BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 34
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
formation of a new service to be
known as the Ulster Defence
Regiment (UDR).
Undoubtedly, even with the
Ulster Special Constabulary
being cited as the noted driving
force against past IRA
insurgencies, the republican
movement, led by its political
mouthpieces got what they
wanted; willingly handed to them
on a platter, by a British House of
Lords personage, in Baron Hunt.
Prior to the disbandment date at the end
of April 1970, on the fifteenth of that
month at an pre-arranged meeting in the
Drumkeen Hotel, Belfast, a set of draft
rules were considered for the formation as
we know it today, of the Ulster Special
Constabulary Association.
The Rules were thereafter
ratified at the first formal General
Meeting of the Association, which
was held at the Manor House
Hotel, Killades in Enniskillen, on
June 13th, 1970.
Despite being promised back
then by the NI Government, that
every man who had served would receive
a small gratuity, it never happened. Indeed
those valorous men, many of whom paid
the supreme sacrifice in protecting
Northern Ireland and its entire community
have never been recognised by any British
Government since, or the previous
Northern Ireland Government or even the
present day Stormont Assembly.
However back in 2006 the Association itself
decided that after all these years, members of
the Ulster Special Constabulary who were
murdered by the IRA. from 1920 to the 1970
disbandment date along with those former
USC members, by then 'off-duty' who were
also murdered by the republican movement
from 1970 to 1999 would not be forgotten.
In that regard the Ulster Special
Constabulary Association made a formal
application to the Administrators of the
National Memorial Arboretum at
Alrewas, near Lichfield in
Staffordshire seeking formal
permission
to
erect
a
permanent memorial to its two
gallant hundred and fortythree Officers and Men.
The late Sir Norman Stronge a
past Speaker of the Northern
Ireland Parliament at Stormont
from 1945 to 1969 as a former
District Commandant of the Ulster
Special Constabulary was the highest
ranking officer; as well as being a member of
the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve.
Sir Norman (centre) along with his son
Captain James Stronge, were both brutally
murdered in cold blood, by the Provisional
IRA at their family home, in Tynan Abbey,
County Armagh during the
evening of 21st January 1981.
With permission
readily
granted, the Ulster Special
Constabulary Obelisk (top) was
officially and solemnly unveiled
on Saturday 29th July 2006,
jointly by the late Association
President W J McFarlane ExDistrict Commandant and Sir James
Appleton Hawley KCVO, TD, the Lord
Lieutenant of Staffordshire; before being
dedicated by the Reverend W J Watson
MBE BA FRAgS, Chaplain to the Ulster
Special Constabulary Association (USC)
assisted by the Reverend Canon William
Murphy MBE BD MTh; the City of Belfast
Chaplain to the USC Association.
Sadly our late Association President,
Mr W J McFarlane passed away during
November 2009. Lest We Forget
S OURCE : T HOM AS R I CH ARD S COT T
BEM; MIPA; FIFPO; MIFSO; Dip Fr
Association Honorary General Secretary
Most Worshipful Sir Knight, Captain
Right Honourable Norman L. Stronge
was also Sovereign Grand Master of our
illustrious Institution from 1948 to 1971.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 32 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING