heighten rather than lower tension in Catholic areas. 1, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Belfast no. The Usc was seen as violent, ill-disciplined, and sectarian. Special Constable Thomas Sheridan from Co Cavan was shot dead by a sniper shortly before midnight on Sunday, June 6, 1922. Numbered Memorials A B With each result, you will find an image of the original document held at The National Archives in England and a transcript of the vital details. [62] On 2 May 1922, in revenge for the IRA killing of six policemen in counties Londonderry and Tyrone, Special Constables killed nine Catholic civilians in the area. "I can see why there would be concerns, even 100 years on. Details of their push for more official information was first revealed by the Guardian newspaper. Clerical staff: record of service and salaries. His investigation uncovers a rarely exposed facet of the Irish revolution. [26] A number of the newly appointed Special Constables (by the Lisburn Urban Council) had been charged with rioting and looting committed over three days and nights following the assassination RIC Inspector Oswald Swanzy. The USC consisted of 32,000 men divided into four sections, all of whom were armed: The units were organised on military lines up to company level. An eight-strong panel of academics was set up last year to advise the government on centenary matters. The 191921 Irish War of Independence, saw the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launch a guerrilla campaign in pursuit of Irish independence. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. . Most of these (72) were killed in conflict with the IRA in 1921 and 1922. Read about our approach to external linking. They witnessed the Great Famine, land wars, the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, and the beginning of the Irish Civil War. "[84], Cameron recommended that the purposes of the USC as a reserve civilian police force, as well as a counter-insurgency reserve, be properly made known in recruitment and training so that it would be more attractive to Catholics. The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. [77] However, on 14 August they did not hold back Protestants who attacked the Catholic Dover and Percy streets in the Falls/Divis district, and instead "fought back" Catholics there. WebEnglish: The badge of the Ulster Special Constabulary; a former quasi-military reserve police force in Northern Ireland. There are a small number of pension records within this collection. [52], The renewed IRA campaign involved attacking barracks, burning commercial buildings and making a large-scale incursion into Northern Ireland, occupying Belleek and Pettigo in MayJune, which was repulsed after heavy fighting, including British use of artillery on 8 June. Records are from the following municipalities: West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910, West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812, West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Provided in association with West Yorkshire Archive Service. border: 1px solid #CCC; (A small portion of East Donegal was ultimately included in the new Northern Ireland state.) 1, Records and services, auxiliary division, journal no. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. [69] Historian Tim Pat Coogan said of the USC, "The B Specials were the rock on which any mass movement by the IRA in the North has inevitably floundered. Any views expressed in message boards and members notes represent the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions of Findmypast Limited. The journals recorded the names of members as well as their company, dates of appointment and promotion, and details about whether the member stayed in the hospital at any point. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. There are a small number of pension records unavailable online covering pensions awarded in the final few years of the RICs existence: 1. WebThe Ulster Special Constabulary Association (USCA) was a loyalist group active in Northern Ireland during the early 1970s.The group was established following the dissolution of the Ulster Special Constabulary (commonly known as the B Specials) and operated with a semi-paramilitary structure. Seven teams took part. [23] There was an immediate and illicit supply of arms available; especially from the Ulster Volunteers. Fifteen files documenting pensions and allowances awarded to RIC members and their dependents, including those who served as temporary const [15] Following the death of a Special Constable near Newry on 8 June 1921, it was alleged that Specials and an armed mob were involved in the burning of 161 Catholic homes and the death of 10 Catholics. His recommendations included:[7], The Ulster Special Constabulary was disbanded in May 1970. This was despite the Craig-Collins Agreement which was signed by the leaders of Northern Ireland and the Free State on 30 March, and envisaged the end of IRA activity and a reduced role for