World One War: The brutal 'Black and Tans'
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In the wake of the Great War and in the face of growing IRA actions, two bodies were recruited, largely composed of veterans, who were employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables between 1920 and 1921 to brutally supress the growth of Irish Nationalism.
The ‘Black and Tans’ were one of these two units, the other being the Auxiliary Division. Despite being established to combat the IRA, it became notorious for its treatment of Irish Civilians.
In January 1920, the British Government advertised for men willing to “face a rough and dangerous task” which was to help the Royal Irish Constabulary police an increasingly anti-British Ireland.
Despite the warning of brutality, there were no shortages of recruits. Many of the recruits were unemployed First World War rank and file army veterans, and by the end of 1921 over 9,000 had enlisted.
The sudden recruitment of war veterans led to a shortage of RIC uniforms, and the recruits were uniformed in a mix of military Khaki and RIC Black. Overall, these uniforms differed from the army and the regular RIC, and gave rise to the Para-military force’s name.
In order to quickly have the men ‘get to work’ in Ireland, the recruits received three months hurried training, and were quickly posted to RIC barracks located in Dublin, Munster and Connacht.
These ‘temporary constables’ were paid a high wage for the day, 10 shillings a day and full board and lodging. With virtually no police training, the ‘Tans’ main role was to increase and support the strength of the police in Ireland. The ‘Tans’ and the ‘Auxies’ became known as ‘Tudor’s Toughs’ after the police commander, Major General Sir Henry Hugh Tudor. Overall the Black and Tans were hated by the Republican’s and the general population of Ireland.
The Black and Tans had very little discipline, and as a result, their deaths at the hands of the IRA were often repaid with brutal reprisals against the civilian population
In 1921, the British Labour Commission produced a report on the situation in Ireland which was highly critical of the British Governments security policies. The Labour Commission stated that the Government, in forming the Black and Tans, had “liberated forces which it is not at present able to dominate”
Despite the very negative image, many of the Tan atrocities were in fact committed by the Auxiliary Division and the RIC. One example was the massacre at Croke Park where 13 civilians were gunned down by RIC and Auxiliary men. Despite this, most Republicans did not make a distinction, thus the term ‘Black and Tan’ was often used as a catch-all term for all police and army groups.
The actions of the Tans alienated public opinion in both Ireland and England. In particular George V was very critical of the Tans actions and the units’ behaviour. The violence dealt out on both sides propelled both sides to seek a peaceful resolution
In total, around 7,000 Black and Tans served in Ireland between 1920 and 1922. More than half were either killed or left the service before this infamous unit and the rest of the RIC were disbanded in 1922.
Those who returned to civilian life found it hard to reintegrate. As with most veterans of World War One, the carnage which they had dealt out and seen forever scarred them. Two former Black and Tans were hanged for murder in Britain and another committed suicide in connection with another murder.
Due to the Anglo-Irish War of 1913-1922 and the acts committed by the IRA and the Black and Tans, the topic is still very sensitive in Ireland. The term ‘Black and Tan’ and or ‘Tan’ remains a derogatory term for the British in Ireland. Incidentally, the war is often referred to as the ‘Tan War’ or the ‘Black and Tan War’.
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