National Army (Ireland)
Irish National Army | |
---|---|
![]() Irish National Army Cap Badge | |
Leaders | Michael Collins Richard Mulcahy |
Dates of operation | 31 January 1922-1st October 1924 |
Active regions | Irish Free State |
Opponents | Anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) |
The Irish National Army or National Army (sometimes called the "Free State Army") was the army of the Irish Free State (initially of the interim Southern Ireland) from January 1922-1 October 1924. Michael Collins, its Chief of Staff from June 1921 until his death in August 1922, was the last Chief of Staff of the IRA that had fought the Irish War of Independence. This war concluded with the Anglo-Irish Treaty which led to the foundation of the state.
The National Army made its first public appearance on the 31 January 1922 when they took over Beggars Bush Barracks from the British.[1] Its first troops were Irish Republican Army (IRA) Volunteers who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the "Provisional Government of Ireland" (Irish: Rialtas Sealadach na hÉireann). On the 28 June 1922 the National Army commenced an artillery bombardment of the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army forces occupying the Four Courts in Dublin, beginning the Irish Civil War.
History
The Irish National Army was constituted from the revolutionary Irish Republican Army (IRA) which emerged from a successful guerrilla campaign (Irish War of Independence) with the British. On 31 January 1922, the first unit of the new Irish National Army, a former IRA unit the Dublin Guard took over Beggars Bush Barracks, the first British barracks to be handed to the new State. Michael Collins envisaged the new Army being built around the IRA but over half of this organisation rejected the compromise of the Treaty in favour of upholding the revolutionary Irish Republic of 1919-1921. In February 1922, the new provisional Government of Ireland began to recruit volunteers into the National Army. A force of 4,000 troops was envisaged, but because of the Civil War, on the 5th July 1922 the Provisional Government issued a national call to arms rising to 55,000 troops.
The Civil War
In March 1922 there was a major stand-off between up to 700 National Army and anti-treaty IRA in Limerick over who would occupy the military barracks being vacated by departing British troops. The situation was temporarily resolved in April when the two sides agreed to occupy two barracks each.[2] In April 1922, General Adamson, a National Army was shot dead by the IRA in Athlone. In early May 1922 there was an even more serious clash in Kilkenny when the IRA occupied the centre of the town and 200 National Army troops were sent from Dublin to disperse them.[3] 18 people were killed in the fighting in Kilkenny. In a bid to avoid an all-out civil war, both sides agreed to a truce on 3 May 1922.
On 14 April 1922, 200 Anti-Treaty IRA Volunteers led by Rory O'Connor occupied the Four Courts and several other buildings in central Dublin, resulting in a tense stand-off.[4] On 27 June 1922, the Four Courts IRA garrison kidnapped JJ "Ginger" O'Connell a General in the National Army. After giving the Four Courts garrison a final ultimatum to leave the building, the Provisional Government decided to end the stand-off by shelling the Four Courts garrison into surrender. At 4.29am on 28 June 1922 18-pounder guns opened fire on the Four Courts. The Provisional Government appointed Michael Collins as Commander-in-Chief of the National Army. This was the point of no return and the Civil War officially began.[5] The IRA in the Four Courts who had only small arms surrendered after two days of shelling and the buildings were stormed by National Army troops. Fighting continued in Dublin until 5 July 1922 as IRA units from the Dublin Brigade led by Oscar Traynor occupied O'Connell Street provoking a week's more street fighting. This fighting cost both sides 65 killed and 280 wounded.
The British supplied artillery, aircraft, armoured cars, machine guns, small arms and ammunition to the National Army.
Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy and Eoin O'Duffy planned a nationwide National Army offensive sending columns overland to take Limerick and Waterford and seaborne forces to Counties Cork Kerry and Mayo. The only real conventional battle during the offensive was the Battle of Killmallock.
Commander-in-Chief Michael Collins was killed in an ambush by the IRA at Béal na mBláth in County Cork on the 22 August 1922. General Richard Mulcahy then took command.
National Army troops particularly in County Kerry began the summary execution of captured IRA Volunteers. The most notorious example of this occurred at Ballyseedy where nine Republican prisoners were tied to a landmine which was then detonated killing eight and only leaving one Stephen Fuller, who was blown clear by the blast to escape.[6]
Frank Aiken, IRA Chief of Staff ordered IRA volunteers to dump arms on 24 May 1923 ending the fighting.
Establishment of Defence Forces
In the Autumn of 1923 the government started to reduce the size of the National Army to peacetime levels. This entailed a reduction of 30,000 personnel (including 2,200 officers) by March 1924. A small group of officers, led mainly by former members of The Squad attempted to resist the efforts to demobilise. This situation evolved into what became called the Army Mutiny,[7] but was resolved peaceably with recognition of the authority of the Oireachtas.[7]
On the 3rd August 1923 the Irish Free State passed the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, raising "an armed force to be called Óglaigh na hÉireann (hereinafter referred to as the Forces) consisting of such number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men as may from time to time be provided by the Oireachtas." "The Forces shall be established as from a date to be fixed by Proclamation of the Executive Council in the Iris Oifigiúil"[8] The establishment of the Forces was on the 1st October 1924.
