Royal Ulster Rifles

Royal Ulster Rifles
	Regimental Crest
Active	1793–1968
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Army
Type	Line Infantry
Role	Infantry
Size	1 Regular battalion at amalgamation (16 during Great War)
Garrison/HQ	RHQ – Belfast, later Ballymena
Nickname(s)	The Stickies, The Rifles
Motto(s)	Quis Separabit (Who shall separate us [from the love of Christ]) (Latin)
Colours	None as a rifle regiment
March	Quick: "The Ulster Rifles march 'Off, Off, Said the Stranger'"; Slow: "The South Down Militia"
Engagements	Badajoz, Jhansi, Somme, Normandy Landings, Rhine Crossing, 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.

History[]

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, one of eight infantry regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland. It was the county regiment of Antrim, Down, Belfast and Louth, with its depot located at Belfast. Militarily, the whole of Ireland was administered as a single command within the United Kingdom with Command Headquarters at Parkgate (Phoenix Park) Dublin, directly under the War Office in London.^[2]

South African War 1899–1902[]

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]

First World War[]

The regiment provided battalions to all three Irish infantry divisions of the Great War: 10th (Irish), 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster). Members of the Ulster Volunteers, Young Citizen Volunteers (and national Volunteers served in all three divisions with the majority of the first two named in 36th (Ulster) Division. In addition, the 7th Battalion became home to a company of the Royal Jersey Militia, sometimes known as the Jersey Pals.^[4]

After the Great War the War Office decided that Ulster should be represented on the Army List as Connaught, Leinster and Munster already had their own regiments and so, in 1920, a new name was proposed for the Royal Irish Rifles. From 1 January 1921 the regiment became the Royal Ulster Rifles.^[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 who arrived in Korea in 1950 were Irish nationals.

In 1937 the already close relationship with the London Irish Rifles was formally recognised when they were incorporated into the Corps while still retaining their regimental identity as a territorial battalion. Two years later the London Irish formed a second battalion.^[7]

Second World War[]

The 2nd Battalion part of 9 Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division with the British Expeditionary Force and took part in the Dunkirk campaign. 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 31 Infantry Brigade, which was trained in mountain warfare. When the brigade returned to the United Kingdom, it was decided that, with its light scale of equipment, it brigade could be converted into a glider-borne unit. Renamed 1 Airlanding Brigade, part of 1st Airborne Division but later transferred to 6th Airborne Division as part of 6 Airlanding Brigade). Carried in Horsa gliders, the battalion took part in Operation Mallard during the D-Day landings in 1944 and Operation Varsity, the airborne element of Operation PLUNDER, the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945.

The Rifles had the unique distinction of being the only British infantry regiment to have both of its regular battalions involved in the Normandy landings.

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 playing Irish Warpipes.

Korean War[]

The 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles disembarked at Pusan in early November as part of 29 Independent Infantry Brigade Group. They were transported forward to Uijongbu, where under the direct command of the Eighth 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 Han on the border with North Korea. protecting the approach to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. As the New Year started, the Fiftieth Chinese Communist Army engaged the United Nations troops focusing on 29 Brigade, who were dispersed over a very wide front (12 miles). The Rifles fighting with 1st Royal 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 25 April, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw as the Communist forces were threatening to encircle it. With virtually no cover and seriously outnumbered, 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 Sixty-fourth 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 when Seoul's growth threatened to consume it, and it was carried by HMS Belfast back to Ireland where it was the focusof the Regiment's St Patrick's Barracks in Ballymena.^[6] When the barracks closed in 2008,^[10] the Imjin River Memorial was again moved, this time to the grounds of the Belfast City Hall.

In 1968 the Royal Ulster Rifles amalgamated with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Fusiliers to form The Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th). A further amalgamation took place with the Ulster Defence Regiment in 1992 to form The Royal Irish Regiment (27th Inniskilling, 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment).