**** Apology****
This is NOT Bedford House.
This is/was Bryson House!
I’m on Bedford Street, Belfast just behind Belfast City Hall to take a wee look round the Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum, that has been moved here from Waring Street. The museum sits upstairs in Bryson House 28 Bedford Street. Bryson House itself is architecturally significant. It was built 1865-7 as a 3-storey red brick linen warehouse by well known, local architect, William J. Barre.
The museum’s artefacts include almost 4,000 items. These include all RIR/RUR associated, types of uniforms, badges, medals, regimental memorabilia, trophies, rifles, revolvers, machine guns, paintings and photographs.
The Royal Irish/Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles regiment’s history dates backs to the reign of King George III. In 1793 the British Army expanded to meet the commitments of the war with the French First Republic. As part of that expansion it raised two new regiments of foot, the 83rd and the 86th. In 1881, under the Childers Reforms, the 83rd and 86th were amalgamated into a single regiment, named the Royal Irish Rifles, one of eight infantry regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland.
In 1921 the Royal Irish Rifles were renamed the Royal Ulster Rifles.
In July 1968 the Royal Ulster Rifles amalgamated with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Fusiliers to form the Royal Irish Rangers
RIR Recipients of the Victoria Cross:
Lieutenant Hugh Cochrane, 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot, Betwa, India, April 1858
Lieutenant Henry Edward Jerome, 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot, Jhansi, India, April 1858
Private James Byrne, 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot, Jhansi, India, April 1858
Private James Pearson, 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot, Jhansi, India, April 1858
Rifleman William McFadzean. 14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Thiepval.
Rifleman Robert Quigg. 12th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. 1916. Hamel, Somme.
Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind. 15th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. 1918. Grugies, France.
Despite multiple recorded stories of outstanding gallantry during WW2, it was ‘seen fit’ to award only 1 VC to a Northern Ireland war hero over the entire 6 years of WW2 conflict.
This VC went to submariner James Magennis from Belfast. ( I have made several Youtube videos about Seaman Magennis. )
5 Comments
What a fascinating museum this is Tom, Anne said she had a feeling that we'd been round this when it was on Waring street in 2014 with my cousin David but I'm not sure the little grey cell's have dimmed a bit since then,LOL I know we went round somewhere.
Many stories are locked away with these exhibits,a great video Tom.
Very interesting video Tom. I'm familiar with most of the history, particularly of the First World War period, Of course, my stepfather's history with the 2nd Inniskillings in the 2nd WW is quite special to me (he was more a proper father to me)! His history really is unique in several ways, so as I was brought up in a military family (as my video of my g-father in the Boer War and Royal Navy shows), my interesr has grown over 70-plus years. Yes, the "R I Rifles were based in Palace Barracks, Holywood; the R I Fusliers in Armagh (is their museum still in Armagh, or have all of them been moved to Belfast)?, and the Inniskillings were based in Omagh As senior NCO/Warrant Officer, Royal Military Police, my stepfather was placed in charge of all British Military bases in NI directly after the war, until his retirement in 1955. He was presented with the BEM by the King in 1952, just before the King died.
The "Skins" museum used to be in Emmiskillen Castle, and my police training was also in the RUC "Depot" inside the castle….a long time ago now!!
Great video Tom, which I hope attracts a lot of visitors to both the museum and your channel. Thanks for the upload. Stay safe my friend. Reg
I love when you take us viewers to interesting museums. Thanks Tom.
Hello Tom , that was brilliant you do get to see some amazing things thanks to you we also get to see it . Thanks Tom.
I must pay this place a visit. I have a lot of information of my grandmothers brother William Dunbar who was killed on the first day of The Battle of the Somme at the age of 19. I know were he is buried in France but have never seen a photograph of him.