‘The principles of British honour’: the memoirs of Sir Douglas Savory, M.P., and the intersection between Ulster unionism and European minorities, 1939–1969

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examines the autobiographical works of Sir Douglas Savory, M.P., an Ulster unionist politician in the pre-Troubles period, primarily from the 1940s through the 1960s. Savory used these writings to disseminate a unionist perspective on Northern Irish history and to construct unionist identity. The article particularly focuses on the intersection between his engagement with European minorities and Ulster unionism, arguing that his autobiographical accounts of his advocacy for marginalised groups helped to justify his portrayal of unionism as a threatened group. His work further helped to shape post-war narratives of unionism. These narratives elided nationalist grievances and encouraged an inflexible response to such issues on the part of unionist policy-makers, which would have far-reaching consequences in later periods. This article will conclude that Savory’s autobiographical works were used in deeply political ways, drawing on his involvement with European minorities and Ulster unionism to idealise the unionist community and justify its political position in Northern Ireland.