Desserted?

In times gone by Ulster has faced many perilous situations, none more-so than the home rule crisis. Here we look at how Ulsters friends rallied round and ask the question, where are they now.

Firstly though a brief bit of background information, 1892 had brought in the first reading of the home-rule bill which proposed a form of self government for Ireland, the unionists were appauled and seen this as a threat to their very existance. More recently though the papal right of ascention had been introduced and other "anti-protestant", decrees initiated within Catholicism struck a cord of fear, Belfast was booming and people were adamant to resist the bill, prefering to fight for their civil and religous liberties. A further reading of the Bill in 1893 followed once more by a reading in 1912 signalled time was running out for the Ulster men. They mobilised the Ulster Volunteer Force and sent out the call for help.

An 1892 Unionist Convention Medal, the start of Ulsters reply to the British Government.

With the movement of Ulster people all across the globe, and the belief in Britains empire support was promised and recieved from all quarters of the globe, the first to gain mention here though is Canada. Much of the Scots-Irish population was concentrated around Ontario, and a series of mass meetings protesting about Home-rule took place in Toronto throughout spring and summer 1914. But Orangism was widespread throughout Canada, and as early as October 1913 the Orange association of Manitoba was making plans to send a regiment of Volunteers to Ulster should hostilities occur. For some reason Winnipeg was an especially strong centre of Ulster support. Similar rallies and meetings of support were also held in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and in Vancouver a crowded assembly declared: "we will to the utmost limit support our brother loyalists in their resistance." 

These activities had repercussions in the Canadian government where Sir Robert Borden was accused of taking sides with the Ulster rebels and the representative for Centre York, a captain in the Canadian militia, cabled to Belfast: "We are ready to help you with men and money to the last ditch".

In Australia it was widely assumed that public opinion was generally in favour of Home-rule. The very strength of Nationalist support, however, stimulated the Australian orangemen into action. The Ulster community included millionaire, Sir Samuel McCaughey, and in October 1913 reference was made in federal Parliament to a "seditious and disloyal message" he had sent to Sir Edward Carson (leader of unionist opposition). In march 1914 he sent a contribution of £25000 to the 'carson defence fund' and thus became one of the principle backers of the gun-running.

In Melborne 100,000 signatures had been obtained for a petition against Home Rule and that list had been obtained of men prepared to fight for Ulster, including men holding rank in the Australian army and Navy.

It was the same story, on a smaller scale, in the other Dominions; from Auckland came news that thousands of New Zealanders were rallying to the l