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Timeline: Ireland and the British Army

The British Army has played a central role in the long history of conflict and co-operation between Britain and Ireland. Here we explore some of the key moments in this difficult but fascinating story, charting British-Irish military history from its origins to the present day.

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Officers' busby badge, The Royal Irish Rifles, c1902

The Royal Ulster Rifles

This infantry unit was formed in 1881. It continued in British Army service until 1968, when it became part of The Royal Irish Rangers.

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86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot

This Irish infantry unit was raised in 1793 and recruited in Belfast and County Down. It continued in British Army service until the 1881 reforms, when it became part of The Royal Irish Rifles.

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Glengarry badge, 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment, c1874

83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot

This Irish infantry unit was raised in 1793. It continued in British Army service until the 1881 reforms, when it became part of The Royal Irish Rifles.

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The Irish Guards

This foot guard regiment was formed in 1900. As well as guarding the Royal Family and taking part in the great ceremonial occasions of state, it has served in many of the British Army’s campaigns.

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5th (Royal Irish) Lancers

This cavalry regiment had an interrupted history. Raised in 1689, disbanded in 1799 and formed again in 1858, it served in several campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 16th/5th Lancers.

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4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1685. It fought in many British Army campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards.

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6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons

This cavalry regiment was raised in Ireland in 1689. It continued in British Army service until 1922, when it was merged into the 5th/6th Dragoons.

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88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers)

Raised in 1793 in the west of Ireland, this infantry regiment served with the British Army until the reforms of 1881, when it was merged into The Connaught Rangers.

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Other ranks' cap badge, Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, c1958

The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars

Formed in 1958, this armoured regiment served with the British Army until 1993, when it was merged into The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish).

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8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars

This British Army cavalry regiment was raised in Ireland in 1693. It went on to serve in many campaigns until 1958, when it merged into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars.

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Celtic plaid brooch taken from the body of a Sinn Féin rebel, 1916

Easter Rising

On Easter Monday 1916, Irish nationalists launched an armed revolt against British rule in Ireland. Although quickly suppressed by the British Army, the rising was a seminal moment in modern Irish history.

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A bomb disposal officer and infantry officer patrol West Belfast, 1992

The Troubles

Troops were sent to Northern Ireland in 1969. They ended up staying there for nearly 40 years in what became the British Army's longest ever deployment.

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