Evacuation of British crown forces from Ireland begins

Dublin, 21 January 1922 – The evacuation by British crown forces from Ireland began yesterday.

In scenes that evoked memories of mobilisation in the early days of the Great War, 2,000 soldiers, previously based in the Curragh and Tipperary, boarded three troopships at North Wall, bound for Britain. A further two regiments departed from Cork. British officials have published a schedule for other regiments that will be leaving Ireland in the coming days.

Almost all of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary have already been evacuated, with the final company scheduled to leave Dublin tonight.

To those troops already departed, General Macready issued a special order expressing his appreciation for their service under the Irish command, but he added, pointedly: ‘While I feel there is no desire on the part of the army to rake up past animosities or bitterness, you have been called upon to perform a duty in many respects repugnant to our traditions, and devoid of all the glamour of war, though in many ways entailing greater strain and greater individual danger.’

‘You, officers and men, have accomplished the most difficult task that any soldier can be called upon to undertake and you have emerged with your discipline unshaken and your conduct in the eyes of all fair-minded men blameless. When history is written you will find that by your pluck, vigilance and discipline, you have contributed no inconsiderable share towards what we hope may prove eventually to be the settled peace and prosperity of Ireland.’

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]