The Black and Tans were a controversial force recruited by the British government to suppress the Irish War of Independence between 1919 and 1921. There has been much debate over how many of the Black and Tans were Irish themselves.
Who were the Black and Tans?
The Black and Tans were a force of temporary constables recruited by the British government to bolster the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) during the Irish War of Independence. They got their nickname from the mixture of police uniforms they wore – dark green RIC tunics and khaki British Army trousers.
The Black and Tans quickly gained a reputation for brutality and became infamous for reprisal attacks on civilians and civilian property in response to IRA ambushes. Their indiscipline and violence stoked anti-British sentiment in Ireland.
How many Black and Tans were there?
In total, about 10,000 Black and Tans served in Ireland between 1920 and 1921. At the force’s peak there were about 7,000 Black and Tans stationed in Ireland.
What was the background of the Black and Tans?
The majority of the Black and Tans were World War I veterans who had been unable to find jobs after the war. Many came from urban, working-class backgrounds in Britain.
While the popular image is that the Black and Tans were mostly English, there were also Irishmen in their ranks. However, estimates vary widely on how many Black and Tans were actually Irish.
Estimates of Irish Black and Tans
Here are some of the estimates that have been made about the proportion of Black and Tans who were Irish:
- 15% – This is one of the more commonly cited figures.
- 20% – Estimate made by historian David Leeson.
- 40-50% – Early IRA estimate that was dismissed by historians.
- 60% – Estimate by historian Jonathan Bardon based on analysis of RIC service records.
- Over 50% – Estimate by some former Black and Tans in later memoirs.
As we can see, estimates vary widely from 15% on the low end up to over 50% on the high end. The exact figure remains debated by historians.
Reasons for conflicting estimates
There are several reasons why estimates of Irish membership in the Black and Tans vary so much:
- Unreliable or biased sources – Memoirs of former Black and Tans exaggerated Irish numbers. Early IRA estimates were attempts to discredit the force.
- Poor British record keeping – British files on RIC recruits were incomplete.
- Confusion over definition of “Irish” – Was it birthplace? Ethnicity? Residence prior to enlisting?
- Some hid Irish backgrounds – Irish Black and Tans downplayed their origins due to unpopularity of the force.
These factors help explain the wide range in estimates by different historians.
Irish public perception of Irish Black and Tans
Regardless of the numbers, Irish nationalists regarded Irish Black and Tans as traitors. Joining the force was seen as an act of betrayal during the independence struggle.
In IRA propaganda, all Black and Tans were depicted as English thugs. Their Irish origins were downplayed or ignored entirely.
After independence, Black and Tans were ostracized. Many changed their names or immigrated to escape public scorn.
Conclusion
Due to limited records and conflicting definitions, we may never have a definitive count of how many Black and Tans were actually born in Ireland or of Irish descent. Estimates range wildly from 15% to over 50%.
What is clear is that Irish nationalists regarded Irish Black and Tans as traitors regardless of their precise numbers. In popular memory, the entire Black and Tan force has been inaccurately characterized as English rather than mixed Irish-English.