recruiting began in july 1920, and by november 1921, the division was 1,900 strong. the auxiliaries were nominally part of the ric, but actually operated more or less independently in rural areas. divided into companies (eventually fifteen of them), each about one hundred strong, heavily armed and highly mobile, they operated in ten counties, mostly in the south and west, where irish republican army (ira) activity was greatest. they wore either ric uniforms or their old army uniforms with appropriate police badges, along with distinctive tam o' shanter caps. they were commanded by brigadier-general f p crozier.