B-Specials

The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) was a reserve force of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

In the 1920s, the Royal Irish Constabulary began recruiting British paramilitary auxiliaries, the Black and Tans and Auxiliary Division. However, these only operated in the south of Ireland. In the north, the RIC was reinforced from 1 November 1920 by the Ulster Special Constabulary, largely recruited from the Unionist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). It was divided into three sections: A Specials were full-time and paid, but could not be posted outside their home areas (regular RIC officers could be posted anywhere in the country); B Specials were part-time, usually on duty for one evening per week and serving under their own command structure, and unpaid, although they had a generous system of allowances; and C Specials were unpaid, non-uniformed (but armed) reservists, usually rather elderly and used for static guard duties near their homes.

It was the USC that was most often responsible for countering IRA attacks in the north, but like its southern counterparts it gained a reputation for brutality and was viewed by most Roman Catholics as a Protestant vigilante force. After partition in 1922 the USC remained in existence to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary, although many of its members joined the new force as regular police officers. After the Boundary Commission was abandoned in 1926 the A and C Specials were disbanded, leaving only the B Specials in existence. They remained in existence, never losing their reputation amongst Republicans for brutality and partisanship, until 30 April 1970, when they were finally stood down.

One of the functions of the Ulster Special Constabulary was to provide the Governor's Guard, a detachment responsible for the security of the Governor of Northern Ireland, and stationed at his official residence, Hillsborough Castle, County Down, and his private residence.