1st Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment: Difference between revisions

Along with the other 6six original battalions, 1 UDR commenced [[Duty|operational duties]] on 1 April 1970.

The first training major (TISO) was Major G.D. Issac [[Royal Regiment of Wales]] who established battalion headquarters at the Depot [[Royal Irish Rangers]], [[Ballymena]].<ref name="P p27">Potter p27</ref> Where possible accommodation was sought in army bases, as although the old [[Ulster Special Constabulary]] platoon huts were vacant and available. ToThese havewere useddeemed thosepolitically wouldundesirable, haveas attractedthe criticismUDR fromwished thoseto whoplay weredown alreadyits claiminglinks thatwith the UDR was the B Specials under a newdisbanded nameforce.<ref name="P p27" />

One of the first major interventions by the battalion was to, along with elements of the [[3rd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment|3rd Battalion]], provide support for [[7th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment|7 UDR]] in implementing the deployment of 31 vehicle checkpoints on all main roads leading into [[Belfast]] to prevent the movements of munitions into the city centre.<ref name="P 49">Potter p49</ref> This was mainly done at weekends so that the part-time soldiers could be used day and night.<ref name="P 49" />

The battalion responded to a general call-out in August 1971 to support regular troops during the first [[Operation Demetrius|internment]] sweep of [[Thethe Troubles]]. In total the entire regiment managed to provide 3,100 men during the call-out.<ref>Ryder p44</ref>

In 1974 during the [[Ulster Workers' Council strike]] the battalion, along with the rest of the regiment was placed on general call-out. Forty drivers from 1 UDR, 9 UDR and [[10th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment|10 UDR]] were drafted into Belfast to assist the [[Royal Corps of Transport]].<ref name="P 131">Potter p131</ref> Over 9&nbsp;nine days they logged up 15,000&nbsp;miles in the process of delivering rations and supplies to military units throughout Northern Ireland as well as meeting troop reinforcements arriving at [[Belfast]] docks and transporting them to their temporary camps.<ref name="P 131" />