The Black and Tans

by Richard Bennett

They could arrest and imprison anyone at any time. They murdered civilians. They wore a strange mixture of dark green tunics, khaki rousers, black belts and odd headgear, including civilian felt hats. The Irish named them after a famous pack of wild dogs on County Limerick - The Black and Tans.

Although they were only a small proportion of British forces in Ireland, they were the toughest, the wildest and the most feared. They knew nothing and they cared nothing about Ireland. They were sent there in March 1920 by Lloyd George's coalition cabinet to make Ireland 'a hell for rebels to live in'.

Richard Bennett's book is an accurate and authoritative account of an ugly and harrowing period in Anglo-Irish history - a period that the English have struggled to forget and the Irish cannot help but remember.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, War, British Literature, Terrorism

228 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2000

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very conflicted about this book. It's a discussion of the Irish battle for Independence, using the force the British created to fight the IRA, the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve. Although it sounds like a good Whiskey, but it turned out to be crew of angry WWI veterans, who took their many frustrations out on the Irish populace. Since the IRA were fairly indiscriminate killers too, it makes for sad reading. It boils down to a series of outrages and "Reprisals" that just makes the whole struggle a festival of violent insanity.

I usually go into the facts of the book in this section. But it really is just story of one crime after another, usually alternating the miscreants between the Freedom Fighter/Terrorist/IRA volunteers and the RIC, although the IRA does manage to assault more actual combatants. The RIC, usually reacting to a criminal act, often just burn and loot the area where the crime occurred in "Reprisal". Even as the British Anti-Terror intelligence police got better and better at penetrating the IRA, and seem to have it almost destroyed, the political tables are turned. The Black and Tans and the "Auxiliaries", another group of Unruly Armed police had alienated most pro-British sentiment, at home and abroad(The USA was and IS the main source of IRA funds). After trying to snuff out the IRA with even more violence, the forces were withdrawn or stood down by 1922, and real negotiations for Irish Independence were underway.

This book is not too challenging for junior readers, but the constant tale of Semi-random (calling this war "clearly directed" on either side is ridiculous)Violence may be too much for a smart but sensitive kid, its just on almost every page. I found myself just disgusted with every character in this book, from Michael Collins to Lloyd George. And since this is a story of murders, bombings, and house burnings, very few battles or skirmishes, this is not great for Gamers/Modellers/Military Enthusiasts, except maybe for fans of death cults. It's a good book on a topic that will make you wonder how Ireland is so nice now, and know why Northern Ireland's troubles were robust for so long. A rec- but a qualified one. I read often about the use of controlled violence- reading about uncontrolled violence is very depressing.

[C.A. A. Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful view of the supplementary policemen that were sent out to Ireland to support the Royal Irish Constabulary. With mass unemployment for unskilled ex-squaddies from the Great War, it was attractive money. A generation of young men who had not been apprentices of any trade due to fighting in Europe.

The British government could take their pick of the many young veteran applicants. And they did. The most hardened and thuggish of the chosen crop, was the better in the eyes of the recruiters. This combined with drinking and a lack of respect for their R.I.C. supervision would lead to dire consequences.

There was not enough dark green (almost black) R.I.C. uniform for the reserves. So there was a mixture of kit between R.I.C. dark green and British Army service dress Khaki. Hence the nickname, Black and Tans.

This historical account gives a remarkable insight into the infamous men of the supplementary police (Black and Tans) assisting the R.I.C. against the Irish Republican rebels in the Independence struggle. It takes a look at some of the aspects of the struggle from the perspective of the rogue policemen and forms a picture of how their brand of diabolical community policing turned more and more of the indigenous population against the continued rule of Britain.

[janet Burke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a white wash of a very violent part of Irish history when the British sent the notorious force of thugs and criminals, known in Ireland as "The Black and Tans", to abuse and terrorize the Irish in order to attempt to stop their revolt against British rule. The book was very biased and put forth from the beginning the idea that the Irish would have been perfectly happy to remain under British occupation if the British had not bungled their rule and if not for a few Irish ruffians who insisted on pushing for Independence. Also, the author seemed quite indignant that the Irish had the audacity to wage this war for Independence while Britain was occupied elsewhere - WWI! Bennett obviously thinks this was bad sportsmanship!

After reading such a biased book I had to do a bit of research* to find out the background of the author to verify what I suspected. Apparently he was a former British army officer - no surprise!

* I did this research months ago but will try to locate the source and post it here.

[Quinn Killian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I think this is a good recounting of some of the morbid history of early Irish independence and the brutal methodology of British forces (and many times also the IRA). At times it feels like the author holds the IRA to a higher moral standard than the black and tans or other auxiliaries. It's not to say that Bennett is biased heavily towards one side or the other, no, he for the most part maintains a very good historical objectivity to this account. The problem comes more with occasions where a heinous act by the IRA is often followed up by a crime that is magnitudes worse by the black and tans, and the author will only offer moral indignation against the IRA perpetrators. This issue isn't super common throughout the book but it is significant enough to mar what is otherwise an excellent historical recounting of an era I find endlessly fascinating. I definitely recommend a read to anyone interested in Irish revolutionary or British imperial history.

