He praised the Specials where he felt it was due. The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC; commonly called the "B-Specials" or "B Men") was a quasi-military reserve special constable police force in Northern The Ulster Special Constabulary was set up in 1920 and dissolved in 1970 "Proni will scope the cataloguing and sensitivity review of the administrative records of the USC for the 1920s. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Fifteen files documenting pensions and allowances awarded to RIC members and their dependents, including those who served as temporary const 1, Records and services, auxiliary division, journal no. 2, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Carlow, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Cavan, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Clare, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Cork (ER), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Cork (WR), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Depot, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Down, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Dublin, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Dublin Castle Clerical Company, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Dublin Castle Guard Company, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Fermanagh, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Galway (Eastern Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Galway (Western Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Gormanston, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Kerry, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Kildare, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Kilkenny, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Kings County, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Leitrim, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Limerick, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Londonderry, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Longford, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Louth, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Mayp, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Meath, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Monaghan, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Queens County, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Roscommon, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Sligo, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Tipperary (Northern Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Tipperary (Southern Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Tyrone, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Waterford, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Westmeath, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Wexford, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, Wickford, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, Irish recruits, miscellaneous no. [65], Assessments of the USC's role in this conflict vary. In Northern Ireland, the police force became the Royal Ulster Constabulary. 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. 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. Formed as an auxiliary armed police force by the new Northern Irish government, the Ulster Specials in 1922 consisted of A full-time, B UVF units were "incorporated en masse" into the new USC. A second reason was that violence in the north was increasing after the summer of 1920. The Royal Irish Constabulary Forum-Ulster Special Constabulary The Royal Irish Constabulary Roll - A roll of all members However, once it became apparent that the British government was committed to implementing Dominion Status for all of Ireland outside Ulster in response to Sinn Fein's demands, which were far more radical than those of the defunct Irish Parliamentary Party, Unionists in most of the province of Ulster directed their energies into the partition of Ireland by the creation of Northern Ireland as an autonomous region in the United Kingdom. Each record for your Royal Irish Constabulary ancestor recorded his service number. It carried out several revenge killings and reprisals against Catholic civilians in the 192022 conflict. CAIN: 'Why?' - A pamphlet published by the Ulster Special privacy policy, Government (local) > Police authorities and forces, GB/NNAF/C80506 (Former ISAAR ref: GB/NNAF/O43623 ). The other three counties (Donegal, Monaghan, and Cavan) had disproportionately Catholic and nationalist majorities and would become part of the Irish Free State. margin: 3px; Another 8 died during the Second World War, in air raids or IRA attacks. [92] An Ulster Special Constabulary Association was also set up soon after the disbandment. Find your military ancestors at Forces War Records First Name Surname If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Web2.1 Ulster Special Constabulary 2.2 Royal Ulster Constabulary. By Michael C. Rast. WebThis collection includes a wide variety of registers that recorded appointments of regular and special constables, promotions, disciplinary actions, transfers, lists of applicants, injuries They sought to magnify and distort every incident and to stir up hatred of the force even before it started to function. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. WebSpecial police constable ww2 records?? Historians cannot overstate its influence within Ulster unionist politics, society and culture during the early years of partition. Special Operations Forces: Overview Funct, police. The formation of the Ulster Special Constabulary was therefore announced on 22 October 1920. On the disbandment of the USC, many of its members joined the newly established Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), the part-time security force which replaced the B Specials. 3 Police-Community Relations. It has been argued that their failure to deal with the 1969 disturbances was due to a failure on behalf of the Northern Ireland government to modernise their equipment, weaponry, training and approach to the job. [25] A number of these groups were absorbed into the new Ulster Special Constabulary. We can search for individuals and supply their service record at a charge of 25 per search. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. 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. 