Ifference in Political Views of Those on the U.U.C
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uo- ■ I f ■P NUI MAYNOOTH OIIm o II n* Ml Nuad The Ulster Volunteer Force 1912-4. by Gerard Michael Farrell IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MA IN HISTORY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Professor R.V.Comerford Supervisor of Research: Doctor Ian A. Speller July 2006 i Thesis abstract: The aim of this work is to examine the evolution and role of the U.V.F. in Ulster from 1912-4. In the opening chapter the sectarianism that plagued Ulster during the Home Rule crisis is discussed. The work focuses on Castledawson in Londonderry, where an alleged attack by Hibernians against Presbyterian school children sparked riots in Belfast and resulted in Catholics being driven from their jobs. This work shows how the emerging importance of public opinion forced the Unionist leadership to reign in the militant excesses of some Unionists. The chapter discusses the damage inflicted upon the Unionist campaign of opposition to Home Rule by the Belfast riots, with some papers describing Unionists working in the Haarland and Wolff shipyards as terrorists. In chapter two the formation and structure of the U.V.F. in Belfast, Antrim, and Fermanagh is examined. The chapter discusses the military structure of the U.V.F. and why the organisation was better suited to urban Ulster. In the course of the chapter the link between big business and the U.V.F. is examined, the focus of which is on George Clark of Workman and Clark shipyards. The difference in political views of those on the U.U.C. is studied to show who was in favour of compromise, and who wished to fight. The role of the U.V.F. in halting sectarian attacks in both rural and urban Ulster is discussed, and the levels of recruitment to the organisation in Belfast, Antrim, and Fermanagh. In the final chapter three major issues that affected Ulster in 1914 are examined. The failure of Asquith to offer a realistic settlement to Carson in the autumn of 1913-4 undermined Carson’s authority as leader of the U.U.C. The radical line pursued by some members of government and a significant minority of the Unionist party during the coercion crisis and the Lame gunrunning is examined, to show the effect this had on the political process. Lastly the renewal of sectarian attacks in Ulster as moderate Unionism was marginalised is discussed to show the danger of some form of conflict breaking out if Home Rule was forced on Unionists. Table of Contents Title page.............................................................................................. ............. i Table of contents................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements............................................................................................ iii Abbreviations...................................................................................................... iv Introduction to thesis and literary review............................................................ 1 Chapter 1: sectarian violence, and Unionist opposition to Home Rule............. 12 Chapter 2: U.V.F. formation in Belfast, Antrim and County Fermanagh 26 Chapter 3: failed negotiations, alleged coercion, and the Lame gunrunning 41 Conclusion to thesis..................................................................................... 55 Bibliography................................................................................................. 59 Appendix....................................................................................................... 63 ii Acknowledgements. I would like to thank my uncle Mr John Farrell, formerly of the National Library of Ireland, whose helpful advice at the beginning of this project proved invaluable. I also thank Mr John Killen of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast whose kind assistance made my journeys to Belfast extremely worthwhile. He was most generous with his time. I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Ian Speller for reading my work and helping me become more focussed. Finally I would like to thank my parents and family for their continued support and encouragement in my academic pursuits. Abbreviations. A.O.H. Ancient Order of Hibernians. C.I. County Inspector. C.O. Colonial Office. COL. Column. G.O.C. General officer commanding. H.O.C. House of Commons. LG. Inspector General. I.H.S. Irish Historical Studies. I.V.F. Irish Volunteer Force. M.P. Member of Parliament. N.U.I.M. National University of Ireland Maynooth. P.R.O.N.I. