The B Specials

This clip shows a night patrol of a B Special patrol alongside members of the platoon. This clip takes place shortly before their sad disbandment.

[@raymondhaskin9449]

The B specials, like the Black and Tans in the south, were a top notch force. They existed because of the IRA, if they were brutal at times, it was only because they were dealing with a brutal enemy. In the end, United Irelanders don’t like them because they successfully countered republican forces.

[@RobertK1993]

Black and Tans are like the Gestapo as are the B Specials.

[@Sean-sn9ld]

They caused the PIRA to form! What are you on about!!! The B-Specials started the Troubles for god sake!

[@lesleymccausland1368]

The IRA were dormant from 1922 until 1956

[@Sean-sn9ld]

@@lesleymccausland1368 yes and even then in the 50's with the so called border campaign, there wasnt even really anything happening... It wasnt until the UVF and British Army started shooting people that the Provisional IRA came about

[@Sean-sn9ld]

Like you know you've got it in reverse?

[@simonecanepa8168]

We must remember that IRA "active units" were well armed , often with assault rifles with plenty of ammo, and in lots of occasions members had been trained by USA or Soviet officers. In 1950 - 1951 B specials managed to repel, only equipped with Lee- Enfield Mk4 rifles ( very good in WW2) large flying columns of IRA equipped with machine guns, Ak-47s and submachine guns.

[@josephcurley8226]

Absolute twaddle, flying columns were not used since the border campaign ended, the IRA was reorganised into small ASUs. AK47 assault rifles did not arrive until after the B Specials were disbanded. The B men were responsible for some of the most horrendous crimes against the Nationalist community, they were partly responsible for the re-emergence of the largely defunct, inactive IRA. Remember, they gave cover to the loyalist mobs with 50 cal Browning machine guns as they made their way to the Falls Road, burning the streets that lay between that and The Shankill, killing 9 year old Patrick Rooney in his bed in the Divis Flats and Trooper McCabe, a British soldier home on leave.

[@rangers11000]

Am a fan of the b specials maself mate but what you’ve just said just isn’t true ! The Ira active service units only acted in groups no larger than about 6 at the time and there were never trained by US or soviet troops lol quite the opposite actually most of the ira that had miiitary service the majority of the time especially in the early years had done service in the British army . And the Iraq never attacked in colums with ak47s that’s a wild thing to say 😂 they heavily relied on hot and run tactics almost everytime they were carrying out an operation they would never actually even be there for the even

[@DmON_WINGS]

Great men, I've 7 uncles and my dad all were B Specials and my Granddad was a Black and Tan and a B Special. Good loyal Ulster Men ❤

[@TheScaryTruthCatalyst]

My auld granda was a B Special. When one of his sons married a lovely Catholic girl in the 1960s it caused a big problem. Glad to say that they reconciled before his death in 1975...

[@tomconnolly9895]

The B specials were terrible people, bigots.

[@ULYSSES-31]

This episode of ‘7 Days’ was broadcast by RTÉ on17 October 1969. The reporter is Rodney Rice.

[@Whh1978]

Brookeborough was a decent PM. Would be great to have someone like him now.

[@user-qp3jj2ks1j]

God bless them all

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Amazing look into the past.

[@joprocter4573]

God bless them all. The on the ground police force were family men doing a job to protect all against terrorism.

[@raibeartthehairypict4696]

Excellent piece of archive.

[@Ulster-vi4mt]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the footage.

[@arnoldshannon7222]

FANTASTIC Force they were the Outfit brill

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

Yes, like the SA in Germany in the 20's and 30's ! Heil King !

[@joprocter4573]

The hero's much unsung.

[@jmcci2069]

Bring Back the Fearless B.MEN. 🇬🇧

[@garrychalmers67]

To protect you from being battered?

[@peterflanagan5901]

Bring it on ☘️united 🇮🇪 Ireland

[@gerryburke8477]

To protect you from being battered what a dick head they were the ones doing the beatings🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@Drifty40]

@@peterflanagan5901 Rose tinted specs are all steamed up. lol

[@markburke2853]

The 'B's were indispensable, however there were the 'A's and the 'C's, the former a full time reserve and the latter a basic, largely untrained and unpaid, civil guard called out in times of crisis. The 'B's were part time, paid, members who knew every inch of their turf, and who to put the finger on when there was trouble. They were also good shots and outgunned through marksmanship, as they trained regularly, fenian insurgents out to cause trouble. It was pointless the 'sf-ra' having machine guns etc., as their range and accuracy was always inferior to well aimed shots from rifles. The Lynch Gov't, was instrumental in getting it disbanded, with Haughey-Blaney in support, to remove their above-mentioned ability in 1970, luckily it was replaced by the UDR who took on much the same role, and suffered over the years appalling casualties, mostly when off duty.

[@michaelahern6821]

They suffered appaling casualties because of their conduct towards the Nationalist community..udr worse...utter scum...

[@stephenholmes1036]

Jack Lynch had this lot worked out.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Listen to the common sense from this gentleman

[@Dooropen69]

Absolute legends 🇬🇧

[@bootsymad9101]

If you had only listened to Edward Carson and looked after the minority you mean.

[@JP-fl4wx]

Ts a pity there no longer there

[@edwardphimister4525]

SS . B. Specials . Black and tans. RUC. Same aim different name.

[@romancatholicword528]

Absolutely right

[@StevieSurname-kg3hq]

The B Specials were the force that countered the murdering Pira & IRA.. That's why they were disbanded. Excellent force.