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'! [46] By the 1960s Sten and Sterling submachine guns were also used. "[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." "[13] He recommended that "the organisation of the Ulster Volunteers (UVF), (the unionist militia formed in 1912) should be used for this purpose". Ulster Special Constabulary February 2006, Might be worth contacting the address given here, they may be able to advise?https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/our-history/police-museum/Police MuseumPolice Service of Northern Ireland HeadquartersBrooklyn65 Knock RoadBelfastBT5 6LETelephone: 101 Non Emergency Number - extension 22499Email: museum@psni.police.uk. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal - Wikipedia 2, Returns, nominal returns, arranged by counties, Miscellanea, intelligence notes, M series: 36-40, Miscellanea, RIC acts (two copies, one with amendments to 1918), Miscellanea, conferring of the title 'Royal Irish Constabulary': program of ceremony (incomplete), Miscellanea, 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, Miscellanea, Dublin metropolitan police-D division, superintendents journal and letter book, Miscellanea, transport code: first edition, Miscellanea, recovery of old firearms: Ballincollig, Miscellanea, recovery of old firearms: Carrickfergus, Miscellanea, staff, head constables: list of 'good' men, Miscellanea, staff, veterans' division: temporary constables, drivers, fitters, Miscellanea, staff, clerical staff: record of service and salaries, Miscellanea, staff, chief of police department: staff and administration, correspondence, Miscellanea, constabulary code, fourth edition, Miscellanea, constabulary code, fifth edition, Miscellanea, constabulary code, sixth edition, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Antrim, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Belfast, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Carlow, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Cavan, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Clare, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Cork (Eastern Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Cork (Western Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Depot, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Donegal, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Down, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Dublin, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Fermanagh, Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Galway (Eastern Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Galway (Western Region), Disbandment register (1922) treasury sheets, British recruits, Gormanston no. 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 By incorporating the former UVF into the USC as the C1 Specials, the Belfast government had created a mobile reserve of at least two brigades of experienced troops in addition to the A and B Classes who, between them, made up at least another operational infantry brigade, which could be used in the event of further hostilities,[51] and were in early 1922. Special Constable Thomas Sheridan from Co Cavan was shot dead by a sniper shortly before midnight on Sunday, June 6, 1922. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The lists recorded the individuals number, rank, name, religion, date of appointment, marital status, and station location. The Ulster Special Constabulary was disbanded in May 1970. Ulster Special Constabulary, Coleraine | The National The B Specials were tasked to relieve the RUC from normal duties, to allow them and the British Army to deal with the disturbances. [35], From the outset, the formation of the USC came in for widespread criticism, mostly from Irish nationalists and the Dublin government but also from some elements of the British military and administrative establishment in Ireland[clarification needed] and in the British press, which saw the USC as a potentially divisive and sectarian force. The NICRA called for protests elsewhere to support those in Derry, leading to the violence spreading throughout Northern Ireland, especially in Belfast. 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. 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. You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members. This did free up regular policemen who were generally more acceptable to most Ulster Catholics. border: 1px solid #CCC; Their conduct towards the Catholic population was criticised on a number of occasions. She added: "We know that there are personnel records relating to the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC). "There are a lot of ethical issues regarding the release of them.". His investigation uncovers a rarely exposed facet of the Irish revolution. In the final handover to the Ulster Defence Regiment, the B Specials had to surrender their weapons and uniforms. after the creation of the Free Irish State. [3], The force was almost exclusively Ulster Protestant and as a result was viewed with great mistrust by Catholics. It will list every known member of the RIC who served, [53][54][55], The British Army was only used in the Pettigo and Belleek actions. Did you find your ancestor in the disbandment registers? Royal Ulster Constabulary, 11 April 1975 Read More. Records in this collection show dates from before the creation of the constabulary force. 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). 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. Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth. 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 British Government has accepted the recommendations of the Hunt committee on policing in Northern Ireland which include the abolition of the Ulster Special Constabulary, know as the 'B Specials'. Ruc Royal Ulster Constabulary Boxed Service Medal N Ireland Irish Police. These records list the names of the clerical staff who worked for the Royal Irish Constabulary. Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), state police force in Northern Ireland, established in 1922. The RUC had a paramilitary character until 1970, when the force was remodeled along the lines of police forces in Great Britain. Royal Irish Constabulary Service Records 1816-1922 Specialized police force of Northern Ireland, Training, uniform, weaponry and equipment, Wilson wrote, "To arm those "Black men" in the north without putting them under discipline is to invite trouble.". Brooke was impacted personally. William was the Son of Robert J. McDermott and Isabella McDermott of 14 Albert Street,Londonderry. Please also include a legible copy of your identification with the form. Together, the records will help to provide an overview of your ancestors career in the force. Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ulster-special-constabulary. [64] Collins continued to arrange the supply of arms covertly to the Northern IRA until shortly before his death in August 1922. The oldest - "Guns in Ulster" has a publishing date of 1967 but it is a record of the formation of the USC from 1921 until the mid 60s. WebLisburn won the Ulster Special Constabulary (South Antrim District) Cup for rifle shooting at Langford Lodge, Crumlin, on Saturday, scoring 297 points. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. These include correspondences, intelligence notes, programmes of ceremony, constabulary codes and lists of good men to name but a few. "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.". "The activities of the USC are contested, shall we say, and people today might have concerns that they wouldn't want their ancestors' file open to the public, but there should be no concern about that. See The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920-1922) and Timeline of the Irish War of Independence. Ulster Special Constabulary Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Clerical staff: record of service and salaries. ." 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. Schutzstaffel, abbreviated as SS, literally means "protective guard." George Clark Police Constable, Metropolitan Police, 29 June 1846 Admiralty Civil Police, 16 January 1950 Read More. The regular Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) took over normal policing duties. The lists recorded the staff members birth date, age at appointment, rank (such as junior or senior clerk), and department. Special Operations Forces OverviewArmy Special ForcesNavy SEALsMarine Special UnitsAir Force Special Forces Source Information Ancestry.com. The IRA began extending attacks to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), RIC barracks, and revenue offices in Northern Ireland. This list of chief constables was created during the first year of the Royal Irish Constabulary. To browse this image set, select from the options below. In addition they were to prevent border incursion, smuggling of arms and escape of fugitives. They witnessed the Great Famine, land wars, the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, and the beginning of the Irish Civil War. On 30 April 1970, the USC was finally stood down, as a result of the Hunt Committee Report. .tableizer-table td { She added: "We see this decade of centenaries as an opportunity to unearth documents which up until now maybe might not have been considered as relevant or had not been in the priority for archives to be released. These registers also provide records of transfers and dates, favourable and unfavourable records, and dates of promotions, as well as indicating if the officer served in the army or navy. [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. . Any marked with an asterisk are for chief constables of the 2nd class. The Oxford Companion to British History. The remarks column explains if the recruit resigned or was dismissed, as well as where they were stationed. [74], The two main centres of disturbance were in Belfast and Derry. The Irish Constabulary was created in 1836 and given its royal title in 1867 by Queen Victoria, becoming the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Special police Dr Coleman said the centenary was an opportunity to "ensure that we get full access to the historical record relating to the establishment of Northern Ireland". Unionists in Ireland's northeast were vehemently against this campaign and against Irish independence. Ulster County, N.Y. probate records in the office of the surrogate, a century on, slain Catholic Posting here for interest. font-size: 12px; [67], The Special Constabulary were called out during the 12 July period in Belfast in 1931 after sectarian rioting broke out. These register books recorded the constables service history. "We don't need personal names but we would still get a sense of age, location, religious background and things like that. This collection includes a wide variety of registers that recorded appointments of regular and special constables, promotions, disciplinary actions, transfers, lists of applicants, injuries sustained in the line of duty, and physical descriptions. Their pogrom is to be made less difficult. The RIC constables found within these records were employed during contentious years in Irish history. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. The BBC News NI website has a dedicated section marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of Northern Ireland and partition of the island. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Between 1956 and 1962, the Special Constabulary was again mobilised to combat a guerilla campaign launched by the IRA. [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. WebSpecial Constabulary. In most cases these weapons were retained at home by the constables along with a quantity of ammunition. It has been argued that their failure to deal with the 1969 disturbances was due to a failure on behalf of the Northern Ireland government to modernise their equipment, weaponry, training and approach to the job.[86]. Northern Ireland had been destabilised by disturbances arising out of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association's agitation for equal rights for Catholics. [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. [79], The USC shot and wounded a number of people in Dungiven and Coalisland. Sold for. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Due to a decrease in members for reasons of death, injury, low recruitment, and resignation, the British government dispatched auxiliary forces of ex-servicemen to make up the numbers. Other B Specials joined the new Part Time Reserve of the RUC. You will also discover the persons salary. Scarman concluded that it would have been very difficult for Catholics to gain membership in 1969, even if they had applied to join. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ulster-special-constabulary, "Ulster Special Constabulary WebUlster Special Constabulary memorial. Year '21: You can also explore how Northern Ireland was created a hundred years ago in the company of Tara Mills and Declan Harvey. The 191921 Irish War of Independence, saw the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launch a guerrilla campaign in pursuit of Irish independence. His son had been a kidnap victim.