the USC. As a reserve police force, they were used in times of emergency such as the Other types of records you will find in this collection include, Chief of police department: staff and administration, correspondence, Conferring of the title `Royal Irish Constabulary': programme of ceremony (incomplete), Dublin Metropolitan Police-D division. privacy policy, Government (local) > Police authorities and forces, GB/NNAF/C80506 (Former ISAAR ref: GB/NNAF/O43623 ). Together, the records will help to provide an overview of your ancestors career in the force. [27], Unsuccessful efforts were made to attract more Catholics into the force but these largely failed. [46] By the 1960s Sten and Sterling submachine guns were also used. [34], By July 1921, more than 3,500 A Specials had been enrolled, and almost 16,000 B Specials. Softcover. A spokesperson said: "Proni will scope the cataloguing and sensitivity review of the administrative records of the USC for the 1920s. [67], The Special Constabulary were called out during the 12 July period in Belfast in 1931 after sectarian rioting broke out. The force trained at Phoenix Park Depot. The disbandment registers were created in 1922 when the Royal Irish Constabulary was disbanded The lists recorded the staff members birth date, age at appointment, rank (such as junior or senior clerk), and department. Born 31 January 1902 at Quintin near Portaferry County Down to John and Margaret Chermside nee McCormick at 10 Newcastle, Quintin County Down.. Irish 1911 census with his parents and siblings at 5 Newcastle, Quintin County Down. [20], In April 1920, Captain Sir Basil Brooke (future Prime Minister of Northern Ireland), had set up "Fermanagh Vigilance", a vigilante group to provide defence against incursions by the IRA. In 1829, Robert Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Act which established the Metropolitan Police in London. With police and troops being drawn towards combating insurgency in the south and west, Unionists wanted a force that would be dedicated to taking on the IRA. "The Irish government has put considerable money into funding the release of archives relating to pensions that were given to 1916 veterans and people like that.". } 1, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Gormanston no. This record is held by Bedfordshire Archives. Superintendents journal and letter book, RIC acts (two copies, one with amendments to 1918), Statement on behalf of the officers commenting on Part 1 of the Report of the Committee on the Police Services in England, Wales, and Scotland, Veterans' division: temporary constables, drivers, fitters. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Listen to the latest Year '21 podcast on BBC Sounds or catch-up on previous episodes. A total of 300 Special Constables were also mobilised into the RUC during the disturbances. In Dungannon, they killed one and wounded two. [30], Scarman concluded in his report on the civil disturbance in the region in 1969 that: "Undoubtedly mistakes were made and certain individual officers acted wrongly on occasions. font-size: 12px; Forty-nine Special Constables were killed during the period of the "Border War", out of a total of eighty-one British forces killed in Northern Ireland. border: 1px solid #CCC; Historians advising the government on how to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland have requested access to secret official files from the early 1920s. [14][16], On 1 November 1920, the scheme was officially announced by the British government. Unionists in Ireland's northeast were vehemently against this campaign and against Irish independence. Ulster County, N.Y. probate During the Irish War of Independence, RIC barracks were the targets of frequent attacks from the Irish Republican Army. ." ." Sold for. The Anglo-Irish Treaty had agreed the partition of Ireland, between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. WebUlster Special Constabulary 1:49 Milltown Accordion Band @ Mid Antrim Ulster Special Constabulary Sunday Service 2017 (1) 0:58 Milltown Accordion Band @ Mid Antrim Ulster Special Constabulary Sunday Service 2017 (5) 2:00 Milltown Accordion Band @ Mid Antrim Ulster Special Constabulary Sunday Service 2017 (3) 1:40 In 1970 the security of Northern Ireland became the responsibility of the RUC, the British army, and the Ulster Defence In some cases, the records list the marital status, names of spouses, and birth dates and places. One is the correspondence registers which contain lists of members names who paid into the fund with notes regarding whether the person had been pensioned, died, or received any rewards from the fund. The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so dont be shy about asking for help. [3], The force was almost exclusively Ulster Protestant and as a result was viewed with great mistrust by Catholics. It was founded on 1 June 1922 as a successor to the Royal William was killed in Action when involved in Air Operations at Banja Luka, Yugoslavia on 18th August 1944 