One of the most contentious and contested elementsof modern Northern Ireland is that of flags.

‘Colours’ as some refer to them have been the focusof many disputes and arguments. Flags of all

descriptions have in many instances been used asweapons and to many from all sections of the

community in Northern Ireland symbolise pain and hurt.

REACT has for a number of years been working with agroup of young men from Armagh who feel stronglyabout preserving the tradition which exists within

their community of erecting flags during the marchingseason and building bonfires which are burnt to

celebrate the Twelfth of July. Some of the flags theyerect bear the name and symbols of the Ulster

Volunteer Force and have a history 100 years old.As part of this work in 2011 we engaged them in an

educational project to develop a better understandingof the historical significance attached to these flags

and critically reflect on why they erect them.

FLAGS&EMBLEMS

Explaining the history of

FLAGS&EMBLEMS

REACT, 2 Mallview Terrace, Armagh, BT61 9AN T: 028 3752 6869 E: reactni@yahoo.co.uk

Explaining the history of

This project received financial support from CRC as a contribution to a wider community debateabout important matters. The views expressed are of the authors and not those of CRC.

Researched by Quincey Dougan - E: kvfb@yahoo.com

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The significance of theUlster Volunteer ForceThe sheer scale of deaths during WW1 meantthat very few families were unaffected directlyor indirectly. In turn the scale of the U.V.F. andits involvement in the 36th Ulster Division andin many other ‘regular’ army units, was anintegral part of that for thousands. Armagh'sposition as a garrison city exacerbated that toan even greater extent. Today countless peoplecan trace their grandparent's or great

grandparent’s role in that War, with manyhaving the unfortunate distinction as

having died in battle fields manymiles away.

Those erecting flags in Armaghin the present day bearing theUVF moniker believe that theyrelate to these past eventsand are erected by theseyoung men who wish to paya direct tribute and memorialto the men who died, many

in futile battles.

The ‘Purple Standard’The flag most commonly used to commemoratethe Ulster Volunteer Force is the PurpleStandard. This flag actually owes its origins toBritish ensign design dating prior to the 1600's.

These flags commonlyheld a St George’s Crossin the top corner on abroader field of colour.

King William of Orange on his arrival to theBritish Isles carried a version of this ensignconsisting of St George’s Cross in the top corner,on a field of Orange and with a 5 pointed purpleStar in the bottom right corner.

Upon the inception of theUlster Volunteer movement in1912, this flag was actuallycarried at demonstrations,and reported as being the original although thatis highly unlikely. The Volunteer leadership at anearly stage inverted the colours of this flag andadded the letters U.V.F. This became theorganisation's official colour. It was firstofficially on display on the U.V.F. review paradeheld at Balmoral, Belfast in 1912.

In 2010 this original flag was sold in thefamous Whyte's auction House Dublin for theprincely sum of £5000. (pictured) The flagdisplayed today is a copy of this original flag intribute to the Volunteers of 1912.

Young Citizen Volunteers /14th Battalion Royal Irish Rif lesThe Young Citizen Volunteers of Ireland were formed at ameeting in Belfast City Hall on 10th September 1912.

Despite the Home Rule Crisis and the upcoming UlsterCovenant signing, the Y.C.V. was actually formed as a totallynon-political organisation. It owes its beginnings to a groupcalled the Belfast Citizens Association, regarded as basicallya 'rate payers' rights lobby. Some involved saw it as a seniororganisation that members of the Boys Brigade, Boy Scoutsand Church Lads Brigade could pass into. The Y.C.V. was anon-denominational organisation and had originally over 400Roman Catholics and a high proportion of Jewish members.

As the Home Rule crisis evolved, the Y.C.V. becameamalgamated into the U.V.F., though it maintained its owncommand structure. After the outbreak of World War 1 andthe formation of the 36th Ulster Division, the men of Y.C.V.became the 14th (Service) Battalion (Young Citizens) of theRoyal Irish Rifles.

