Dates: 1970 - 1992

The Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1970 to replace the B Specials in assisting with security duties within Northern Ireland. It was the largest regiment in the British Army, formed with an initial seven battalions. An extra four were added later. The regiment consisted overwhelmingly of part-time volunteers until 1976 when a full time cadre was added. Recruiting from the local community at a time of intercommunal strife, it was accused of sectarian attitudes and collusion with Loyalist paramilitary organisations through most of its term. Even though intended to be non-partisan, and beginning with up to 18% Catholic recruits, the regiment’s image problems with nationalists, including sectarianism amongst some Protestant soldiers, as well as IRA attacks on Catholic UDR soldiers. resulted in the Catholic membership declining, with only 3% being Catholic when it amalgamated in 1992 with the Royal Irish Rangers, forming the Royal Irish Regiment. In 2007 the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was awarded to the regiment for its service during Operation BANNER, and the regiment is now allowed to use the postnominal letters CGC as part of its name (The Ulster Defence Regiment CGC).

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Ulster Defence Regiment

" Saturday 5 October 1968 Civil Rights March in Derry [Considered by many as the start date of the ’Troubles’] A civil rights march in Derry, which had been organised by members of the Derry Housing Action Committee (DHAC) and supported by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA), ..."

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" 2,000 tickets are now available for people to attend an official service to honour members of the UK Forces and civil servants who lost their lives or were injured in Northern Ireland. The service is being held on Wednesday 10 September 2008 at St Paul’s Cathedral, London. It will also pay ..."

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" 1969: Millions march in US Vietnam Moratorium Americans take part in peace initiatives across the United States to protest against the continuing war in Vietnam. Nikita Khrushchev 1964: Khrushchev ’retires’ as head of USSR News of the sudden departure of flamboyant Soviet leader ..."

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"   The Ulster Defence Regiment. As poppy petal’s gently fall remember us who gave our all Not in the mud of foreign land’s nor burried in the desert sand’s. In Ulster field and farm and town, Fernanagh’s lanes and Drumlin’d Down We died that violent ..."

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"       ULSTER DEFENCE REGIMENT.               PRAYER. Lord i’ve never prayed before I really don’t know how But Lord i think i’ll have a go Please bear with me for now. Lord they say you take the best I’am sure i ..."

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