when he was 24 years old. These mostly consist of nominal rolls, which recorded the members service number, rank, dispersed date, and company name. Read about our approach to external linking. The C1 category was formed in late 1921, incorporating the various local unionist militias such as the, This page was last edited on 28 April 2023, at 09:23. The Centenary Historical Advisory Panel is chaired by Queen's University historian Professor Paul Bew and includes academics from Cambridge University, Sheffield University and Ulster University. USC Memorial dedicated in Ballymena. [56], During the Second World War, the USC was mobilised to serve in Britain's Home Guard, which unusually, was put under the command of the police rather than the British Army.[68]. Arising out the disturbances, the British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced that the B Specials would be "phased out of their current role". [17][18][19], The composition of the USC was overwhelmingly Protestant and Unionist, for a number of reasons. "Ulster Special Constabulary This Friday, local historian David Keys will launch his latest book, 'Duty Bound', which collates information on the Special Constabulary/Ulster Special Constabulary (UFC), commonly called 'the B-Specials'. [88] Initially, the Regiment had 4,000 members who worked part-time while the new special constabulary, the RUC Reserve which replaced the B-Specials, initially consisted of 1,500 members.[89][90][91]. Can anyone tell me where the records are held for the Ulster Special Constabulary a part time unit of the Royal Ulster Constabulary founded WebSpecial Constabulary. (April 27, 2023). The entries include the individuals birth date, native county, religion, previous occupation, date of appointment, and promotions, as well as any rewards or punishments received and the date of pension or the date of discharge. The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC; commonly called the "B-Specials" or "B Men") was a quasi-military[1] reserve special constable police force in what would later become Northern Ireland. WebThe Royal Ulster Constabulary (also known as the RUC) was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. There are special reports on the major figures of the time and the events that shaped modern Ireland available at bbc.co.uk/ni100. Kind regards, Pierce Peter Mc 5,696 2,385 35 Inspector General Jan 27, 2020 #2 Names re-posted for [71] The General Officer Commanding of the British Army in Northern Ireland refused to allow the Army to become involved until the Belfast administration has used "all the forces at its disposal". In addition they were to prevent border incursion, smuggling of arms and escape of fugitives. 12481277), https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ulster-special-constabulary, Royal Ulster Constabulary (including Specials), Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security. Royal Ulster Constabulary, 11 April 1975 Read More. However, the date of retrieval is often important. The index provides names of new recruits, their dates of appointment and arrival, and their company. The regular Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) took over normal policing duties. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. This information will help us make improvements to the website. You will also find division journals. To access the records held here you will either need to visit us, pay for research ( charges apply) or, where you can identify a specific record reference, order a copy ( charges apply ). But the general case of a partisan force co-operating with Protestant mobs to attack Catholic people is devoid of substance, and we reject it utterly. The officers registers are similar to the general registers. These register books recorded the constables service history. In 1922, B Specials received two weeks training and A Specials were initially given six weeks training. [79], The USC shot and wounded a number of people in Dungiven and Coalisland. The Ulster Special Constabulary was disbanded in May 1970. - A pamphlet published by the Ulster Special These "Special Constables" will be nothing more and nothing less than the dregs of the Orange lodges, armed and equipped to overawe Nationalists and Catholics, and with a special object and special facilities and special inclination to invent 'crimes' against Nationalists and Catholics they are the very classes whom an upright Government would try to keep powerless Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet in the official History of the Ulster Special Constabulary,[42] contended that "Sinn Fein regarded the Specials as an excuse for arming the Orangemen and an act even more atrocious than the creation of the 'Black and Tans'! During its existence, 95 USC members were killed in the line of duty. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The use of Specials to reinforce the RIC also allowed for the re-opening of over 20 barracks in rural areas which had previously been abandoned because of IRA attacks. Badges of rank were displayed on the right forearm of the jacket.