ƒire seceded from the United Kingdom in 1922 and simultaneously established its own National Army (known as the Free State Army, later as the Irish Defence Forces). Regardless of this historic national step, the centuries-long tradition of Irishmen joining the British military did not cease. Rather, the custom continued, and during the Second World War, despite ƒireÕs official neutral stance, tens of thousands of Irishmen joined the British military. Within this number, there is a unique sub-group of soldiers who took a personally greater risk by enlisting Ð those that deserted from the Irish National Army.