Osprey - Essential Histories 065 - The Anglo-Irish War 1913-1922

Warring sides 23
A British propaganda postcard showing the RIC. Black
and Tans and ADRIC all working in harmony against the
IRA. (Courtesy of Jim Herlihy)
Gallantry awards held by the ADRIC
Award
Number
Victoria Cross 2
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal 2
Distinguished Service Order 22
Military Cross 130
Distinguished Conduct Medal 23
Military Medal 63
Foreign Awards 40
Order of Merit 1
Mentioned In Despatches 350
Total: 633
Protestants, Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson
(Chief of the Imperial General Staff) and
General Sir Nevil Macready (General Officer
Commanding in Chief- Ireland) had
reservations about using the UVF as
policemen, and controversy surrounded the
USC until it was disbanded in 1970.
The Loyalists
The Ulster Unionist Council (UUC), founded
in March 1905 in conjunction with the
Orange Order, was at the forefront of
Unionist resistance to the prospect of
Protestants becoming a minority in a
Catholic-dominated 'independent' Ireland.
On 13 January 1913, Sir Edward Carson and
Sir James Craig founded the UVF to resist
Irish Home Rule by force if necessary. Both
the army and the Government tolerated the
UVF and, despite its overt threat to plunge
the country into civil war, it was allowed to
smuggle weapons into Ulster and to drill
openly under the instruction of both retired
and serving army officers.
During the First World War the UVF
formed the 36th (Ulster) Division and
suffered heavy casualties on the Somme.
Even though it was not the only region to
suffer in the war, many Ulstermen believed
that this loss was a 'blood tax' that had
placed Britain in their debt. The upsurge in
IRA violence revitalized the post-war UVF