This date marks the ending of the initial phase of the Irish National Army and the legal establishment of the Irish Defence Forces as the Irish Free States military force. However, it was not a new force, the legislation was explicit that the Defence Forces would have the same legality, organisation, personnel, orders and regulations as the 1922-24 force.[9][10]
Organisation
The Irish National Army's initial organisation was based on the IRA Divisions and Brigades.[11] In January 1923 a new organisation was established. The State was divided into nine Commands.[11]
The Nine Commands were:
- Dublin Command
- Athlone Command
- Donegal Command
- Claremorris Command
- Limerick Command
- Kerry Command
- Waterford Command
- Cork Command
- Curragh Command
The Army Corps were:
- Armoured Car Corps
- Artillery Corps
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Works Corps
- Railway Protection, Repair and Maintenance Corps
- Salvage Corps
- Army Signal Corps
- Army Medical Corps
- Transport Corps
- Corps of Military Police
- Air Service
Uniforms
The Irish National Army Officer's uniform was made of dark green serge and worn with Sam Browne belt.[12] The ordinary volunteer's uniform was a similar pattern, worn with British 1908 pattern webbing.[12] A greatcoat was issued for bad weather. All ranks wore brown boots and leggings. The Irish Volunteers cap badge and buttons were worn in recognition of the National Army's origins.[12]
Rank Markings
Rank markings were coloured cloth cuff bands and coloured diamond shaped cloth cap badge backing.[12]
Rank | Cuff Bands | Cap Diamonds |
---|---|---|
Volunteer | N/A | N/A |
Corporal | 1 Green | Green |
Sergeant | 2 Green | Green |
Sergeant Major | 3 Green | Green |
2nd Lieutenant | 1 Blue | Blue |
Lieutenant | 2 Blue | Blue |
Captain | 3 Blue | Blue |
Vice Commandant (Battalion) | 2 Purple | Purple |
Lieutenant Commandant (Brigade) | 2 Brown | Brown |
Lieutenant Commandant (Division) | 2 Red | Red |
Commandant (Battalion) | 3 Purple | Purple |
Commandant (Brigade) | 3 Brown | Brown |
Commandant (Division) | 3 Red | Red |
Briadier | 2 Brown with narrow Gold band between | Brown |
Colonel Commandant | 2 Red with narrow Gold band between | Red |
General Officers' markings were cloth bands on shoulder strap, collar gorget and cap diamonds.[12]
Rank | Shoulder Bands | Collar Gorget | Cap Diamonds |
---|---|---|---|
Division Commandant General | 1 Gold between 2 Red | Red and Gold | Yellow |
GHQ Commandant General | 1 Gold | Yellow | Yellow |
GHQ Major General | 2 Gold one wide, one narrow | Gold and Yellow | Yellow |
GHQ Lieutenant General | 2 Gold | Gold and Yellow | Yellow |
GHQ General | 3 Gold | Gold and Yellow | Yellow |
Rank markings were re-arranged on 31 January 1923:[12]
Rank | Bars | Worn |
---|---|---|
Private | N/A | N/A |
Corporal | 1 Green | Left Arm |
Sergeant | 2 Green | Left Arm |
Sergeant Major | 3 Green | Left Arm |
2nd Lieutenant | 1 Blue | Shoulder Strap |
Lieutenant | 2 Blue | Shoulder Strap |
Captain | 3 Blue | Shoulder Strap |
Commandant | 2 Red | Shoulder Strap |
Colonel | 3 Red | Shoulder Strap and Collar |
Major General | 2 Red with 1 Gold between | Shoulder Strap and Collar |
Lieutenant General | 2 Gold | Shoulder Strap and Collar |
General | 3 Gold | Shoulder Strap and Collar |
Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Aircraft and Weapons
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
- 13 x Rolls-Royce Armoured Car
- 7 x Peerless Armoured Car
- 64 x Lancia Armoured Car
Aircraft
- 1 x Martinsyde Type A Mk2
- 6 x Avro 504K
- 1 x S.E.5a
- 8 x Bristol F.2B
- 4 x Martinsyde F4
- 8 x de Havilland DH.9
Weapons
- Lee-Enfield rifle
- Lewis machine gun
- Thompson submachine gun
- 9 x 18 pounder guns (4 Mk Is and 5 Mk IIs)
References
- ^ G White & B O'Shea, Irish Volunteer Soldier 1913-23, Osprey 2003, pp15.
- ^ Noel C. Harrington, The Kerry Landing, p.13
- ^ Michael Hopkinson, Green Against Green, p.75
- ^ Calton Younger, "Ireland's Civil War", Muller, London 1968; pp.258-259.
- ^ Niall C. Harrington, Kerry Landings, p.22
- ^ Michael Hopkinson, Green Against Green, p.241
- ^ a b The Establishment of Defence Forces
- ^ DEFENCE FORCES (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, 1923
- ^ 235. —The armed forces of the State as at present constituted and existing (hereinafter referred to as the National Forces) shall be deemed to be the armed forces to be raised under Article 46 of the Constitution and the maintenance thereof is hereby declared to be legal. +
- ^
- 237. —The organisation of the National Forces shall be as at present existing. The Minister may however make such changes therein as he may deem necessary.
- 238. —All orders and regulations now in force in the National Forces shall continue to be in full force and effect.
- 239. —All soldiers now serving in the National Forces by virtue of any agreement or attestation shall be liable to continue to serve in accordance with the terms of such agreement or attestation. - ^ a b The Origins of the Defence Forces
- ^ a b c d e f G White & B O'Shea, Irish Volunteer Soldier 1913-23, Osprey 2003