“Petticoat Patrols”: Cultural memory and the politics of commemoration

Northern Irish society continues to navigate a competition to control the post-conflict legacy where contested histories attempt to satisfy diverse agendas. Within this deeply contested public memory, the women of The Ulster Defence Regiment, otherwise known as the Greenfinches, and their stories, have remained largely hidden. In 2023, we came together as researchers and a heritage practitioner to prepare a research showcase of previously unexplored archival material relating to these women and their experiences of front line service. This article, presented as a conversation, reflects on our experience of delving into their regimental archives to co-curate a virtual exhibition exploring the interplay between the public and personal which constitutes the cultural memory of the Ulster Defence Regiment. By exploring the relationship between our positionality and the community with whom we were co-creating the exhibition, this article reflects on our increasing awareness of the politics of this work as an act of commemoration. This shared conversation considers what it means to navigate a critical feminist intervention in this contested and gendered space, engaging veterans in critical reflection about a heritage they feel keenly whilst revealing what this can tell us about the politics of commemoration in a society living in the shadows of the Troubles.