Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?

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Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?

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4 posts

4 posts

Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?#14353789

By Political Interest - 16 Jan 2014 15:58

- 16 Jan 2014 15:58 #14353789

During the Victorian era two thirds of the British army were Irish. Why did the UK recruit so many from Ireland and why not from England, Scotland and Wales?

Re: Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?#14353826

By Prosthetic Conscience - 16 Jan 2014 17:49

- 16 Jan 2014 17:49 #14353826

The figures weren't quite extreme as you suggest - "Between 1830-1878 on average the Irish made up 28 per cent of the army". But there's an article about it at that link.

Re: Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?#14354456

By Decky - 18 Jan 2014 03:00

- 18 Jan 2014 03:00 #14354456

Ireland was very very very poor PI, even by the standards of the time. Lots of Irishmen joined up since it was that or starve (and as PC has pointed out it wasn't 2/3rds).

Some people are nobody's enemies but their own.

"The IDF is retarded" - Zionist Nationalist

Re: Why Were Most British Soldiers Irish?#14373703

By skeptic-1 - 09 Mar 2014 14:37

- 09 Mar 2014 14:37 #14373703

Political Interest wrote:During the Victorian era two thirds of the British army were Irish. Why did the UK recruit so many from Ireland and why not from England, Scotland and Wales?

P I, P C and deckey:

The question alone staggers the imagination that the causes of event seem unknown.

Although "fading" the scars remain to this day fueling the fires of eternal remembrance.

Too Bad !