[@jamesjenkins1680]

b spedials were heros !

[@albertarthurparsnips5141]

Always been much more of a prime minister James Craig fan, personally speaking. If Sir Edward Carson couldn’t or wouldn’t choose to take up his rightful place as Protestant Northern Ireland’s LOYAL chief of the Stormont legislature, then, Sir J. Craig was certainly a fine, fine substitute. And a bona fide ULSTERMAN to boot ! 🇬🇧 🤴 🇬🇧 ✝️ 🇬🇧 👸

[@desmondhull5778]

Should have never been disbanded.

[@desmondhull5778]

The B specials were disbanded because of Republican propaganda and world opinion.They were too good at their job and that's why the Republicans wanted them out of the way.

[@darrenfarrell-bn2cb]

Young Black and Tans , head south 😉

[@joprocter4573]

We need today

[@desmondhull5778]

Ps These brave men put on a uniform and lived among Republicans.Thats what i call brave men.Not like there adverserys who skulked behind hedges and shot the B Specials in the back.

[@deckymcc77]

Universally and factually renowned as a force that was negatively mentally affected by war and discarded in Ireland by a typical English government which was, as usual, Eton heavy with entitlement and self interests.

[@raymondhaskin9449]

There’s no such thing as an English government. England hasn’t existed as an independent country since the union of crowns in 1600.

[@joprocter4573]

Load of cods wallop

[@deckymcc77]

@@raymondhaskin9449 No such thing as an English government....! Is that right, Raymondo. Fully British, is it? How's that working out for you right now? You're getting clowned by these fools. C'mon lad, we have way more in common in terms of the life we want our families to live, than them lying cheating wankers residing in Westminster.

[@geoffbrown3847]

Look up my father!

[@loneprimate]

Yeah, they were a bunch of B's alright.

[@desmondhull5778]

B= Brilliant😊.

[@ULYSSES-31]

Fascists

[@triestodrum2215]

Loyal Sons of Ulster

[@bhoy67lisbon]

What year was this ?

[@Ulster-vi4mt]

Most likely early 1970, late late 1969 perhaps. Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@bhoy67lisbon]

@@Ulster-vi4mt thanks for posting. I lean on the other side of fence but see things from each perspective. We really need to build proper peace as things seem to be going backwards

[@Ulster-vi4mt]

Couldn’t agree more, understanding and respect is needed on all sides. I’m glad that people of all backgrounds are watching these videos.

[@Sean-sn9ld]

@@Ulster-vi4mt that's a bit rich and hypocritical of you to say considering your other comments on here

[@mcsuibhne005]

They're no Be Sharps!

[@Paul-hu7xx]

0:28 he killed Sean Sabhat and fergal o'hanlon

[@michaelscanlon6279]

Nice teeth!

[@cathanmccann1769]

I don't believe he did. Sean south and Fergal o Hanlon were killed in brookeborough not statford barracks

[@richardmcgrath9729]

Well Sean South was a backward anti-Semitic Catholic so it's good he met St Peter sooner rather than later...

[@triestodrum2215]

They must have been up to no good.

[@jdanevan8554]

That was Brookeborough not Swatragh

[@susanmccusker6386]

They were bad bad bad

[@AceVenturos]

Look at all these English people talking about Ireland

[@stephenholmes1036]

These murderers turned into tne UDR. Its a shame the majority were not like the farmer a decent man.

[@michaelrooney5449]

B who??? Gone.

[@jimmcaleenan7243]

Times are changing there was nothing special about them

[@emmethanlon2461]

They loved it when they had the guns but then came the Armalites🤗🤗

[@raymondhaskin9449]

@@emmethanlon2461 The IRA always had the best guns. Even in the 1920’s, they were in possession of Thompson guns, thanks to their huge support base in America. But the Ulster security forces were better gun fighters. Sean south and his gang got repulsed by a few Ulster specials with revolvers, at brookborough.

[@emmethanlon2461]

@@raymondhaskin9449 Hi Raymond...better gun fighters lol..sounds like Wyatt Earp at the ok corral. When you are professionally trained like the B men you should come out on top but quite often in Irish History the Banditos/Guerillas won the fight even when seriously outnumbered. Slainte for your reply 😉

[@emmethanlon2461]

Terrorising innocent Catholic men women and children was and is the Doctrine of the ulcer scotch

[@colingillespie1560]

nothin special about the ira either

[@emmethanlon2461]

Ye've heard about the B men the cruel RUC ye've heard about the Black n Tans in bygone history but there's another regiment the Devil calls it own they're known as the Black Watch commissioned by the throne 🎶🎶

[@richardmcgrath9729]

Proud to say a relative was a Colonel in the Black Watch..

[@joprocter4573]

Scots

[@Padrig67]

Murders

[@brianking3565]

Evil like the ss

[@paulhawthorne2960]

Not as Evil as the ira scum.

[@joprocter4573]

All Irish men

[@triestodrum2215]

Your Roman Catholic Church did more harm to the Irish people than any police force.

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

And the SA, do not forget them !

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

@@triestodrum2215 And what about the Million Irish civilian people who starved to death, during the Grand Famine, between 1845 and 1851 under the Victorian Reign ? Thanks your Majesty, great fucking score ! You will have the eternal gratitude of Cromwell for that genocide !

[@seanquinn4540]

Propaganda.

[@ChineseGordon1956]

My Grandfather was am A special and defended the ulster border

[@martinrooney2806]

Scu