[Donald M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very misleading title

This book is not about the Black and Tans, as you might expect a book titled The Black and Tans to be. Instead it’s about the Irish Rebellion in the years after World War I, with the Black and Tans barely amounting to more than a footnote. Perfectly fine for what it is, but very disappointing for having misrepresented itself.

[Frank Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different perspective

Growing up in Ireland, In the 70s, There was no question about the behavior of the Black and Tans u the Auxiliaries. This book presents a British perspective. In particular It doesn't shrink from highlighting the attacks made by the Republicans during the War of Independence.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not much about The Black and Tans. More a political opinion, disappointed.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good short account of the infamous counter-terrorist force, recruited from disgruntled & out-of-work Great War soldiers that gave as good, or as bad!, as it got at the point of guns wielded by Volunteers (Sinn Fein's gunmen...I.R.A.'s indiscriminate killers of policemen, soldiers, Loyalists, informers & innocent bystanders...& dozens of horses!). The Black & Tans, together with regular army soldiers & Auxillaries fought the I.R.A. to a standstill, taking high casualties in ambushes & murders, but dealing out rough justice & violent injustice too!...to a querulous Ireland. This is not Robin Hood & the Sheriff of Nottingham; the Irish patriots were violent & ruthless, preferring to kill at night, in isolated places or most famously on November 21, 1920...'Bloody Sunday'...when 14 British officials, 9 in their pyjamas! with wives & children in attendance, were ruthlessly & cold-bloodedly dispatched by Volunteer assassins, under the control of Michael Collins.Savagery was the name of the game in this struggle, with the B&Ts hobbled by Government 'guidelines',(gloves on!) sitting ducks for attacks & murder. As many Irishman killed each other - Royal Irish Constabulary officers took hundreds of casualties in the wild excesses of Volunteer 'Flying Columns'& gratuitous gunmen - as suffered that fate at the hands of the Sinn Fein propagandists' favourite whipping-boys...the Black & Tans. When finally a treaty was signed in the winter of 1921, to end the first round of the battle for Irish independence, & the B&Ts were withdrawn from that troubled island, you can imagine the thoughts of that body of men when the 'fighting Irish' turned their guns upon each other in a vicious & bloody civil war.Atrocities continued; this time, the Black & Tans were no longer the easy scapegoats.
Harrowing stuff then.How often is the Truth stranger than the Legend?

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an extremely biased look at the problems which Ireland faced in the beginning of the 20th century. In one breath Richard Bennett will condemn the killing of British soldiers by the IRA in the most deplorable of terms while in the very next he will excuse the blatant murder of innocent Irish men, women and children by the Black and Tans as a result of "drunkenness". This book is less about the Black and Tans and more about the Irish Republican Army, all through the perspective of a ex-British soldier who makes intermittent comments which reinforce his view that the entire world would be better off under the control of the British Crown.

The Black and Tans is a powerful example of the imperialist mentality of Britain during that time period, explained by a man with a massive British superiority complex. While I disagree wholeheartedly with this author's opinion, I think that it is important to understand his perspective. It is an informative and enjoyable read so long as you can see through, and stomach, the thick veil of British superiority and snobbery which have so thoroughly permeated the pages of this book.

[D.J. Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are several factual books out about the Black & Tans and I bought all of them, though I found this to be the definitive one. It is the most factually accurate and is well illustrated but not written in a dry fashion. It is highly readable. David Leeson's book is another more recent reference work in a similar vein but if you are hoping to buy only one book on this theme, then Bennett's is the one.

If it is fiction set around the Black and Tan era that you seek, you will find very little. Kevin McCarthy's book 'Peeler' and David Lawlor's kindle edition 'Tan' are very good on the subject, but keep an eye out also for soon to be published 'Running with Crows - The Life and Death of a Black and Tan' [by DJ Kelly, on release from March 2013]which is historic crime fiction and is a fact based novel which tells the story of the only Black and Tan to be hanged for murder during the Irish War of Independence.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure as to why it's titled "The Black and Tans". while it touches on them quite a bit, it's more of a blow by blow account of IRA atrocities and reprisals and Black and Tan atrocities and reprisals, with very little info given about the actual Black and Tans. very few names of them are revealed, even fewer personal accounts. however, the information on IRA activity and the personalities involved on the Republican side and given great consideration. politically and socially, it's a great read. but as far as a "history of the Black and Tans", it's really rather disappointing

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

good information and told mostly well. the printing format and inconsistent style made it difficult to read. similarly, poor grammar in too many places became a distraction, taking away from the story. overall, excellent research and analysis. a shame this history is still being repeated in this century.

[Boozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting account of the Troubles

[Mary Buchholz]

Having a grandmother that was just a child tell me stories of her young life in limerick city during this time makes it all so much more real...

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Irish history read. Accurately depicts the time and motivations of all involved. A valuable addition to understanding the Irish War of Independance.