Not Dad's Army - Northern Ireland's ѿý Guard
Chris Capper tells the story of the Ulster ѿý Guard, including why Catholics were deeply suspicious of it and did not join up.
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The Story Of The Ulster ѿý Guard
Duration: 00:46
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A Call To Arms
Duration: 00:54
Not Dad's Army
Northern Ireland had a ѿý Guard during the Second World War – but they were no Dad’s Army. Worried about the dangers of inadvertently training Irish Republicans, the authorities opted to place it under the command of the ‘B’ Specials. They might have been viewed by Churchill as the only properly armed and disciplined force left to defend UK from a backdoor German invasion but Catholics were deeply suspicious of the Ulster outfit and didn't join up. Chris Capper tells the story of the controversial Ulster ѿý Guard.
ULSTER HOME GUARD TRAINING VIDEO
This clip taken from “The Story of the Ulster ѿý Guard” in 1945 shows local volunteers training and preparing in the eventuality of a German invasion. Used with permission from the Public Records Office Northern Ireland.
RECRUITMENT VIDEO
Major General V.H.B Majendie, commanding officer for Northern Ireland, appeals for support for the Ulster ѿý Guard in this recruitment video from 1942.
Used with permission from the Police Museum of Northern Ireland.
Presenter: Chris Capper
Producer: Peter Coulter
Exec Producer: Adam Smyth
Broadcasts
- Sun 1 Mar 2015 12:30ѿý Radio Foyle & ѿý Radio Ulster
- Thu 5 Mar 2015 19:30ѿý Radio Ulster
Podcast
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Stories in Sound
Radio Ulster brings together radio documentaries from UK and Irish broadcasters.