6th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment
| 6th (County Tyrone) Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment | |
|---|---|
Regimental insignia
|
|
| Active | 1971–1992 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Infantry battalion |
| Role | Internal Security |
| Size | 750 |
| Motto(s) |
"Quis Separabit" (Latin) "Who Shall Separate Us?" |
| March | (Quick) Garryowen & Sprig of Shillelagh. (Slow) Oft in the Stilly Night |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel Commandant |
First: General Sir John Anderson GBE, KCB, DSO. |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Colonel Sir Dennis Faulkner CBE |
First: General Sir John Anderson GBE, KCB, DSO.
The 6th (County Tyrone) Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment (6 UDR) was formed in 1970 as part of the seven original battalions specified in The Ulster Defence Regiment Act 1969, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 1969 and was brought into force on 1 January 1970. It was, along with the rest of the regiment, amalgamated with the Royal Irish Rangers in 1992 to form the Royal Irish Regiment.
Along with the other six original battalions, 6 UDR commenced operational duties on 1 April 1970. Around 75% (1,187) of the Tyrone members of the disbanded Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) applied to join 6 UDR, of which 419 were accepted. As a result, the battalion started life as the only battalion more or less up to strength and remained so during its history.
The first training major (TISO) was Major GB Hill, MBE, King's Own Borderers, who was based in the Education Building at Lisanelly Barracks, Omagh. Part of his job was to find accommodation for the various companies of the new battalion. Where possible accommodation was sought in British Army bases. The old USC platoon huts were vacant and available, but to have used those would have highlighted the continuity between the USC and the UDR.
For a time an old caravan in the centre of Dungannon served as the local UDR post. Ten rifles and 200 rounds of ammunition were stored there.
The Deanery was an 18th-century mansion in Clogher, County Tyrone. It had been the home of Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels and was one of fifteen old large houses taken over by the Ministry of Defence to house the UDR. After persuading the old lady who lived there to move to less spartan accommodation, £150,000 was spent on the property to turn it into a base for C Company. The house has now been demolished.
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Wikipedia