Covering the period from the Armistice to 1939, the book examines the experiences of Irish soldiers who had fought in the British army in the First World War on returning home to what became the Irish Free State. At the onset of the War, southern Irishmen volunteered in large numbers and marched off accompanied by cheering crowds and the promise of a hero’s welcome home. In 1916, while its soldiers fought in the British army, Ireland witnessed an insurrection against British rule, the Easter Rising. Ireland’s soldiers returned to a much-changed country, which no longer recognised their motives for fighting and which was at war with the country in whose army they had served. It has long been believed that the returning soldiers were subject to intimidation by the IRA, some killed as a retrospective punishment for their service with the imperial power, and that they formed a marginalised group in Irish society. Using new sources, this enlightening book argues otherwise and examines their successful integration into Irish society in the interwar years and the generous support given to them by the British Government. Far from being British loyalists, many served in the IRA and the Free State army, and became republican supporters.
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The book examines the experiences of Irish soldiers returning from the Great War to the part of Ireland that became the Irish Free State covering the period from the Armistice to 1939.
Biographical NotesGlossary/TermsAbbreviationsINTRODUCTIONEx-Servicemen and their place in Irish HistoryIrish Soldiers: Who were they?PART I TIME OF CONFLICT: 1919 - 19231. Violence and IntimidationRecords of the PerpetratorsRecords of the Victims2. Were Ex-Servicemen Targeted?Patterns of ViolenceLoyalists and RepublicansThe Case against Ex-Servicemen being TargetedPART ll BRITAIN: LEGACY OF OBLIGATION 1919 – 19393. An Imperial ObligationEmployment - The Able BodiedEmployment - The DisabledEmployment - Transitional Arrangements and Post 1922Pensions and Health - The Physically DisabledPensions and Health - The Mentally DisabledPensions and Health – Ex-Servicemen in the Free State ArmyClaims and CompensationEmigrationAllocation of Land4. Homes for HeroesRental Policy and Rent StrikesSupreme Court Rulings and the Struggle to Reassert AuthorityTreatment of Widows and the DisabledBegrudging GratitudePART III Ireland: State and Community: 1922 -19395. Equal Citizens of the StateAttitude of the Government – Relationship with the TrustAttitude of the Government – Reaction to GrievancesAttitude of the Government - The Political ContextGovernment and EmploymentEx-Servicemen in PoliticsThe Courts and JudiciaryThe Armed ForcesCommemoration and Remembrance6. Integration into the CommunityEmployment and HousingDiscriminationSupport and IntegrationEx-Servicemen’s AssociationsNewspapersCONCLUSIONHeroes or Traitors?Appendix: SourcesBibliographyIndex
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Reviews 'A very timely subject for study based on extremely impressive archival research.' Marie Coleman, Queen's University Belfast

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781781381618
Publisert
2015-04-15
Utgiver
Vendor
Liverpool University Press
Høyde
239 mm
Bredde
163 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
304

Forfatter

Biographical note

Paul Taylor received his doctorate from the University of Oxford, and an MA with distinction from University College London.