Volunteer (Ulster loyalist): Difference between revisions
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The term found common currency amongst [[Unionism in Ireland|Irish unionists]] in the early 20th century with the formation of the [[Ulster Volunteers]],{{cn|date=September 2011}} a unionist militia founded in 1912 by [[James Craig]] and [[Edward Carson]] to block [[Home Rule Act 1914|Home Rule for Ireland]]; later organised into the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Many of the UVF's volunteers would go on to fight as part of the new [[36th (Ulster) Division]] during the [[World War I|Great War]] – one of only a few divisions to make significant gains on the bloody first day on the [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]], and one that to this day retains an iconic status amongst unionists and [[Protestantism in Ireland|Protestants]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. Indeed, the 36th Ulster's "blood sacrifice" was seen as [[Ulster|the province]]'s side of a deal in which [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] would somehow "see the loyal province right" in the agonising over Home Rule that was expected to resume when the fighting was over.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5126128.stm The Somme: The Irish in the battle] BBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2011.</ref> |
The term found common currency amongst [[Unionism in Ireland|Irish unionists]] in the early 20th century with the formation of the [[Ulster Volunteers]],{{cn|date=September 2011}} a unionist militia founded in 1912 by [[James Craig]] and [[Edward Carson]] to block [[Home Rule Act 1914|Home Rule for Ireland]]; later organised into the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Many of the UVF's volunteers would go on to fight as part of the new [[36th (Ulster) Division]] during the [[World War I|Great War]] – one of only a few divisions to make significant gains on the bloody first day on the [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]], and one that to this day retains an iconic status amongst unionists and [[Protestantism in Ireland|Protestants]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. Indeed, the 36th Ulster's "blood sacrifice" was seen as [[Ulster|the province]]'s side of a deal in which [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] would somehow "see the loyal province right" in the agonising over Home Rule that was expected to resume when the fighting was over.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5126128.stm The Somme: The Irish in the battle] BBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2011.</ref> |
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Irish nationalist and republican |
Irish nationalist and republican use of the term originates with a second [[Irish Volunteers]] formed in 1913 in response to Carson and Craig's UVF.{{cn|date=September 2011}} |
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==Usage== |
==Usage== |
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The term is used by the modern [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/east_memorial.html#77 Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — Long, Cordner, Seymour and Bennett – UVF] CAIN.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-452455/UVF-announces-end-terror-campaign.html UVF announces end to terror campaign] ''"We encourage our Volunteers to embrace the challenges which continue to face their communities and support their continued participation in non-military capacities."'' Daily Mail.</ref> (and [[youth wing]] the [[Young Citizen Volunteers]]), [[Ulster Defence Association]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/east_memorial.html#75 Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — UDA, 4th Battalion Castlereagh, East Belfast Brigade] CAIN.</ref> and [[Red Hand Commando]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/south_mural.html#128 Physical memorials of The Troubles in south Belfast — Hanna, McCrea and Mehaffy – UVF/RHC] CAIN.</ref> groups to refer to their members. It can also be found in the names of similar paramilitary organisations like the [[Loyalist Volunteer Force]], [[Orange Volunteers]] and now-defunct [[Ulster Protestant Volunteers]]. |
The term is used by the modern [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/east_memorial.html#77 Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — Long, Cordner, Seymour and Bennett – UVF] CAIN.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-452455/UVF-announces-end-terror-campaign.html UVF announces end to terror campaign] ''"We encourage our Volunteers to embrace the challenges which continue to face their communities and support their continued participation in non-military capacities."'' Daily Mail.</ref> (and [[youth wing]] the [[Young Citizen Volunteers]]), [[Ulster Defence Association]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/east_memorial.html#75 Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — UDA, 4th Battalion Castlereagh, East Belfast Brigade] CAIN.</ref> and [[Red Hand Commando]]<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/viggiani/south_mural.html#128 Physical memorials of The Troubles in south Belfast — Hanna, McCrea and Mehaffy – UVF/RHC] CAIN.</ref> groups to refer to their members. It can also be found in the names of similar paramilitary organisations like the [[Loyalist Volunteer Force]], [[Orange Volunteers]] and now-defunct [[Ulster Protestant Volunteers]]. |
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==See also== |
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* [[Volunteer (Irish republican)]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 20:25, 16 September 2011
Volunteer, abbreviated Vol., is a title used by a number of Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisations to describe their members.
History
The use of the term volunteer in an Irish military context can be traced to the Irish Volunteers, an almost exclusively Protestant[1] militia corps raised in 1778 to defend Ireland from the threat of foreign invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn to fight the American Rebellion.[2]
The term found common currency amongst Irish unionists in the early 20th century with the formation of the Ulster Volunteers,[citation needed] a unionist militia founded in 1912 by James Craig and Edward Carson to block Home Rule for Ireland; later organised into the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Many of the UVF's volunteers would go on to fight as part of the new 36th (Ulster) Division during the Great War – one of only a few divisions to make significant gains on the bloody first day on the Somme, and one that to this day retains an iconic status amongst unionists and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Indeed, the 36th Ulster's "blood sacrifice" was seen as the province's side of a deal in which Britain would somehow "see the loyal province right" in the agonising over Home Rule that was expected to resume when the fighting was over.[3]
Irish nationalist and republican use of the term originates with a second Irish Volunteers formed in 1913 in response to Carson and Craig's UVF.[citation needed]
Usage
The term is used by the modern Ulster Volunteer Force[4][5] (and youth wing the Young Citizen Volunteers), Ulster Defence Association[6] and Red Hand Commando[7] groups to refer to their members. It can also be found in the names of similar paramilitary organisations like the Loyalist Volunteer Force, Orange Volunteers and now-defunct Ulster Protestant Volunteers.
References
- ^ Duffy, Sean (2005). A Concise History of Ireland. ISBN 0717138100.
- ^ Blackstock, Allan (2001). Issue 2 of Belfast Society publications (ed.). Double traitors?: the Belfast Volunteers and Yeomen, 1778-1828. Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 2. ISBN 9780953960415. Retrieved 3/10/09.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)CS1 maint: numeric names: editors list (link) - ^ The Somme: The Irish in the battle BBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — Long, Cordner, Seymour and Bennett – UVF CAIN.
- ^ UVF announces end to terror campaign "We encourage our Volunteers to embrace the challenges which continue to face their communities and support their continued participation in non-military capacities." Daily Mail.
- ^ Physical memorials of The Troubles in east Belfast — UDA, 4th Battalion Castlereagh, East Belfast Brigade CAIN.
- ^ Physical memorials of The Troubles in south Belfast — Hanna, McCrea and Mehaffy – UVF/RHC CAIN.