Black and Tans

E87484

The Black and Tans were a British paramilitary police force deployed in Ireland during the War of Independence, notorious for their harsh reprisals and brutality against the Irish population.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf British auxiliary police force
paramilitary police force
allegiance British Crown
alsoKnownAs RIC Special Reserve
approximateStrength about 10,000 members
associatedWith Auxiliary Division of the RIC
casualtiesInflictedOn Irish Republican Army members
Irish civilians
commandStructure Royal Irish Constabulary
conflict Irish War of Independence NERFINISHED
country United Kingdom
criticizedBy British liberals
Irish nationalist movement
demobilizedAfter Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921
disbandedInYear 1922
formationYear 1920
formedBy British government
Winston Churchill
governedBy Dublin Castle administration
language English
legacy symbol of British repression in Ireland
legalStatus police reserve force
memorializedIn Irish folk songs
Irish nationalist literature
nicknameOrigin resemblance to a black-and-tan hunting pack
notableEvent Burning of Cork
Sack of Balbriggan
notableFor arson and looting
civilian atrocities
collective punishment
harsh reprisals
indiscriminate violence
operatedIn Connacht
Ireland
Leinster
Munster
Ulster
operationalPeriodEnd 1922
operationalPeriodStart March 1920
partOf Royal Irish Constabulary
primaryOpponent Irish Republican Army
purpose to reinforce the Royal Irish Constabulary
to suppress Irish republican activity
recruitedFrom British Army veterans
World War I veterans
role counter-insurgency
policing
subjectOf historical controversy
war crimes allegations
trainingLocation Gormanstown Camp
uniformFeature mix of British Army khaki and RIC dark green


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