Quote Originally Posted by ON THE ONE ROAD
Quote Originally Posted by Ireland2007
I personally believe those who joined during the truce would have once again jumped ship at the sount of a shot, much like during the conscription crisis when the Volunteers allowed all kinds of eejits, including former members of the UVF to join and subsequently re-discover their roots when a war was to be prosecuted.
thats a new one for me. can you elaborate on that. former members of the VF joining up. sounds interesting
It was in the northern counties during conscription. Contempoary reports recall members of the AOH and some former members of the UVF signed up to the Volunteers as a means of protection from conscription agents. When the threat subsided they weren't long in jumping ship once again. Robert Lynch's book on the northern IRA briefly covers this but if you go to the national archives and take a look at BMH military statements from northern volunteers you'll find a large amount of information on this.