» Details
Hughes, Gavin
The Hounds of Ulster
A History of the Northern Irish Regiments in the Great War
Year of Publication: 2012
Oxford, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, New York, Wien, 2012. XVI, 305 pp., 6 b/w ill.
ISBN 978-3-0343-0833-5 br.
(Softcover)
ISBN
978-3-0353-0316-2
(eBook)
Weight: 0.470 kg, 1.036 lbs
available PDF
- Softcover:
- SFR 68.00
- €* 60.10
- €** 61.80
- € 56.20
- £ 45.00
- US$ 73.95
- Softcover
- eBook:
- SFR 71.65
- €* 66.88
- €** 67.44
- € 56.20
- £ 45.00
- US$ 73.95
- eBook (PDF / Epub)
» Currency of invoice
* includes VAT – valid for Germany and EU customers without VAT Reg No
** includes VAT - only valid for Austria
Discipline
Book synopsis
At the outbreak of the Great War, the regiments of Ulster already boasted a proud tradition. The ‘Skins’, the ‘Inniskillings’, the ‘Faughs’ and the ‘Rifles’ had all fought with distinction from Waterloo to South Africa. In August 1914, the number of Northern Irish infantry battalions stood at just thirteen, six of which were Regular units. By November 1918, this had increased to forty-six infantry battalions, thirty of which had been deployed in the spiralling conflict overseas. Of this number, an incredible twenty-four battalions were raised from volunteers.
This book gives a concise thematic account of the complex experiences of the Northern Irish regiments at war, whether they served in the quagmire of the Western Front, the dusty slit-trenches of Gallipoli and Salonica or the baking heat of the Holy Land. Above all, it tells the story of the fighting men themselves. Whether they were veteran Regulars, apolitical volunteers or men who had drilled and marched with the Ulster Volunteer Force or the Irish National Volunteers, they were all swept into the maelstrom of ‘total war’. This study provides a richly detailed analysis of the role played by the Ulster regiments in a conflict which shattered the old world order forever.
Contents
Contents: Ulster military tradition and identity – Mobilisation – Recruitment – Ulster Cavalry and Regular regiments on the Western Front – Politics in the ranks – Religion in the trenches – Gallipoli, Salonica and the Palestinian campaigns – Ulster traditions and cultural identity in the field – Anti-recruitment and the Easter Rising – The conscription crisis – The Armistice and post-war conflict.
About the author(s)/editor(s)
Gavin Hughes holds a PhD from the University of Wales, Lampeter, and is a Research Associate at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Trinity College, Dublin. His research interests lie in British and Irish military history and archaeology.
Reviews
«This fine work tells us how, in its closing words, ‘They [the Northern Irish Regiments] created inspiration for us all’. We thank Gavin for having portrayed this so well in my favourite read so far this year.» (Bob Wyatt, Stand To! 2013/96)