Black and Tans

Two different police forces were nicknamed Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921). The “true” Black and Tan was a British recruit for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC)—generally speaking, a young, unmarried English working man who had served in the army during the Great War. These British constables got their nickname from their peculiar uniforms: shortages of dark-green police clothingwere temporarilymade up with military khaki; in fact, many Black and Tans took up their new duties wearing a soldier's tunic and trousers with a constable's cap and belt. Attracted by the promise of high wages and a pension during a time of severe economic recession and mass unemployment, the Black and Tans enlisted in the regular constabulary and served alongside its predominantly Catholic Irish members. Keywords: twentieth century; europe; military history; revolution; terrorism