Military Reaction Force facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Military Reaction Force
Active	Mid-1971 – early 1973
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Role	Counterinsurgency Special reconnaissance Clandestine human intelligence
Size	40
Part of	39th Infantry Brigade
Headquarters	Palace Barracks, Northern Ireland
Engagements	Operation Banner (The Troubles)
Commanders
Commander	Cpt. James McGregor (June 1972 onward)
Commander	Cpt. Arthur Watchus (until June 1972)

The Military Reaction Force (MRF) was a secret group of soldiers from the British Army. They worked in Northern Ireland during a difficult time called the Troubles. This unit was formed in the summer of 1971 and operated until early 1973.

MRF teams dressed in regular clothes and drove normal cars. They carried pistols and small machine guns. Their main job was to find and arrest or stop members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). However, some people claimed that the MRF also shot and harmed innocent civilians.

The MRF also got information from people who secretly worked for them inside other groups. They even set up fake businesses to gather clues. In October 1972, the IRA found out about two of these fake businesses. This event helped lead to the MRF being closed down. After the MRF, other secret units like the 14 Intelligence Company took over similar roles.

How the MRF Started and Was Organized
How the MRF Operated
Allegations of Harm to Civilians
Secret Businesses (Front Companies)
- Attacks in October 1972
See also

How the MRF Started and Was Organized

The MRF began in the summer of 1971. Its ideas came from a senior British Army commander named Frank Kitson. He had used similar methods in other places to deal with rebellions. From 1970 to 1972, Kitson was in charge of the 39th Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland. Some people believe he was responsible for starting the MRF.

The MRF was based at Palace Barracks in a place called Holywood, near Belfast. The first leader of the MRF was Captain Arthur Watchus. Later, in June 1972, Captain James 'Hamish' McGregor took over. The unit had about 40 soldiers. These soldiers were specially chosen from different parts of the British Army.

How the MRF Operated

In 1994, a UK government minister explained that the MRF was a small military unit. Its job was to watch people and places in Northern Ireland. They did this when regular soldiers in uniform would be too easily noticed.

Some people said the MRF's goal was to make the IRA fight with other groups. This would distract the IRA from attacking the British Army.

Many details about how the MRF worked have been shared by former members. In 2012–13, a former MRF member wrote a book and gave interviews about his time in the unit. In 2013, a TV show called Panorama also showed information from seven former members.

The MRF had two main roles. One was to watch people and gather information secretly. The other was to go out and find suspected IRA members. MRF soldiers drove around in unmarked cars, usually in teams of two to four. They were armed with pistols and sub-machine guns. Some former members admitted that the unit shot unarmed people. They said this included both IRA members and civilians. Some claimed they had a list of targets they were told to "shoot on sight."

One former soldier said, "We were not there to act like an army unit, we were there to act like a terror group." Another said they wanted to cause confusion. They sometimes fired at groups of people who were guarding barricades. They thought some of these people might be armed. A former member said in 1978 that the unit's role was to cause "fear, terror and violence." He also said the unit was trained to use weapons that the IRA often used.

Some people believed the MRF purposely attacked civilians for two reasons. First, to make the IRA fight with other groups and stop them from fighting the government. Second, to show Catholic people that the IRA could not protect them. This would make people stop supporting the IRA.

The MRF also used fake businesses and disguises to watch people. Former members said they pretended to be street cleaners, garbage collectors, or even homeless people. They did this while gathering information. The MRF also used secret agents, called 'Freds'. These were people from paramilitary groups who worked for British Military Intelligence. The Freds would give information back to the MRF. They also helped the MRF identify paramilitary members. This way, the MRF collected many photos and files on people from both sides of the conflict.

Allegations of Harm to Civilians

In 1972, it was claimed that MRF teams carried out several drive-by shootings. These happened in Catholic areas of Belfast. Some of these shootings were blamed on other groups. At least fifteen civilians were shot. Some MRF members have said the unit was involved in most of these attacks. There are also claims that the unit helped other groups carry out attacks.

For example, in December 1971, a bomb exploded at McGurk's Bar. This pub was often visited by Catholic people. Fifteen Catholic civilians died. A book written by a former member of another group claimed the MRF helped plan this bombing.

In April 1972, two Catholic brothers were shot and wounded on Whiterock Road. Witnesses said a car stopped, and three men started shooting. A former MRF member later claimed he was one of the gunmen. He said the brothers were unarmed.

In May 1972, after a government announcement about another event, MRF teams allegedly shot seven Catholic civilians in the Andersonstown area. One man, Patrick McVeigh, was killed. The British Army first said gunmen in a passing car fired randomly. But later, it was admitted that soldiers from the MRF were in the car.

In June 1972, Jean Smith, a 24-year-old Catholic mother, was shot and killed on Glen Road. She was sitting in a car. The security forces blamed the IRA. However, later reports suggested the MRF might have been involved.

Also in June 1972, MRF members allegedly shot and wounded three Catholic men at a bus stop on Glen Road. The MRF unit's car was stopped by police, and the soldiers were arrested. One soldier was charged with attempted murder but was later found not guilty.

In September 1972, Catholic civilian Daniel Rooney was shot dead. His friend Brendan Brennan was wounded. They were shot from a passing car in the Falls district. The British Army said the two men fired at an undercover patrol. However, tests showed no gun residue on the men.

There are also claims that the MRF was involved in a shooting in the New Lodge area in February 1973. Two IRA members were killed, and others were wounded. In the hours that followed, four more people were shot dead in the area.

Secret Businesses (Front Companies)

The MRF used several secret businesses in Belfast in the early 1970s. These included Four Square Laundry, a mobile laundry service, and the Gemini massage parlour. The MRF also had an office. All these businesses were set up to gather information on the IRA and other groups.

The Four Square Laundry van visited homes in West Belfast twice a week. One young man drove the van, and a young woman collected and delivered laundry. They were both from Northern Ireland. Clothes collected for washing were first checked for traces of explosives or gun residue. They also looked for new clothes that might mean an IRA member was hiding in the house. Hidden cameras and listening devices were in the van. Staff also gathered information by talking to local people.

However, in September 1972, the IRA discovered that two of its members were secretly working for the MRF. These two agents told the IRA about the MRF's operations, including the laundry and the massage parlour. The IRA then watched these businesses and confirmed the information.

Attacks in October 1972

After these discoveries, the IRA planned an operation against the MRF for October 2, 1972. One group of IRA members attacked the Four Square Laundry van. They shot and killed the driver, who was a secret British soldier. The other laundry employee, a woman, was safe in a nearby house. She was later given an award for her bravery.

About an hour later, the same IRA group raided the MRF office but found no one there. Another IRA group went to the massage parlour. They claimed to have shot three secret soldiers there. The British military only confirmed the death of the laundry van driver that day.

After these events, the MRF realized its secret operations were no longer secret. The unit was then closed down shortly afterward. This incident led to the creation of a new secret intelligence unit, the 14 Intelligence Company.