Black and Tans

The term Black and Tans refers to the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, which was one of two paramilitary forces employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1920 to 1921, to suppress revolution in Ireland. Although it was established to target the Irish Republican Army, it became notorious through its numerous attacks on the Irish civilian population.

However, Black and Tans is very often used to refer to both the RIC Reserve Force and the other RIC force raised for the Irish War of Independence, the RIC Auxiliary Division.

In January 1920, the British government started adverti...

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Black and Tans

The term Black and Tans refers to the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, which was one of two paramilitary forces employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1920 to 1921, to suppress revolution in Ireland. Although it was established to target the Irish Republican Army, it became notorious through its numerous attacks on the Irish civilian population.

However, Black and Tans is very often used to refer to both the RIC Reserve Force and the other RIC force raised for the Irish War of Independence, the RIC Auxiliary Division.

In January 1920, the British government started advertising in British cities for men willing to "face a rough and dangerous task", helping to boost the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in policing an increasingly anti-British Ireland. There was no shortage of recruits, many of them First World War army veterans, and by November 1921 about 9,500 men had joined. This sudden influx of men led to a shortage of RIC uniforms, and the new recruits were issued with khaki army uniforms (usually only trousers) and dark green RIC or blue British police surplus tunics, caps and belts. This mixture gave rise to their nickname, the Black and Tans, from the name of a famous pack of foxhounds from Limerick, the Scarteen Black and Tans, whose colours were and are similar. The name stuck even after the men received full RIC uniforms."

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The following is excerpted from a lecture by Michael Smith, author of "An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor."

Tom Crean was undoubtedly one of the finest characters to emerge from the Heroic Age of Polar exploration. Few men have made a greater contribution to the annals of Polar exploration and yet have been so badly served by history. For too many years Tom Crean's contributions to the great adventures of Polar exploration have been underestimated or even ignored.

In his own way, Tom Crean was a great man - someone who rose from the most humble of backgrounds to play a significant part in founding the Antarctic Continent. He ...

The following is excerpted from a lecture by Michael Smith, author of "An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor."

Tom Crean was undoubtedly one of the finest characters to emerge from the Heroic Age of Polar exploration. Few men have made a greater contribution to the annals of Polar exploration and yet have been so badly served by history. For too many years Tom Crean's contributions to the great adventures of Polar exploration have been underestimated or even ignored.

In his own way, Tom Crean was a great man - someone who rose from the most humble of backgrounds to play a significant part in founding the Antarctic Continent. He was a central character in some of the most remarkable stories of courage, endurance and heroism.

He figured prominently on three of the four major British expeditions to Antarctica 100 years ago. First on Discovery (1901-04), then on Terra Nova (1910-13) and finally on Endurance (1914-16). He was no bit-player in these expeditions. He was at centre stage in some of the most dramatic events of the whole era. Crean spent more time in the South than either Scott or Shackleton, and he outlived them both.

Crean was one of the rare breed who served both Scott and Shackleton with equal distinction. And Crean was one of an even rarer breed who turned down Shackleton. Despite a personal request from Shackleton, Crean rejected the chance to sail on the Quest in 1921 - what proved to be Shackleton's last journey. Perhaps Crean knew the right time to quit.

Crean was thoroughly reliable, blessed with immense physical strength and, more importantly, had great mental resolve and self confidence. He was also an irrepressible optimist who could crack a joke or sing a song, even at the most difficult times.

Was Liam Neesam in a movie about that a few years back? My old mind plays tricks sometime. Happy New Year Friend in for minutes.

"Michael Collins (film) a 1996 biopic about Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and revolutionary who died in the Irish Civil War. Liam Neeson stars as the title character. Also starring are Aidan Quinn (Harry Boland); Stephen Rea (Ned Broy); Alan Rickman (Eamon de Valera); Julia Roberts (Kitty Kiernan), Brendan Gleeson (Liam Tobin); Ian Hart and Charles Dance. It was scripted and directed by Neil Jordan. The soundtrack was written by Elliot Goldenthal. The film was an internat...

Was Liam Neesam in a movie about that a few years back? My old mind plays tricks sometime. Happy New Year Friend in for minutes.

"Michael Collins (film) a 1996 biopic about Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and revolutionary who died in the Irish Civil War. Liam Neeson stars as the title character. Also starring are Aidan Quinn (Harry Boland); Stephen Rea (Ned Broy); Alan Rickman (Eamon de Valera); Julia Roberts (Kitty Kiernan), Brendan Gleeson (Liam Tobin); Ian Hart and Charles Dance. It was scripted and directed by Neil Jordan. The soundtrack was written by Elliot Goldenthal. The film was an international co-production between companies in Ireland, the UK and the USA.

"In Ireland, the film was extremely successful, becoming the second most successful movie in Irish box-office history and the most successful Irish-made film of all time.

