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(Redirected from Royal Irish Rifles)
'The Royal Ulster Rifles' (formerly 'Royal Irish Rifles') was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army. It saw service in the First World War and the Second World War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.
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 counties 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 [1].
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.
Recipients of the Victoria Cross:
★ Rifleman William Frederick McFadzean. 1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Thiepval.
★ Rifleman Robert Quigg. 12th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Hamel, Somme.
★ Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind. 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1918. Grugies, France.
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).
★ Young Citizen Volunteers
★ List of British Army regiments (1881)
★ James W. Taylor ''The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War'' Four Courts Press (2002) ISBN 1-85182-702-1
★ James W. Taylor ''The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War'' Four Courts Press (2005) ISBN 1-85182-952-0
★ Official RIR site
★ RIR 1914-1918
★ History of the RIR
1. Regiments.org
'The Royal Ulster Rifles' (formerly 'Royal Irish Rifles') was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army. It saw service in the First World War and the Second World War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.
| Contents |
| History |
| Victoria Cross |
| Amalgamation |
| See also |
| Reading reference |
| External links |
| References |
History
Monument to Royal Irish Rifles in grounds of Belfast City Hall
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 counties 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 [1].
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.
Victoria Cross
Recipients of the Victoria Cross:
★ Rifleman William Frederick McFadzean. 1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Thiepval.
★ Rifleman Robert Quigg. 12th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Hamel, Somme.
★ Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind. 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 1918. Grugies, France.
Amalgamation
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).
See also
★ Young Citizen Volunteers
★ List of British Army regiments (1881)
Reading reference
★ James W. Taylor ''The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War'' Four Courts Press (2002) ISBN 1-85182-702-1
★ James W. Taylor ''The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War'' Four Courts Press (2005) ISBN 1-85182-952-0
External links
★ Official RIR site
★ RIR 1914-1918
★ History of the RIR
References
1. Regiments.org
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