What was the Larne Gun Running?

Answer 1

After Prime Minister Asquith introduced his Home Rule Bill for Ireland into the House of Commons in 1914, the members of the Ulster Unionist Party knew the House of Lords could no longer save them from Home Rule due to the recent adoption of the 1911 Parliament Act. The Unionists, led by Edward Carson and James Craig approached Major Fred Crawford to import guns and ammunition from Germany into Ulster for their Ulster Volunteer Force [U.V.F.]. Crawford hired two ships to transport arms from Hamburg to the North. The main operation took place on the 24 April 1914, when the two ships landed 20,000 rifles and 4,000,000 rounds of ammunition in Larne. The British Authorities turned a blind eye. What was obvious was that if Home Rule had come into force the Ulster Unionists [Loyalists - that is loyal to the Crown] would have turned these guns not just on the opposition but on the Crown Forces.