[45]. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. "The Public Record Office staff are doing amazing work but I think it's fair to suggest that they need additional resources to be able to complete this.". "[73] In August 1969 the IRA Chief of Staff Cathal Goulding issued a statement saying that his men were deployed in Belfast in a defensive capacity protecting Catholics who had been "terrorized by mobs backed by armed B-Specials." font-weight: bold; A member of the advisory panel, Dr Marie Coleman from Queen's University, said gaining access to all of the files from the 1920s would help to tell the story of Northern Ireland in greater detail. ballymenaguardian.co.uk When you find one record for your ancestor, document his service number and use it to search all the records. For years Britons resisted having a proper police force, because they associated it with repression, especially of the French kind. The British Government commissioned three reports into the policing response to the 1969 riots. It wasn't until the County and Borough Police Act of 1856 that it became compulsory for municipalities to establish a police force. The article explains the continuities between the revolutionary Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Special Constabulary with an overview of the constabulary's establishment in 1920. [14] Wilfrid Spender, the former UVF quartermaster in 191314, and by now a decorated war veteran, was appointed by Craig to form and run the USC. All site material is owned by Findmypast Limited and should not be used without prior permission. [citation needed], Nationalists pointed out that the composition of the USC was overwhelmingly Protestant and loyal, claiming the government was arming Protestants to attack Catholics. [i][38], Wilson warned the formation of a partisan constabulary "would mean; taking sides, civil war and savage reprisals. The IRA called off their campaign in February 1962. The RUC had a paramilitary character until 1970, when the force was remodeled along the lines of police forces in Great Britain. [81], He found some evidence of cross-membership of the USC and loyalist paramilitary organisations. B Specials generally deployed on foot but could be supplied with vehicles from the police pool. "[80], When Jack Lynch, the Taoiseach of Ireland, moved Irish Army troops up to the border in response to the rioting, platoons of Specials were deployed to guard border police stations.[72]. Uniforms did not become available until 1922. The districts were based on the existing RIC divisions. Last post The Royal Irish Constabulary Band, 1861 - 1922 by Hughm862 2:49 PM - Feb 20 Memorials to the Irish Police Memorials and graves as genealogical and historical research tools. [47] The cost of maintaining the USC in 192122 was 1,500,000. They also took over the responsibility of the Revenue Police to enforce the laws of whiskey production. There had been serious rioting between Catholics and Protestants in Derry in May and June and in Belfast in July, which had left up to 40 people dead. In Northern Ireland, the police force became the Royal Ulster Constabulary. At a 2 September 1920 meeting of government Ministers in London Craig said that the loyal population was losing faith in the government's ability to protect them and that loyalist paramilitary groups threatened, in the words of Craig, "a recourse to arms, which would precipitate civil war". Formed as an auxiliary armed police force by the new Northern Irish government, the Ulster Specials in 1922 consisted of A fulltime, B parttime, C reserve with 5,500, 19,000, and 7,500 members respectively. WebThe RIC Roll has been developed as an online resource and research tool, to facilitate the study of the War of Independence. If so, you should search for your ancestor in the Ireland, Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions 1826-1925 available in the Useful links and resources section. WebUlster Special Constabulary: award of Long Service Medal to those narrowly failing to qualify on disbandment. [49] However, the force was remobilised in November 1921, after security powers were transferred from London to the Northern Ireland Government. The other three counties (Donegal, Monaghan, and Cavan) had disproportionately Catholic and nationalist majorities and would become part of the Irish Free State. WebIn pictures - Ulster Special Constabulary Association unveil Ballymena memorial. The collection contains a variety of records related to the administration of the Royal Irish Constabulary. . Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ulster-special-constabulary. [1] It initially began as a series of unrelated small groups of https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/our-history/police-museum/. "[70] Six RUC and eleven IRA men (but no Special Constables) were killed in this campaign. You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members. WebThese records list the names of the clerical staff who worked for the Royal Irish Constabulary. