2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment


2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment was formed in 1970 as part of the seven original battalions specified in the Ulster Defence Regiment Act 1969, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 1969 and was brought into force on 1 January 1970. It was, along with the rest of the regiment, amalgamated with the Royal Irish Rangers in 1992 to form the Royal Irish Regiment. It had previously been amalgamated in 1991 with the 11th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment to form the 2nd/11th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment.

History

The raising of citizen militias has a history in Ireland stretching back to the creation of the Irish Militia in 1793. The raising of UDR battalions on a county basis followed the pattern of raising militias.
Along with the other six original battalions, 2 UDR commenced operational duties on 1 April 1970.
Headquarters was originally in the ancient Gough Barracks in Armagh City, formerly home to the Depot, Royal Irish Fusiliers, but was later moved to purpose-built accommodation on a new site on the Hamiltonsbawn Road called Drumadd Barracks which was shared with the regular army and also later served as an HQ for 3 Infantry Brigade. At various times the battalion had companies in Armagh, Loughgall, Glenanne, and Lurgan, plus platoons in Keady and Newtownhamilton.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Torrens-Spence, previously County Commandant for County Armagh of the Ulster Special Constabulary, was the first Commanding Officer and served from 1970 to 1972.
Major P.R. Adair, Coldstream Guards, was the first training major. Part of his job was to find accommodation for the new companies of the battalion. Where possible accommodation was sought in army bases and although the old Ulster Special Constabulary platoon huts were vacant and available, to have used those would have highlighted further the links between the UDR and the disbanded USC.
Due to its location and patrol territory in the "bandit country" of South Armagh, this was one of the most heavily engaged battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment and had the longest list of casualties. The battalion was always understrength as a result so the decision was taken in 1982, when the permanent cadre had dropped to 184, to transfer an entire platoon from 9 UDR into the 2nd battalion. This wasn't as straightforward as transferring soldiers from regular units as UDR soldiers lived at home and their barracks had very limited accommodation, but it was effected successfully.
2 UDR was responsible for of County Armagh, the smallest UDR battalion area but the most dangerous area during the Troubles for British military personnel.
The battalion provided the station guard for the Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks at Bessbrook. On one occasion when a proxy bomb arrived at the barracks, they had to clear the area and carry several children to safety before the device exploded.

Appointment of NCOs

The appointment of non-commissioned officers was carried out by the enlisted men, choosing who they felt would make the best corporals and sergeants. The filling of senior NCO posts in this manner had a drawback, in that many men of comparatively young ages who had considerable years of service before retirement or promotion created a "promotion block".

Notable members

Protestant and Catholic soldiers were both intimidated out of the regiment. Following the introduction of internment however more Catholic soldiers found themselves the subject of intimidation from within their own community. A corporal from 2 UDR was threatened that his mother would be burnt out if he did not leave the regiment.

Uniform, armament & equipment

See: Ulster Defence Regiment Uniform, armament & equipment

Greenfinches

The first Greenfinch was enlisted at the battalion's Headquarters in Armagh on 16 September 1973. By 1991 she had risen to the rank of Warrant Officer.

Destruction of Glenanne Barracks

See also: Glenanne barracks bombing & Ulster Defence Regiment
Two companies of the 2nd Battalion were based at the border outpost of Glenanne Barracks which had been built in 1972. Prior to the attack, seven had already been killed while serving.
At 11:30 PM on the 31 May 1991, a truck loaded with of a new type of home made explosive was rolled down a hill at the rear of the barracks and crashed through the perimeter fence, coming to rest against a corner of the main building. According to a witness, in addition to the truck, there was a Toyota Hiace van carrying at least two men acting as a support vehicle. They were seen outside the parked van, masked and armed; one with a handgun, the other with a submachine gun. Automatic fire was heard by other witnesses just before the main blast. It was later determined that the lorry had been stolen the day before in Kingscourt, in the Republic of Ireland.
The bomb crater was deep; the blast threw debris and shrapnel as far as. The explosion was heard over

Casualties

2 UDR had the highest casualty rate of all the UDR battalions losing 65 men and women on active duty.
The first recorded use of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's Mk12 device fired horizontally was against a mobile patrol from 2 UDR on 1 March 1991. Two soldiers died as a result of the attack. The funeral of one, Private Paul Sutcliffe, an Englishman, was held in Barrowford, Lancashire - the only UDR funeral to be held outside Northern Ireland. The second casualty, Private Roger Love, from Portadown, died after three days. His kidneys were donated to the NHS.

Amalgamation

The numbers in the battalion fell so low that it was decided, under the "Project Infancy" Options for Change recommendations, to amalgamate it with the 11th Battalion. This took place on 30 September 1991, forming 2nd/11th Battalion, based at Mahon Road Barracks, Portadown but retaining companies in Drumadd Barracks, Armagh.

Notable personnel