Today marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Ulster Defence Regiment becoming operational.
We pay tribute to those Knights of Malta who served in the Ulster Defense Regiment and in the Ulster Special Constabulary before it. They stood in the gap when Ulster faced the threat of Irish Republican terrorism. Many brave men paid the ultimate price for their loyalty and service and all who served are owed our thanks.
Following The Ulster Defence Regiment Act 1969 and a short period of recruiting, The Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) became operational on 1 April 1970. Although still under strength, the UDR on formation consisted of the following battalions:
1st (County Antrim) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Ballymena
2nd (County Armagh) Battalion: Battalion HQ – Armagh
3rd (County Down) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Ballykinler
4th (County Fermanagh) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Enniskillen
5th (County Londonderry) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Londonderry
6th (County Tyrone) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Omagh
7th (City of Belfast) Battalion; Battalion HQ – Holywood
These men and women gave not just their time and talents but also put themselves and their families at risk. The PIRA did not dare challenge the UDR when they stood in uniform and armed on our streets and roads, but choose to attack them when off duty.
Even there they could not face them on equal terms but cowered behind hedges, or used IEDs. The cowardly actions of the PIRA did not in the end prevail, as the UDR took the fight to the terrorists.
The Battalions’ titles were abbreviated to their number followed by ‘UDR’ so that, for example, the 1st Battalion The Ulster Defence Regiment’s short title was 1 UDR.
Operation BANNER saw the UDR serve for twenty-two years through the dark days of the ‘Troubles’, a period of unmatched, unbroken operational service. In total, between 1 April 1970 and 30 June 1992, 197 UDR serving members were killed, with a further 61 killed after they had resigned or retired from the UDR. Terrorists also seriously wounded 444 men and women of The Ulster Defence Regiment.
The men and women of the UDR were merged with the Royal Irish Rangers in 1992 to form a unique regiment of the British Army, The Royal Irish Regiment, with Regular and Part-Time service personnel in its Home Service battalions.
On the 6 October 2006, Her Majesty The Queen awarded The Royal Irish Regiment the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross in recognition of the bravery, sacrifice and service of the Home Service battalions of The Royal Irish Regiment and their forebears, The Ulster Defence Regiment.
[To view a 1972 UDR recruiting advert please click on:
ARMY TV COMMERCIAL – UDR HERITAGE
and then please click on your backbrowser to return to the VMG.]
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