Ulster Defence Volunteers
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Defence Volunteers (UDV) and later the Ulster Home Guard were a force recruited by the Government of Northern Ireland
to perform the role of the Home Guard in Northern Ireland
during World War II
. The UDV was recruited following the formation of the Home Guard in Britain around May 1940.
Due to concerns about the possibility of inadvertently training Irish republicans, the UDV was formed from members of the Ulster Special Constabulary
(USC) (also known as the 'B' Specials during the period) rather than volunteers from all sections of the community as in the rest of the United Kingdom
, James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
, told his cabinet in May 1940 before a force like the Home Guard could take place, problems had to be addressed;
The grave objections Craigavon spoke about were the opportunities that a British style Home Guard might have afforded Roman Catholics to legally carry weapons. The view of then Northern Ireland Minister of Public Security John MacDermott
was that:
Craigavon sought advice about a local version of a regional defence force, from his old friend and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
on 23 May 1940. Churchill had confided to his friend Richard Pim after the retreat from Dunkirk that the 'B' Specials were the only properly armed and disciplined force left in the United Kingdom
. He gave Craigavon the go ahead to recruit the force. On his return to Northern Ireland, Craigavon, who died six months later, was able to tell his cabinet that Churchill recognised;
'B' Specials on 28 May 1940. The UDV members were recruited by the Government of Northern Ireland and the force was not under the control of the British Army
in Northern Ireland (BTNI). Unlike in Britain, where the Home Guard were administered through their county Territorial Army Associations and swore a military oath of allegiance to the Crown, the UDV were Special Constable
s. As such the initial official name was the "Local Defence Volunteers Section, Ulster Special Constabulary".
The UDV was eventually formed into the Ulster Home Guard administered through the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC). As such they were a paramilitary
force unprotected by the Geneva Conventions
.
This brought the defences of Northern Ireland up to:
When the UDV's in Northern Ireland were reformed as the Ulster Home Guard in 1942 under military command they were issued uniforms, although units of USC were retained in the cities of Belfast
and Derry
to help the RUC with the large concentrated numbers of civilian population. In these two cities specific Home Guard units were also raised.
ists, in the guise of the IRA. Northern Ireland, was considered unique as an armed group pledged to insurrection and overthrow of the state did not exist in Britain. German Airborne landings, were a major fear and both the British Government, and the Government in Northern Ireland were to seek cooperation from the Éire authorities for a joint response to an expected German invasion- Plan W
.
Some members of the UDV and later, the Home Guard underwent training in sabotage
and guerilla fighting as part of the plans to repel an anticipated German invasion.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to perform the role of the Home Guard in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The UDV was recruited following the formation of the Home Guard in Britain around May 1940.
Due to concerns about the possibility of inadvertently training Irish republicans, the UDV was formed from members of the Ulster Special Constabulary
Ulster Special Constabulary
The Ulster Special Constabulary was a reserve police force in Northern Ireland. It was set up in October 1920, shortly before the founding of Northern Ireland. It was an armed corps, organised partially on military lines and called out in times of emergency, such as war or insurgency...
(USC) (also known as the 'B' Specials during the period) rather than volunteers from all sections of the community as in the rest of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Genesis of the force
The Prime Minister of Northern IrelandPrime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
, James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, PC, PC , was a prominent Irish unionist politician, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland...
, told his cabinet in May 1940 before a force like the Home Guard could take place, problems had to be addressed;
"There were grave objections... to the establishment here of a local Volunteer Defence Corps, on the basis adopted in Britain."
The grave objections Craigavon spoke about were the opportunities that a British style Home Guard might have afforded Roman Catholics to legally carry weapons. The view of then Northern Ireland Minister of Public Security John MacDermott
John MacDermott, Baron MacDermott
John Clarke MacDermott, Baron MacDermott, MC PC was a Northern Irish politician and lawyer who was Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1951 to 1971....
was that:
"It is most important that the [British] Army should not become involved in political differences. At the same time it is equally important that weapons should not get into the hands of undesirable elements, and that the latter should not get a foothold in our military machine. It is difficult for the Army to differentiate. At present it is best done for them by the Constabulary on the best information."
