Irish Regiments in the Great War Discipline and Morale

"This book provides the first comprehensive study of discipline and morale in the British army during the Great War by using a case study of the Irish regiments. It considers the wartime experience of the Irish regular and Special Reserve battalions and the 10th (Irish), 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) Divisions. In doing so, Timothy Bowman demonstrates that breaches of discipline did occur in the Irish regiments during the period but in most cases these were of a minor nature. Controversially, he suggests that where executions did take place, they were militarily necessary and served the purpose of restoring discipline in failing units. Bowman also shows that there was very little support for the emerging Sinn Fein movement within the Irish regiments." "This book will be essential reading for military and Irish historians and their students, and will interest any general reader concerned with how units maintain discipline and morale under the most trying conditions."--BOOK JACKET.

Timothy Bowman is Lecturer in Defence Studies, King's College London, based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College.

Introduction * Measuring Discipline and Morale * Regular Regiments at War * Raising the Service Battalions * Adjusting and Adapting * Amalgamations, Reductions and Conscription * The Final Phase * Irish Units on Home Service * Conclusion * Select Bibliography * Index