RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Roscommon => Topic started by: artisann on Monday 23 January 12 19:03 GMT (UK)
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Where would I look for a record of my grandad being in the English Army I know he was at some point not sure of the dates....I know the house that he lived in was provided by the English army which later tennents were able to buy....just to say he was born in roscommon and lived there all his life...could someone answer why these men joined the English army???....was it for the pay??? just intrested.
Many thanks for reading this
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Do you have dates for your grandad?
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could someone answer why these men joined the English army???....was it for the pay??? just intrested.
Difficult question to answer unless you know someone who can give a personal answer, but I suspect that for many it was the same reason that young men (and women) the world over join up. To get a trade, steady pay and to see a bit of the world.
Despite a general prevailing wish for independence from Britain, there has never been any shortage of Irish people volunteering to join the British Army. That apparent paradox is perhaps a useful insight into the complex relationship the two countries have with each other. As an example, after having obtained independence from Britain in 1922, during the second world war (when Ireland was neutral and not involved) 5,000 members of the Irish army (10% of their whole force) left and joined the British army. De Valera wasn’t very pleased and most forfeited their Irish pensions as consequence.
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Heywood many thanks for your reply... no dates am guessing sometime in the 1920s
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Elwyn
Thank you so much for your reply and your explanation that was really helpful.... :) Thank you
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Elwyn answered your query in much more detail which is really interesting. I was just wondering how the dates would fit. Presumably the house had previously belonged to the British Army.
There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 just a short time ago about the Irishmen who fought in World War 2 and I think there is a campaign about their receiving pardons for the actions taken against them which Elwyn has touched upon.
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Heywood once again thanks for your helpful reply..I have only just started looking into Grandad's army life all i know is what mum told me and like most things wished I had asked more questions while mum was still alive.
Do you know by any chance where i would look up army records....even with so little info at the moment.
And yes Elwyn's answer was very good and interesting.
Thanks again
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If he was in the British Army, you would need to know more details. There are some records re WW1 online but your grandad was later.
You could ask on the Armed Forces Board here on rootschat for advice.
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Thanks once again Heywood for your help :)
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If anyone wishes to read more about the members of the Irish Army who joined the British army in WW2, and the difficulties they faced on their return, the BBC has an article on it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16680453
It's perhaps worth adding that large numbers of people from the Republic of Ireland still join the British Army to this day, where they are particularly welcome, according to a report I read, because of their high standard of education and excellent motivation. A reason one Irish recruit gave for choosing the British Army over the Irish Defence Force was that because Ireland is neutral you only get to do peace keeping roles, whereas with the British Army they got to see "some action". Brave people.
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Elwyn
Thank you so much for your reply and the link...really want to find out about this part of my grandads life and you have given me some understanding of what it was all about.
Many thanks again really appreciate your reply. :)
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Elwyn
I have just finished reading the link you put on here, can I say once again a big thank you for that, what an intresting read!! I have learnt so much from the link now all I need to do is find out about my grandad, (with so little info that I have), will put the question to the Forces link like Heywood suggests and just maybe somthing might come of it, but for now my understanding of thoses men who joined is much clearer.Thank you.