The BLACK & TANS In Ireland:

The "Black & Tans" were a force of 9,500 armed temporary constables sent to Ireland 99 years ago to combat nationalists fighting for Irish Independence. This notorious police force existed only for three years from 1919 to 1922.

These men were mostly recruited from unemployed ex British Army Great War veterans, into the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve - and this group usually includes the separate RIC Auxiliary Division that was a counter-insurgency force made-up of former British army Officers.

The name 'BLACK & TANS' comes from the coloration of the fox hunting pack of black & tan "Kerry Beagles" of The Scarteen Hunt of County Limerick. 

Note: The Special Reserve's uniform "black" was actually a very dark RIC Green.

Kerry Beagle

 At least some of the infamy of the Black and Tans may be undeserved as many of the war crimes attributed to the Black and Tans were actually the work of the officer "Auxies"..

There were around 9,500 men recruited at a pay of 10 shillings a day with full board & lodging in Ireland.

After only three months training they deployed into Ireland wearing makeshift uniforms .. burning and sacking many villages .. including  Tuam in County Galway in July 1920 (There is a TUAM Street in Christcurch N.Z.) -  Trim, Balbriggan, Knockcroghery, Thurles, Templemore  & Trallee - also burning and destroying the city center of Cork.

This was all in living memory of the Great Irish Famine of seventy years earlier and the following land evictions and the 'Boycott' movement against English landlords.

The numerous war crimes the Black & Tans committed against the Irish people greatly strengthened anti-British feelings and support for the IRA.

A sad time in the history of the British occupation of Ireland.

Marty K.