"The Irish Film Censor initially intended to give the film an over-15 Certificate, but later decided that it should be released with a PG certificate because of its historical importance. The censor issued a press statement defending his decision, claiming the film was a landmark in Irish cinema and that "because of the subject matter, parents should have the option of making their own decision as to whether their children should see the film or not".


I availed of this special dispensation to bring my then under age son to see this excellent film. By coincidence, one day last week it was on the TV. I said just watch 10 minutes, then another and another. I couldn't leave it.

Not a lot wrong with your memory, my friend. There's an extraordinary coincidence between the firm, an event this year and an announcement @ 11.30pm 12/31/2007. I'll detail it or clip it separately later. It's about the G.A.A.. More anon.

Our New Year is over 3 hours ago. Yours has yet to met you. Ha ha. I wish all in America a peaceful and prosperous New Year

"Michael Collins (Irish leader) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army.

"His father, also called Michael Collins, had become a member of the republican Fenian movement in his youth, but had left and settled down to farming. The elder Collins was [b...

"Michael Collins (Irish leader) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army.

"His father, also called Michael Collins, had become a member of the republican Fenian movement in his youth, but had left and settled down to farming. The elder Collins was sixty years old when he married Marianne O'Brien, then twenty-three. His father died when Michael was only six years of age.

"Collins first became known during the Easter Rising in 1916. A skilled organiser of considerable intelligence, he was highly respected in the IRB, so much so that he was made financial adviser to Count Plunkett, father of one of the Rising's organisers, Joseph Mary Plunkett, whose aide-de-camp Collins would become.

"When the rising itself took place on Easter Monday, 1916, he fought alongside Patrick Pearse and others in the General Post Office in Dublin.

"Collins was nominated to seek a seat in the 1918 general election to elect Irish MPs to the British House of Commons in London. And like the overwhelming majority, Collins was elected, becoming MP for Cork South."


This is but a snippet. Read from Wikipedia and ask about any queries.

Early Years
Easter Rising
First Dail
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_%28Irish_leader%29#Minister_

righty I use to help on a thrashing machine for oats and wheat, I do not know if we are talking about the same thing? They was a wide cumbersome machine. Every time the wife and I are digging up our Irish Cobblers by hand, I think of the TV shows from Idaho and Maine with the big potato harvesters.

Photos of the trashing mills were real icons of the Irish countryside. They were driven in the yard by fan belts getting their power from looked like a steamroller, which pulled it from farmyard to farmyard. The sieves on wheat or barley were loaded up on top one end and the grain came out the other. I might be mistaken but I think the sacks weighted 20 stone!!! Damage was often do...

righty I use to help on a thrashing machine for oats and wheat, I do not know if we are talking about the same thing? They was a wide cumbersome machine. Every time the wife and I are digging up our Irish Cobblers by hand, I think of the TV shows from Idaho and Maine with the big potato harvesters.

Photos of the trashing mills were real icons of the Irish countryside. They were driven in the yard by fan belts getting their power from looked like a steamroller, which pulled it from farmyard to farmyard. The sieves on wheat or barley were loaded up on top one end and the grain came out the other. I might be mistaken but I think the sacks weighted 20 stone!!! Damage was often done to the sciatic nerve from carrying such weights, which later had to be carried to the top of a mill.

The trashing mill heralded trade unionism of sorts into the Irish countryside. A large force was needed to service the mill. The farmer hired them as a unit but not from the mill owner. You got all or none, sometimes.

I think the other unit needed was a binder. It cut the crop and fired out sieves which were built into stokes. This was before the combine harvester made its mark.

Thanks Righty-When I first read of this man's feat I was moved to tears-not of sorrow but of pride.

His exploits were exceptional but don't tell the entire story by any means. Read the others accounts and he isn't mentioned by name on Wikipedia. The two British naval officers were glory seekers,but not Cream. Joining as a child, from the wrong country with the wrong faith, the wrong language and yet he was indispensable and promoted from the ranks from rating, the lowest, to officer and most deservedly decorated by the king. Irish ratings didn't get decorated often/ever.

When the British 'hero' got it wrong and brought horses that proved useless it was Crean and the other ra...

Thanks Righty-When I first read of this man's feat I was moved to tears-not of sorrow but of pride.

His exploits were exceptional but don't tell the entire story by any means. Read the others accounts and he isn't mentioned by name on Wikipedia. The two British naval officers were glory seekers,but not Cream. Joining as a child, from the wrong country with the wrong faith, the wrong language and yet he was indispensable and promoted from the ranks from rating, the lowest, to officer and most deservedly decorated by the king. Irish ratings didn't get decorated often/ever.

When the British 'hero' got it wrong and brought horses that proved useless it was Crean and the other ratings, and NOT the officers that hauled the sledges to the South Pole. The offices did NO manual work. In conditions like the Arctic, effort was all, not brain.

He was on 3 of the 4 British expeditions. The forth was a disaster. You'll never see the likes of him again, ever.