The 36th (Ulster) Division
As the war raged on in Europe, Kitchener had foreseen that the British Army and their territorial support units, did not have the manpower to mount and maintain a sustained campaign. He was given permission to form a 'New Army' made up of entirely untrained civilian volunteers. By the end of 1914 around 1,200,000 had answered the call to arms and enlisted as 'Kitchener's Men'. It is a sad and tragic fact worth remembering that while these volunteers were loyal and dedicated, because of the short time involved, these men of the New Army were insufficiently trained in the soldiers' skills of warfare. Consequently, the battle tactics which they were ordered to follow by their commanders were more strict and regimented than those which would normally have been issued to men of the Regular Army. This was to have a serious effect upon the outcome of the Battle of the Somme. It was these Volunteers who formed a very extensive part of the army which fought at the Somme. Large numbers had seen no fighting before the battle and many died within minutes of it starting.
In Ulster, the unsettled political climate, meant that the build up to war was far more complicated than on the mainland. The Ulster Unionists were now doubting many of the recent statements regarding Home Rule but the British Government had also become very unsettled by the actions of the Ulstermen. Consider the following statement by nationalist M.P. Tim Healy given in December 1913 :- "The dedication, efficiency and smartness of the Ulster Volunteer Force, their complete devotion to, and trust in Carson, and their unshakeable determination at length began to cause a distinct chill of uneasiness in the corridors of Westminster."
The UVF had indeed become a formidable armed fighting force. They were sworn to defend Ulster and showed unswerving loyalty to Lord Carson who had previously gave the following commitment to the people of Ulster :-
"I promise you as long as you stand firm, I and those associated with me will most certainly stand firm and we will never have Home Rule."
The UVF's commitment went further than just standing firm of course. Consider the following statement from Captain Crozier, the officer commanding the special service section of the UVF :- "The headquarters of the Ulster Volunteer Force had been transferred from the Belfast Old Town Hall to James Crag's residence in Craigavon. Units of my Special Service Section, the West Belfast Volunteers, were mobilised and put on 'stand by' along with the Motor Cycle Corps. And met Carson at the Belfast Docks the next morning. My orders were clear and definite - 'If Carson is arrested, I and my men were to 'neutralise' the police and rescue Carson and deliver him to Craigavon."
With Kitchener's call to arms, the Ulster Unionists were in absolutely no doubt what they would do to answer it. With the addition of the YCVs, the UVF now numbered over 90,000 men who had been training and drilling together for some time. Carson new this would be a much needed contribution to the war effort but his resolve over Ulster had not weakened. Consider his famous speech to the massed ranks of the UVF at Glencairn on the 6th of June 1914. It contained these immortal words :- "I rely on every man to fight for his arms and allow no man to take them from him."
The UVF and the Ulster Unionists were determined to serve Britain in her time of need. Carson himself assured that :- "..a large body of Ulster Volunteers will be willing to give their services for Home Defence and many will be willing and ready to serve anywhere they are required."
The situation is best summed up by this extract from the book 'Kitchener's Army written by Ray Westlake :- ".....it was clear that the UVF was in a position to make an important contribution to the recruitment of the New Armies. Lord Kitchener met with Sir Edward Carson in London who, although eager to help was concerned at how the situation in Ireland might turn while his force was away at war. The Government were not able to give any guarantees that might put Sir Edward’s mind at rest. However, he later agreed to raise a Division, without any conditions....."
In what is a legendary part of loyalist history, the UVF became part of the 36th (Ulster) Division when that Division was raised in August 1914 along with two other divisions from Ireland. Carson issued the following instruction to the Secretary of the Ulster Unionist Council :- "All officers, non-commissioned officers and men who are enrolled in the Ulster Volunteer Force, and who are liable to be called out by His Majesty for service in the present crisis are re quested to answer immediately. His Majesty's call as our first duty, as loyal subjects to the King."
The members of the UVF accepted this with total agreement but they did have very justified concerns. A telegram which Carson received from a UVF officer in Belfast highlighted the dilemma :- "Can we assure men before giving names for United Kingdom or Foreign Service no danger of Home Rule passing while they are away?"
To answer this question the UVF were to adopt an elaborate 'back up' plan that would provide a mechanism with which Ulster's defence would be assured. This is an extract from the orders issued by Colonel G. Hacket Pain from UVF headquarters on the 7th of August 1914 and sent to 'all divisional, regimental and battalion commanders' of the UVF:- "...it is to be understood that it would be extremely unlikely that the full number who volunteer would be required, but in any case it is certain that arrangements would be made to leave sufficient men in each district and locality to keep order and guard property. The proposals are that the men should be formed into marching battalions, where possible. The plan for the organisation of these battalions is already in existence. The advantages of these arrangements are that, while helping forward the cause of the United Kingdom against a foreign enemy, Ulster is no wise weakens herself, as arms etc. now in possession will be retained, and a large number of men will be left to use them. This circular is on no account to be communicated to the press."
The honour of providing the first detachment of recruits was claimed by the South Belfast Regiment of the UVF. The special service battalion of that regiment paraded at Dunmore early on 4 September and was addressed by Carson. They then marched with Carson and Craig at their head to the Old Town Hall, which had become a recruiting depot.
The first man to pass the medical examination and become the first recruit was William Hanna of 43 Brussels Street, a veteran of the Boer War. On the opening day 600 men went before the doctors and only 40 were rejected. The following day, men from the East, South and West Belfast battalions and the Young Citizens Volunteers began enlisting. Outside Belfast, anticipating the formation of the Ulster Division, Ambrose Ricardo had raised two companies from the Tyrone UVF, which were to become the nucleus of the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Inniskilling Fusiliers.
The UVF provided thirteen battalions for the three Irish regiments based in Ulster; the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Rifles.
These regiments were then formed into infantry brigades numbered 1, 2 & 3 which were classed as the 36th (Ulster) Division who adopted the following titles (the original UVF regiment title is given in brackets) :-
No.1 - 107th Infantry Brigade
8th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (East Belfast Volunteers)
9th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (West Belfast Volunteers)
10th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (South Belfast Volunteers)
15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (North Belfast Volunteers)
No.2 - 108th Infantry Brigade
11th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (South Antrim Volunteers)
12th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (Central Antrim Volunteers)
13th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (1st County Down Volunteers)
9th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers (Armagh, Monaghan and Cavan Volunteers)
No.3 - 109th Infantry Brigade
9th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Tyrone Volunteers)
10th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Derry Volunteers)
11th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Donegal & Fermanagh Volunteers)
14th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizen Volunteers)
The remaining units of the 36th (Ulster) Division were as follows :-
Pioneer Battalion
16th Bn Royal Irish Rifles (2nd County Down Volunteers)
Artillery
153rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
154th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
172nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
173rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Royal Engineers
121st Field Company
122nd Field Company
150th Field Company
Service Squadron Royal Inniskilling Dragoons
36th Divisional Signal Company: Royal Engineers
Divisional Cyclist Company
Royal Army Medical Corps
108th Field Ambulance
109th Field Ambulance
110th Field Ambulance
76th Sanitary Section, R.A.M.C
Divisional Train, R.A.S.C
48th Mobile Veterinary Section
The Division was under the direct command of Major-General C.H. Powell, who outranked Sir George Richardson the Officer commanding the U.V.F. It was agreed Major-General O.S.W Nugent D.S.O who had commanded a brigade in France, had been appointed to succeed Powell. Gen. Nugent was to remain with the division for over two and a half years. Today General Nugent’s name is universally associated with the Ulster Division.