British Tactics
troops of the Royal Irish Constabulary lying along the edge of a road beside a field during an ambush in County Clare. An armoured vehicle can be seen on the left of the photograph. © IWM (Q 107751)
In early 1919, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) campaign against the police was in full force. This led to an increase in resignations from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and an ineffective police force in large parts of southern Ireland.
Lord-Lieutenant Sir John French consistently called upon politicians in London to take stronger measures against attacks on the RIC. These calls were rejected by Prime Minister David Lloyd George as he was insistent that he did not want to start a war.
The solution to the declining numbers of constables was the introduction of the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve - also known as “Black and Tans”. The main purpose of the Black and Tans was to increase the strength of police posts and to assist the RIC in the battle against the IRA.
But despite only being deployed for two years, the Black and Tans gained a reputation for their reckless and ill-tempered revenge attacks against the IRA and civilians.
Following increased violence in the summer of 1920, the British government established the Auxiliary Division. The Auxiliaries were a paramilitary unit of the RIC whose role was to conduct counter insurgency operations against the republican forces. Due to the wealth of fully motorised and armoured vehicles at their disposal, the Auxiliaries were recognised as a highly mobile and elite force.
Similar to the Black and Tans, the Auxiliaries became known for their intimidation tactics, raids on private property and violent actions against civilians and communities such as the burning of Cork.
Arranged as a revenge attack for an IRA ambush on British forces, on the evening of the 11th December 1920, British forces deliberately set fire to several blocks of buildings along the east and south of St Patrick's Street, Cork.
Among the 200 buildings destroyed were the City Hall, Carnegie Library and a host of business premises.
Violent actions by the British forces only increased support for the republican effort in Ireland, whilst enlarging critical opinion of the government in Westminster by the public in Britain.