Royal Ulster Rifles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Ulster Rifles was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army.
The regiment's history dates backs to the reign of King George III. In 1793 the British army expanded to meet the commitments of the war with France. As part of that expansion it raised two new Regiments of Foot, the 83rd and the 86th. At the same time the Antrim, Down and Louth Regiments of Militia were raised. In 1881, under the Cardwell Reforms, the 83rd and 86th were amalgamated into a single regiment, named the Royal Irish Rifles, which was to be the county regiment of Antrim, Down and Louth. The Royal Irish Rifles was connected with the British 36th (Ulster) Division and 16th (Irish) Division during World War I. The unionist militias, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Young Citizens Volunteers had amalgamated with the 36th whilst the nationalist National Volunteers had joined the 16th after the outbreak of WWI.
In 1921, following the proclamation of the Irish Free State, the Royal Irish Rifles was renamed the Royal Ulster Rifles, with the regimental district of Louth ceded to the newly independent state.
In 1947, it was grouped with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Royal Irish Fusiliers into the North Irish Brigade.
A year later, the regiment formed a pipe band, wearing saffron kilts and carrying the Great Irish Warpipes.
In 1968, under reforms of the army, the Royal Ulster Rifles was amalgamated with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Fusiliers to form The Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th).
[edit] See also
- James W. Taylor The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War (2002)
Four Courts Press, ISBN 1-85182-702-1 - James W. Taylor The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War (2005)
Four Courts Press, ISBN 1-85182-952-0