The original flag dedicated to this amalgamation now hangsin St Anne's Cathedral Belfast (Pictured). To fully honourthese men, this original was amended and a tribute flagcreated some time in the past that incorporated both theYoung Citizen Volunteers and 14th Battalion Royal IrishRifles titles; their original badge of shamrock and redhand; and the Battle honours of the 14th Battalion inWW1.(pictured) This flag is commonly displayed today.

U.V.F. KingsColoursThe title 'Kings Colour' refers directly toa long held British Military traditionwhereby Battalions and Regiments ofthe British Army would each have theirown specific 'Kings Colour'. This wasthe Union Flag modified to include themotif and name of the specific unit.

In addition, Battalions and Regimentswould also add their 'Battle Honours'at either side, namely the fields ofBattle they had engaged in across theworld. This was and is not a specificWW1 convention. The Ulster VolunteerForce Kings Colour that is displayedtoday is a direct and unequivocaltribute to the U.V.F. and theirincorporation into the 36th UlsterDivision of the British Army createdin 1914. It consists of the Union Flagincorporating the U.V.F. moniker anda list of the primary Battle Fields onwhich the men of the 36th UlsterDivision fought.

What was theUlster Volunteer Force?The Ulster Volunteer Force was formed in 1912,officially constituted in January 1913, and was a totallylegal organisation. At the onset of the Home RuleCrisis, many Unionists in Ireland felt strongly enoughagainst its imposition to raise what was a de-factoarmy to place pressure on the British Governmentagainst the concept.

The U.V.F. was formed across all 9 Ulster Counties andconsisted of just over 100,000 men. It was made up ofRegiments, Battalions and Companies; had a Motor CarCorps, Signalling and Dispatch Riding Corps, MedicalAid and Nursing Corps and Special Service Forces. Whilethere is no doubt that the organisation was raised in amilitary like fashion, it should be remembered that at

the time this was not seen as an outlandish or offensiveideal. There is no record of the U.V.F. ever engaging inany offensive or defensive action in Ireland; of attackingthe Catholic community; or even a suggestion that suchan action was planned or possible.

Where the Ulster Volunteers differ from other legallyformed militias of the past centuries, is that upon theoutbreak of World War 1 they were directly incorporatedinto a British Army Division. This '36th Ulster Division'was unique in the nature of its creation. Much of theU.V.F. command structure was kept in place, and UlsterVolunteers in their tens of thousands made up the menwithin its ranks. It had its own specifically relevantbadge, namely the Red Hand.

During the terrible conflict that was World War 1,the 36th Ulster Division suffered some of the heaviestcasualties of the entire British Army, including theinfamous Battle of the Somme where there it bore over5000 casualties. When the 36th Ulster Divisionsuffered, it was the U.V.F. that also suffered.

The Ulster VolunteerForce in ArmaghIn County Armagh the Ulster VolunteerForce had over 8000 members. It wasorganised into one County Regiment andconsisted of 5 sub Battalions coveringseparate areas. This included the 1stBattalion 'Armagh, Loughgall, Richill,Middletown and Killylea', 2nd Battalion'Markethill, Newtownhamilton and Keady',3rd Battalion 'Tandragee and Bessbrook',4th Battalion 'Portadown' and 5thBattalion 'Lurgan'.

When the 36th Ulster Division wasformed, a new Battalion of the RoyalIrish Fusiliers was created for the U.V.F.men of Armagh. The 9th Battalion RoyalIrish Fusiliers were made up exclusivelyof the Co Armagh Regiment U.V.F.,Co Monaghan Regiment U.V.F. and Co CavanRegiment U.V.F..

The 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers wascommanded by the commander of theCounty Armagh Regiment U.V.F., MajorStewart Blacker. On the 1st of July morningon the Somme Battlefield, 615 men fromthe 9th Battalion went over the trenches.Only 83 returned.

Above: The Y.C.V. flag thathangs in St Anne’s Cathedral

Above: The Volunteer Kings Colour flowntoday to commemorate some of themost famous WW1 battles where U.V.F.members played a major roleLeft: The Y.C.V. Tribute flag flown today

Above: The original Volunteer Standard,a version of which is flown today

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