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Platoon of Newtownbutler "A" Special Constabulary, under the command of Major Parkinson-Cummine and Captain Dunne (seated in centre). The USC continued to do duties for a month after the formation of the UDR and RUC Reserve to give both of the new forces time to consolidate. .tableizer-table td { Below are some of the details you will find in the various records. WebRoyal Irish Constabulary Service Records 1816-1922 also contains a variety of additional documents that record details of the Forces daily operations. Posting here for interest. [83], The Hon Justice Scarman, in his report on the rioting, was critical of the RUC's senior officers and of the way the B Specials were deployed into areas of civil disturbance which they had no training to deal with, which in some occasions led to a worsening of the situation. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), the Belfast Borough Police Force and the Derry Borough Police Force (known colloquially as the "Derry City Force" - a name which stayed for many years). Sir John Cameron was requested to submit a report on the disturbances in Northern Ireland. Encyclopedia.com. Scarman concluded that it would have been very difficult for Catholics to gain membership in 1969, even if they had applied to join. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; You will also discover the persons salary. Hunt concluded that the perceived bias of the Special Constabulary, whether true or not, had to be addressed. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. It had been hoped that UK constabularies would take many on but, apart from the Northern Irelands new Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) which had enrolled 1,347 ex-RIC by October 1922 (including over 250 Black and Tans and Auxiliaries), they displayed a marked disinclination to recruit former members of a by then internationally notorious Their conduct towards the Catholic population was criticised on a number of occasions. [15], The idea of a volunteer police force in the north appealed to British Prime Minister David Lloyd George for several practical reasons; it freed up the RIC and military for use elsewhere in Ireland, it was cheap, and it did not need new legislation. We can search for individuals and supply their service record at a charge of 25 per search. September 2004, Can anyone tell me where the records are held for the Ulster Special Constabulary a part time unit of the Royal Ulster Constabulary founded 1920 and disbanded 1970. The police force of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), came into existence on 1 June 1922 upon the disbandment of the Royal Irish WebThe Special Constabulary Long Service Medal is a long service medal awarded in the United Kingdom to members of the Special Constabulary who have completed a specified period of service. .tableizer-table th { WebThe Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) is a fundamental institution in Northern Irelands history. [4][5] Unionists generally supported the USC as contributing to the defence of Northern Ireland from subversion and outside aggression. CAIN: 'Why?' Of the remainder, most died in accidents but two former officers were killed during the Troubles in the 1980s. By 1922 recruiting had swelled the numbers to: 5,500 A Specials, 19,000 B Specials and 7,500 C1 Specials. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way. WebUlster Special Constabulary memorial. UVF units were "incorporated en masse" into the new USC. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (Proni) is governed by the Department for Communities. On 30 April 1970, the USC was finally stood down, as a result of the Hunt Committee Report. Special Constabulary Acts had been enacted in 1832 and 1914, meaning that the administration in Dublin Castle only had to use existing laws to create it. This data collection contains images of Church of England baptism, marriage, and burial records in registers from parishes in the West Yorkshire area of England for the years 15121812. The Anglo-Irish treaty ended the war on 6 December 1921 and the Irish Free State was established in January 1922. The Royal Irish Constabulary was established as a peace-keeping force dedicated to the detection and prevention of crime throughout Ireland. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects. "[43], The standard of training was varied. Northern Ireland was created in 1921 after Ireland was partitioned. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Constabulary Force Funds "[37][39] John Anderson, the Under Secretary for Ireland (head of the British Administration in Dublin) shared his fears, "you cannot, in the middle of a faction fight, recognise one of the contending parties and expect it to deal with disorder in the spirit of impartiality and fairness essential in those who have to carry out the order of the Government.