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. R.I.C. Royal Irish Constabulary. U.K. United Kingdom. U.U.C. Ulster Unionist Council. U.V.F. Ulster Volunteer Force. W.W.l. World War one. This thesis covers the emergence of the Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F.) in the period 1912-4. The thesis examines the reasons for the formation of the U.V.F., the patterns of membership, and how recruitment was carried out in both rural and urban Ulster. The aim of the work is to lay out the problems that dogged the Unionist anti-Home Rule campaign in 1912, leading up to the Ulster Unionist Council’s (U.U.C.) decision to form the U.V.F. in January 1913. The question of sectarian rioting that erupted in Belfast in June 1912, and the affect this had on both Ulster business and British public opinion is key to why the U.V.F. was needed, and will be discussed in chapters one and two of this work. As will be shown in the course of this work, it is now generally accepted that Belfast’s business magnates played a leading role in the formation and leadership of the U.V.F. The Inspector General (LG.) of the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) suggests that even those businessmen with little enthusiasm for the U.V.F. would eventually get involved in the struggle due to circumstances forcing their hand.1 The civil disorder and social unrest that plagued Belfast was a major source of concern in Westminster, as the numerous sessions of Parliament taken up by the question of Belfast rioting clearly indicate.2 This impacted badly on both the business community’s profit, and their ability to portray their community as honest loyal Unionists. Therefore the formal disciplined structure of the U.V.F., often using ex 1 See ‘Arms importation and distribution, crime special’, Colonial Office (C.O.) 904/27/631. 2Hansard 5 (Commons), xl, column (col.) 976, (2 July, 1912); Ibid., 1452, (4 July, 1912); Ibid., 1569, (5 July, 1912); Ibid., 2054, (10 July, 1912); Ibid., xli, 1637, (29 July, 1912); Ibid., 1855, (30 July, 1912); Ibid., 2090, (31 July, 1912); Ibid., xlii, 1063, (15 Oct., 1912). 1 servicemen from the British army to drill the men, helped tame the radicals and in turn gamer respect for the Unionist cause.3 The thesis will also look at the recruitment methods of the U.V.F., and how pre-existing organisations (Unionist Clubs, and the Loyal Orange Order) drew men into the ranks of the U.V.F. In chapter two of this work the link between religious profession and the levels of U.V.F. membership will be discussed, contrasting the organisation’s support in urban and rural Ulster. This work aims to both reinforce the existing literature written on Ulster, but also examine the aggression that characterised the Orange Order, and how their members precipitated sectarian incidents that were subsequently blamed on the Catholic and the wider Nationalist community. The work looks at the difference in attitudes to the U.V.F. in rural and urban Ulster and how this translated in membership levels. The major point of this work is to examine the Unionist community during the Home Rule crisis, and show how the U.V.F. actually played a positive role in improving discipline in the community, unlike the Orange Order. The existing literature available does not focus on the positive affect of the U.V.F. something that this work aims to newly examine. In examining secondary sources for this work, biographies, specific studies on Ulster, and general histories of Ireland were studied. Those sources most useful to this work are outlined overleaf, particular reference being made to Joseph Lee, Charles Townshend, and A.T.Q.Stewart. 3 See ‘Aims importation and distribution, crime special’, CO 904/27/629. The LG. in a secret report on how the Ulster Volunteer Force was developing, highlighted the presence of ex-soldiers in the ranks acting as drill sergeants. 2 Biographies of the political leaders of both Unionism and Nationalism are important sources of information, and also serve as useful guides to primary information. The Historical Association of Ireland’s ‘Life and Times’ series cover basic texts on both John Redmond, and Sir Edward Carson.4 While simply overviews of the life and political careers of the two main protagonists in the Home Rule crisis, they are useful material in the preliminary stages of research. Geoffrey Lewis’s recent biography of Carson provides the reader with a more detailed analysis of Carson’s life, political career and his time at the head of Unionism in Ireland.5 The considerable bibliography included by Lewis links the reader to primary information covering Carson and the U.V.F., contained in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (P.R.O.N.I.) and other major repositories. Charles Townshend’s text is one of the most influential to the thesis.6 Townshend covers the political situation in Ireland, how Unionist tactics evolved over time and gradually shifted the forward momentum of Unionism away from militant sectarianism towards a coherent political campaign.7 A.T.Q.Stewart is the leading authority on the subject of Ulster’s militant opposition to Home Rule.8 Stewart covers the political crisis engulfing Ulster and the 4 See Alvin Jackson, Sir Edward Carson (Dublin, 1993). See also Paul Bew, John Redmond (Dublin, 1996) 5 Geoffrey Lewis, Carson (London, 2005) 6 Charles Townshend, Political violence in Ireland (Oxford, 1983) 7 Townshend, Political violence in Ireland, p.249. 8 A.T.Q.Stewart, The Ulster crisis (London, 1967) 3 entire United Kingdom (U.K.), as well as the formation and development of the U.V.F.