| Royal Irish Rifles | |
|---|---|
Regimental Crest |
|
| Active | 1793–1968 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | now defunct |
| Size | 1 Regular battalion at disbandment (16 during Great War) |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – Ballymena |
| Nickname | The Stickies,[1] The Rifles |
| Motto | Quis Separabit (Who shall separate us) (Latin) |
| March | Quick – The Ulster Rifles march "Off.' said the Stranger" Slow – |
| Mascot | Irish Wolfhound |
| Anniversaries | Barrossa Day, 5th March; Somme Day, 1st July |
| Engagements | Badajoz, Jhansi, Somme, Korea |
The Royal Ulster Rifles (formerly Royal Irish Rifles) was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.
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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 the French First Republic. As part of that expansion it raised two new Regiments of Foot, the 83rd and the 86th. At the same time the counties Antrim, Down and Louth Regiments of Militia were raised.
In 1881, under the Childers Reforms, the 83rd and 86th were amalgamated into a single regiment, named the Royal Irish Rifles. It was one of eight regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland and was the county regiment of Antrim, Down and Louth, with its garrison depot located at Belfast. Militarily, the whole of Ireland was administered as a separate command within the United Kingdom with Command Headquarters at Parkgate (Phoenix Park) Dublin, directly under the War Office in London.[2]
Also known as the Second Boer War.
In October 1905, a memorial was erected in the grounds of Belfast City Hall in memory of the 132 who did not return. Field Marshal Lord Grenfell unveiled the memorial while the Times reported the event.[3]
The Royal Irish Rifles was connected with the British 36th (Ulster) Division and 16th (Irish) Division during the Great War. The unionist militias, the Ulster Volunteers and Young Citizens Volunteers had amalgamated with the 36th whilst the nationalist National Volunteers had joined the 16th after the outbreak of the Great War. In addition, the 7th Battalion served as the parent unit of the "pals" unit provided by the island of Jersey, a company of some 326 men.[4]
In 1921, following the proclamation of the Irish Free State the British army was re-organised. Since the Rifles had such a clear identification with the North, it was one of the few to survive intact though it was renamed the Royal Ulster Rifles and obviously losing the regimental district of Louth.[5]
Despite the change of name, the Regiment continued to accept recruits from the rest of Ireland; for example, almost 50%[6] of personnel in the 1st Battalion that arrived in Korea in 1950 were Irish nationals.
In 1937 the close relationship with the London Irish Rifles was formally recognised when they were incorporated into the Corps while still retaining their regimental identity as two territorial battalions.[7]
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles was part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (United Kingdom) with the British Expeditionary Force and took part in the Battle of Dunkirk. The battalion returned to Europe for the D-Day landings in 1944 and fought right through to VE-Day.
When war was declared the 1st Battalion was serving in India, with the 31st Infantry Brigade, which was trained in mountain warfare. When they returned to the United Kingdom, it was identified with there light scale of equipment they brigade could be converted into a glider-borne unit. They were renamed the 1st Airlanding Brigade (United Kingdom), part of the 1st Airborne Division but later transferred to the 6th Airborne Division as part of the 6th Airlanding Brigade (United Kingdom). Flying in Horsa gliders, the battalion took part in Operation Mallard during the D-Day landings in 1944 and Operation Varsity, the airborne landings over the Rhine in 1945.
Also of note, the Rifles had the unique distinction of being the only Allied unit to arrive in Normandy by both Sea (2nd Battalion) and Air (1st Battalion).
In 1947, the Rifles were 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.
The 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles disembarked at Pusan in early November as part of the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group. They were transported forward to Uijongbu, where under the direct command of the 8th United States Army they were directed against guerrilla forces swept past by the rapid progress of the United Nations Army.
By mid December a defensive line was being prepared on the south bank of the River Imjin protecting the approach to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. As the New Year started, the 64th Chinese Communist Army engaged the United Nations troops focusing on the 29th Brigade, who were dispersed over a very wide front (12 miles). The Rifles fighting with the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers were able to hold their position in their first major action at the Battle of Chaegunghyon and the Communist Army's progress was halted, at least temporarily.
The Chinese Fifth Phase Campaign or the Battle of the Imjin River began on 22 April with the goal of taking Seoul. By the 25th April, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw as the Communist forces were threatening to encircle the whole brigade. With virtually no cover and seriously out numbered, the Rifles came under heavy fire as they withdrew to a blocking position. The Brigade was able to hold its position, despite fierce fighting, and neutralized the effectiveness of the 64th Chinese Communist Army. Although the enemy's offensive had come within 5 miles of Seoul, the capital had been saved.[8]
At the time, the Times reported the Battle of Imjin concluding with:
The fighting 5th wearing St George and the Dragon and the Irish Giants with the Harp and Crown have histories that they would exchange with no one. As pride, sobered by mourning for fallen observes how well these young men have acquitted themselves in remotest Asia. The parts taken by the regiments may be seen as a whole. The motto of the Royal Ulster Rifles may have the last word Quis Separabit. (Who shall separate us)[8]
As a result of this action, members of the Rifles were awarded 2 Distinguished Service Orders, 2 Military Crosses, 2 Military Medals, and 3 men were mentioned in despatches.[6] When the area was recaptured, a memorial was erected to the 208 men killed or missing after the battle.[9] It stood over-looking the battlefield till 1962[6] when Seoul's growth threatened to consume it, and it was carried by HMS Belfast back to Ireland where it was the focus[6] of the Regiment's St.Patrick's Barracks in Ballymena. When the barracks were closed in 2008,[10] the Imjin River Memorial was again moved, this time to the grounds of the Belfast City Hall.
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).
The Royal Ulster Rifles Museum is located in the Cathedral Quarter, Belfast at 5 Waring Street (). The museum's artefacts include uniforms, badges, medals, regimental memorabilia, trophies, paintings and photographs.
Recipients of the Victoria Cross: