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The Black and Tans: Unraveling the Truth Behind Britain’s Auxiliary Forces in Ireland

The Black and Tans: Unraveling the Truth Behind Britain’s Auxiliary Forces in Ireland

On January 2, 1920, recruitment for the Black and Tans began, a controversial auxiliary force created by Britain during the Irish War of Independence. By March 25, 1920, these temporary constables arrived in Ireland, where they became infamous for their brutal tactics. However, a 2011 book by Canadian historian David Leeson, The Black Tans: British Police and Auxiliaries in the Irish War of Independence, 1920-1921, challenges the long-standing narrative about this force, suggesting that the history we know may have been shaped by myth rather than fact.

Leeson’s work, published by Oxford University Press, uncovers a far more complex and nuanced story of the Black and Tans, countering the version widely taught in Irish schools. This re-examination is set to surprise many, especially those with longstanding ties to Ireland, including President Joe Biden, who has often spoken about the atrocities committed by the Black and Tans.

The Black and Tans were initially recruited to assist the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in maintaining order during the War of Independence. Traditionally, they have been portrayed as a brutal militia, comprised of ex-soldiers and criminals who were unleashed upon Ireland to suppress the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This narrative has painted them as a reckless, murderous group, but according to Leeson, much of this portrayal is inaccurate.

In a review of Leeson’s book, historian Eunan O’Halpin, writing for The Irish Times, reveals that the Black and Tans were not solely made up of the dregs of British society, as often depicted. Rather, they consisted of both British and Irish ex-servicemen, many of whom had no criminal background. O’Halpin writes, “Leeson’s careful analysis of Black and Tan recruitment disposes of the widely altered charge that these temporary policemen were the sweepings of the British penal system.” This challenges the deeply ingrained belief that the force was made up of individuals seeking to escape criminal charges or punishment.

Moreover, O’Halpin highlights that pre-World War I soldiers were more likely to commit disciplinary infractions and criminal offenses than the younger men who made up the Black and Tans. This finding contradicts the assumption that the brutality of the Black and Tans was a direct result of the traumatic experiences of younger men who had served in the First World War.

While the Black and Tans were intended to work in tandem with the regular RIC forces, their role was far more aggressive, with their primary mission being to confront the IRA directly. In this regard, the Black and Tans certainly lived up to their task, but not without controversy. Their actions, as Leeson and other historians suggest, were at times no more brutal than those of regular British soldiers, who were responsible for much of the violence during this turbulent period.

However, other accounts from the era, such as 1920-1922 The Outrages by Pearse Lawlor, underscore the complexity of the conflict. Lawlor, too, points out that some of the worst atrocities were committed not by the Black and Tans but by groups like the Ulster Special Constabulary, also known as the “B Specials.” These men were implicated in numerous violent acts, including the brutal killing of an elderly Protestant clergyman in County Cavan, as well as leading pogroms against Catholics in several towns.

As history continues to be re-examined, new perspectives challenge the older narratives that have long shaped our understanding of the Irish War of Independence. Both sides of the conflict, the IRA and British forces alike, committed acts of violence that have left lasting scars on the Irish national consciousness. The ongoing reassessment of these events is a reminder that, as in all wars, the truth is often more complicated than we are led to believe.

The story of the Black and Tans, once seen as a clear-cut tale of British repression, is now a subject of greater complexity and controversy. These revelations serve to underline the need for a deeper, more critical examination of history—one that recognizes the brutality on all sides of the conflict.

Gmtutul

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