Craigavon sought advice about a local version of a regional defence force, from his old friend and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on 23 May 1940. Churchill had confided to his friend Richard Pim after the retreat from Dunkirk that the 'B' Specials were the only properly armed and disciplined force left in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He gave Craigavon the go ahead to recruit the force. On his return to Northern Ireland, Craigavon, who died six months later, was able to tell his cabinet that Churchill recognised;
"the voluntary effort that had been made in Ulster [Northern Ireland] to keep the various Ulster units of the Army up to strength."
Formation
The UDV was formed from members of the Ulster Special ConstabularyUlster Special Constabulary
The Ulster Special Constabulary was a reserve police force in Northern Ireland. It was set up in October 1920, shortly before the founding of Northern Ireland. It was an armed corps, organised partially on military lines and called out in times of emergency, such as war or insurgency...
'B' Specials on 28 May 1940. The UDV members were recruited by the Government of Northern Ireland and the force was not under the control of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in Northern Ireland (BTNI). Unlike in Britain, where the Home Guard were administered through their county Territorial Army Associations and swore a military oath of allegiance to the Crown, the UDV were Special Constable
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
s. As such the initial official name was the "Local Defence Volunteers Section, Ulster Special Constabulary".
The UDV was eventually formed into the Ulster Home Guard administered through the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC). As such they were a paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force unprotected by the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
.
This brought the defences of Northern Ireland up to:
- 3,000 Royal Ulster Constabulary
- 12,000 'B' Specials
- 12,000 UDV
When the UDV's in Northern Ireland were reformed as the Ulster Home Guard in 1942 under military command they were issued uniforms, although units of USC were retained in the cities of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to help the RUC with the large concentrated numbers of civilian population. In these two cities specific Home Guard units were also raised.
Sectarianism
There were problems in recruitment from the minority Roman Catholic population in Northern Ireland however. While no figures exist on the number who attempted to join the UDV and Home Guard the view was that their recruitment was generally discouraged. The view of John MacDermott was that a few Catholics did enlist but that:"virtually all left because they hated the "B" Specials."he went on to say that:
"the "B's" were only bad in parts- the Home Guard was quite sectarian but this was largely the fault of the minority [the Catholics] for not joining."
Duties
The duties which accompanied this new role were to oppose airborne invasion and to counter fifth columnFifth column
A fifth column is a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group such as a nation from within.-Origin:The term originated with a 1936 radio address by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War...
ists, in the guise of the IRA. Northern Ireland, was considered unique as an armed group pledged to insurrection and overthrow of the state did not exist in Britain. German Airborne landings, were a major fear and both the British Government, and the Government in Northern Ireland were to seek cooperation from the Éire authorities for a joint response to an expected German invasion- Plan W
Plan W
Plan W, during the Second World War, was a plan of joint military operations between Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland devised between 1940 and 1942, to be executed in the event of an invasion of Ireland by Nazi Germany....
.
Some members of the UDV and later, the Home Guard underwent training in sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
and guerilla fighting as part of the plans to repel an anticipated German invasion.
See also
- Belfast BlitzBelfast BlitzThe Belfast Blitz was an event that occurred on the night of Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 during World War II. Two hundred bombers of the German Air Force attacked the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Nearly one thousand people died as a result of the bombing and 1,500 were injured. In terms...
- Plan KathleenPlan KathleenPlan Kathleen, sometimes referred to as Artus Plan, was a military plan for the invasion of Northern Ireland sanctioned by Stephen Hayes, Acting Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff, in 1940...
- Operation GreenOperation Green (Ireland)Operation Green often also referred to as Case Green or Plan Green , was a full scale operations plan for a German invasion of Ireland in support of Operation Sea Lion . Despite its detailed nature, Green is thought to have been designed only as a credible threat, a feint, not an actual operation...
- IRA Abwehr World War II - Main article on IRA Nazi links
- The Emergency
External links
- Details on the organisation of the UDV.
- here and Some ancedotal remembrances.
- Insignia of the Ulster Home Guard available here.
- Second World War online resource for NI