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.
Major P.R. Adair, Coldstream Guards, was the first training major (TISO).[4] 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.[4]
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.[11] The battalion was always understrength as a result the decision was taken in 1982 when the permanent cadre had dropped to 184, to transfer an entire platoon from 9 UDR (who were patrolling one of the quietest areas in the province) into the 2nd battalion.[12] 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.[12]
2 UDR was responsible for 650 square kilometres (250 sq mi) of County Armagh, the smallest UDR battalion area but the most dangerous area during the Troubles for British military personnel.[11]
The battalion provided the station guard for the Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks at Bessbrook.[13] 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 30 pounds (14 kg) device exploded.[13]
Appointment of NCOs
The appointment of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) 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".[14]
Protestant and Catholic soldiers were both intimidated out of the regiment.[19] Following the introduction of internment however more Catholic soldiers found themselves the subject of intimidation from within their own community.[19] A corporal from 2 UDR was threatened that his mother would be burnt out if he did not leave the regiment.[19]
The first Greenfinch (female soldier) was enlisted at the battalion's Headquarters (HQ) in Armagh on 16 September 1973. By 1991 she had risen to the rank of Warrant Officer.[11]
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.[20]
At 11:30 PM on 31 May 1991, a truck loaded with 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of a new type of home made explosive was rolled (driverless) 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.[21][22] 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.[23] 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.[24]
The bomb crater was 200 feet (61 m) deep; the blast threw debris and shrapnel as far as 300 yards (270 m).[21] The explosion was heard over 30 miles (48 km) away in Dundalk.[22] It was the largest bomb detonated by the IRA until that point in time. Most of the base was destroyed by the blast and the fire that followed.[22][25] There was also substantial damage to local dwelling houses and other buildings.[26]
The barracks guard was usually eight soldiers, but that night there were 40 people in the barracks, attending a social event.[23] Three soldiers: Lance Corporal Robert Crozier age 46, Private Sydney Hamilton age 44 and Private Paul Blakely age 30, died instantly[24] and ten were wounded.[22] Four civilians were also wounded.[22]
The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility two days later.[22]
The base was never rebuilt. All that remains is a line of trees marking where the main gate stood and a memorial by the main road inscribed with the names of all the UDR soldiers from the base who were killed whilst serving there.[26]
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.[27][28] Two soldiers died as a result of the attack. The funeral of one of them, Private Paul Sutcliffe, an Englishman, was held in Barrowford, Lancashire - the only UDR funeral to be held outside Northern Ireland.[28] The second casualty, Private Roger Love, from Portadown, died after three days. His kidneys were donated to the NHS.[28]
