Ulster Home Guard

[UHG4044]

Here are details from the flyleaf of a new book, just published, "Duty Without Glory" - The Story of Ulster's Home Guard in the Second World War and the Cold War.

ISBN: 978-0-9538367-2-7


From the formation of early militias, yeomanry and volunteers the concept of civilians taking arms and organising to defend their homes against insurrection, rebellion or foreign invasion particularly in Ireland’s most northerly counties is not new.
However it would be the threat faced by the British Isles in 1940 which would see the largest mobilisation of civilian volunteers throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
From 1940 to1944 and uniquely in the United Kingdom the Home Guard in Northern Ireland was raised as an extension of the Constabulary Forces which were administered by the Stormont Government. This unusual arrangement led to a number of differences between the Home Guard raised in Ulster and that raised in Great Britain.
This long overdue history based on the Cabinet Papers of the Stormont Government, contemporary newspaper reports, police and military files and reminiscences from former members covers both the Ulster Home Guard raised during the Second World War and the Home Guard again raised in Northern Ireland during the 1950’s Cold War.
The book is illustrated with a combination of private photographs published for the first time and newspaper images amongst others. Also included is a chapter which examines various German invasion and espionage plans for the island of Ireland and an order of battle for the Ulster Home Guard in 1942, down to Company level.
With no previous book exploring the Home Guard in Northern Ireland in this manner Duty without Glory fills a void in Northern Ireland military, local and constabulary history.

Available from all good bookshops and on-line book sellers.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesw ... ku=6083507

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duty-without-Gl ... 480&sr=1-1

http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/id/ ... 0953836727

[harry hackedoff]

Heyup UHG4044, crazy name btw

Welcome aboard mate

sounds like just the book for anyone interested in that period of Ulster`s history.
The relationship between Eire and Herman has puzzled me over the years from the little I know and large parts of that have been brushed under the carpet for the sake of political expediency.
No black-out in Dublin was the same as sticking a big sign up, saying This Way To Bomb the Scousers, for instance. The turning of blind eyes towards agents of the abwehr, the safe haven treatment of some fairly heavy hitters in the aftermath of the war etc etc. I`m sure you know of many more examples of Eire`s "neutrality". Touch-feely relations between the Vatican and Herman probably had a lot to do with it as church and state were far more integrated in those times.

What about you? Are you the author, or just a fan?
And I`ll move this to the recommended media forum.

[UHG4044]

Hi there,

Thanks for the welcome.

The points about Eire are well made, but we must remember her 'friend;y neutral' stance which gave us the air corridor over Donegall which led to the sighting and sinking of the Bismark and protection of the vital North Atlantic Convoys and co-opertaion between Dublin Military and British Military, including some observers at exercises in NI, and not forgetting the 'return' of the odd downed airman to name a few.

[UHG4044]

.... oh ... and a fan, and an author ...

Regards

[GD]

This is a subject close to my heart. The Long Fella was trying to be crafty. Technically the UK had a right to use the Treaty Ports because Eire was still in the Commonwealth until 1948 and although he had abolished the post of Governor General the King was still officially head of state until 1949. Neither did he want any real involvement with Germany because he was in the process of getting rid of one Imperial master and didn't want another.

A very devious oul bugger was our Eamonn. After having rejected democracy in 1921 and having caused a civil war he then used that very democracy in exactly the same fashion after Fianna Fail came to power, as suggested by Michael Collins.