Eamonn T. Gardiner 14/09/2013 Overview Show the capabilities - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Hedge Schools Irish Volunteers Training 1913-1916 Eamonn T. Gardiner 14/09/2013

Overview • Show the capabilities which the IV possessed to be able to train recruits. • Do this by examining – The Volunteers – The Facilities/Equipment available to their Companies – And Trainers and Methods used to instruct • Use Primary and Secondary Source Documents. – Bureau of Military History Witness Statements – Archival Material • Use contemporaneous photographs and maps. – Training areas – Camps – Equipment/Facilities

Volunteer Manifesto & Initial Concept Manifesto of the Irish Volunteers, 1913, declared that it was the right of all Irishmen, ‘To dr drill, ill, to to learn learn the the use se of of arm arms, s, to to acq acqui uire re the the habi habit of of conc oncerte rted an and discip isciplined ined action, action, to to fo form rm a citi citizen zen army army fro from a popu opula lation ion now now at at the he me mercy rcy of of almos lmost an any org organise anised agg aggre ress ssion, ion, this this beyon beyond all ll doubt doubt is is a pro rogramme gramme that that ap appe peal als to to all all Ire rela land, d, but but especi specially ally to to You oung Irel eland nd. ’ Decided that Volunteers would use, ‘ a por portio tion of of time time sp spar ared, d, not not fr from wor work, bu but fr from om plea leasure re and re an recr creation ation, a voluntar voluntary ad adoptio ption of of di discip sciplin line, a purpo purpose se fir firmly mly and and st steadi adily ly car carried ried throu through, h, wi will re renew new the vitality tality of of the nati tion on. ’

The Men I • Irish Youth ‘primed’ for militarism, tumultuous recent history with: – Lockout – Gaelic Revival – Home Rule & Generations of populist national politics – Resurgent IRB • Family important in such matters – Familial link to previous nationalism (Fenians, Land League) and support helpful. • Membership transcended socio-economic boundaries. – Clerks – Farmers – Store men – Labourers/Builders – Ex-military

The Men II • Attitude – Generally High Esprit de Corps – Good Discipline – Positive Attitude towards Instruction, interest in learning • Varied reasons for joining – Excitement – Boredom – Desire to support Ireland – Drinking ( Getting a Wet , Mallow), etc.

The Equipment • Very poorly armed, e.g. Musketry Instructor – Stealing arms from soldiers – Clubbing together to purchase arms – Wooden rifles for arms & foot drill • Miniature rifles & Sporting rifles more plentiful – Smaller, less powerful calibres were not as strictly regulated as were used for general recreation – Miniature Indoor rifles were used on small ranges in converted IV Halls. Same methods used today (Royal Marines Training Facility, Lympstone/Digital Indoor Range Training, Irish Army).

Wooden Rifle & Leather bandolier owned by Capt. Seán Mulcahy, IV. Photo Adams Auction Rooms, 18/04/2012

Training Rifle held in Kilmainham Gaol Photo www.southdublinlibraries.ie Using a Miniature Rifle, note the special rear aperture sight and front sight

Practicing Musketry on an Indoor Range

The Facilities • Volunteers initially trained in Foot Drill outside, usually public spaces (wide streets, village squares, Cornmarket Cork). • Needed more suitable facilities. – Instruction of classes and musketry, indoors with classrooms – Larger rooms for marching in inclement weather. • Cork Volunteers initial Hall ( An Dún ) was not big enough for purposes. – Fisher Street facility was large enough. – Post Split moved to facility on Sheare’s Street, on Mardyke. Large Facility with own rifle range. • Volunteers in Dinlge drilled outside Church. • Mallow & Mitchelstown had own halls. • Belfast Regiment had a number of training facilities, but was difficult to get them due to local tensions with Ulster Volunteer Force

Cork IV Halls 1913-1916 Fisher Street An Dún Sheare’s Street Cornmarket

Cork IV Hall Sheare’s Street

Limerick IV Hall Limerick IV Hall initially built for Na Fianna by the Fenian John Daly, at the rear of his house on Barrington St. Photo. Limerick City Museum

IV Parading in Dungarvan Town Square Photo Waterford Co. Museum

Kilkenny IV Route March Photo Kilkenny Co. Council Library

Trainers: Military Experience • Form 5: ‘General Instructions for Forming Companies’, – ‘ secure the services of a competent instructor. Utilise all ex- military men possible.’ • Form 6: ‘Military Instructions for Units’, – ‘follow exactly the drill set out in the ‘British Infantry Manual, 1911 ’ • IV modelled on British Army – Former BA Drill Instructors sought to teach drill and tactical training. – Outbreak of WWI all BA Instructors recalled to units for wartime service. – New instructors needed for IV

Trainers: NCOs & Officers • Paradigm Shift – Recognition of Prior Learning/Experience established informally within units. – Thomas Meldon, Dublin: Experience with shooting, promoted to Musketry Instructor. – NCO & Officer training classes and lectures offered. ‘Train the Trainer.’ • Galtee Battalion • Belfast Regiment • Dublin Regiment

Training Programmes • Allowed IV units to plan for their training and allowed recruits to see what they were working towards. • Belfast IV Training plan – Musketry training at St. Mary’s Hall at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. • Battalion Sgt. Major was to detail companies to attend for instruction to St. Mary’s Hall, in succession. – The Volunteer Regimental Headquarters staffed to facilitate enlistment. – The Military Committee meet Thursday nights. – Recruit parade St . Mary’s on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday . – A local sporting event (Shaun’s Sports) was to be held, with IV parade to assist and two bands were to play. • Reduced Rate for IV.

Training Camps • Full Time Training (FTT) Camps held to allow IV to reinforce and consolidate knowledge accumulated on Training Nights. • Camps held in Athenry (Galway), Ticknock (Dublin/Wicklow) and Galtee (Cork/Limerick/Tipperary). • Subjects covered included – Fieldcraft – Tactical Training – Military Organisation – Navigation & Camping – First Aid

Galtee Training Camp Locations County Tipperary CHARLEVILLE County Limerick County Cork MITCHELSTOWN

Galtee Training Camp Galtee IV Training camp Photo BMH P-15-002

Galtee Training Camp Galtee IV Training camp Photo BMH P-15-002

Conclusions • Uniform nature as set out by IV GHQ too rigid – Fire and manoeuvre as set out in training docs difficult due to lack of weaponry and support weapons. – Need to change training doctrine to cope with shortfall. • Instructors worked well with difficult situations – Dedicated Officers established good programmes and good NCOs implemented them • Beset by lack of resources continually. – Needed 1916 to force organisation to change to more aggressive stance.

Questions??