The British Army in Northern Ireland 1975-77 Read online

  “Ken Wharton’s remarkable work rolls on, a monumental feat of history writing.”

  Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of Bomber Boys and 3 Para

  “The spirit of honour, brotherhood, superlative soldiering and true grit lives on in Ken Wharton’s new volume about The Troubles. Read it – lest we forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice, fighting the scourge of terrorism across the water.”

  Damien Lewis, bestselling author of Zero 6 Bravo and Firestrike 7/9

  “Ken Wharton captures the authentic voice of the British soldier at the height of what is generally known as the Irish Troubles but was in fact a war. In this chronicle of some of the darkest days of that war, Wharton skilfully weaves in the experiences of the ordinary squaddie with those of civilians and relatives. A master storyteller, he produces a rich and magnificent tapestry. Packed with new information and telling detail, Wasted Years is not just a gripping narrative but also an important contribution to military and Irish history.”

  Toby Harnden, bestselling author of Bandit Country: The IRA and South Armagh and Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards & the Defining Story of Britain’s War in Afghanistan

  “Nobody does Northern Ireland like Ken and nobody tries harder to tell the stories of the men that soldiered and died, policed and patrolled, cried and bled, or lived and wept on the Emerald Isle than he. Without Ken’s voice many of these tales would be lost to the sands of time and the courageous sacrifice of these men would be forgotten; but thanks to him they won’t and the stories of heroism, comradeship and survival against the odds will live on, educating and inspiring a younger generation of soldiers on a different battlefield yet facing an equally fanatical foe. All of us who have ever worn green owe Ken and the men he writes of a debt; because lest we forget it could have been us.”

  Steven McLaughlin, bestselling author of Squaddie

  “The title of this fine book, Wasted Years, Wasted Lives is only partly correct. How much more wasted would those lives and years have been had terrorists triumphed in Northern Ireland? That they did not triumph was largely due to the heroism and patience and decency of the vast majority of the security forces, as outlined so movingly in this powerful testament to the plain soldier of the British Army. That hero speaks out in these pages. He and she held the line during the dark years. Their victory, their courage and their humanity remind us that in human affairs, yes, sometimes the good guys really do win.”

  Kevin Myers, bestselling author of Watching the Door: Cheating Death in Belfast in the 70s

  Helion & Company Limited

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  Published by Helion & Company 2013

  Designed and typeset by Farr Out Publications, Wokingham, Berkshire

  Cover designed by Euan Carter, Leicester (www.euancarter.com)

  Printed by Gutenberg Press Limited, Tarxien, Malta

  Text © Ken M. Wharton 2013

  Photographs © as individually credited within the book

  Maps of Belfast and Londonderry originally appeared in The British Army in Northern Ireland

  by Michael Dewar (1985) and are © Weidenfeld & Nicolson, a division of The Orion Publishing

  Group (London).

  Front cover photo © Belfast Telegraph

  Rear cover photo © Mark ‘C’

  The opinions expressed in this book are those of the individuals quoted and do not necessarily

  accord with views held by the author or publisher.

  The author would be delighted to receive comments about his writing or for future publications

  at [email protected]

  ISBN: 978-1-909384-55-2

  EPUB ISBN: 978-1-910294-21-5

  British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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  or transmitted, in any form, and by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording

  or otherwise, without the express written consent of Helion & Company Limited.

  For details of other military history titles published by Helion & Company Limited please

  contact the above address, or visit our website www.helion.co.uk.

  We always welcome receiving book proposals from prospective authors.

  Dedicated to the memory of Colour Sergeant Ken Ambrose

  On 9 January, 2013, one of the finest soldiers in the finest Regiment in the British Army – the Royal Green Jackets – passed away. His passing was sudden and shocked all of us who were fortunate to have known him. There will be many who have worn that coveted Rifle Green beret who, like all who met him will share the shock and grief. He has enriched the lives of the soldiers he took into battle and his loved ones and family.

  He was an inspiration to me; he encouraged me and he helped me. His was the first name on the dedications page of all my books and he had a pivotal role in my 2009 documentary for the History Channel, ‘Soldiers’ Stories.’ I am proud to have known him and honoured that he chose to do so much for me. We share the loss with his lovely wife, Penny and his family.

  Celer et Audux; Swift and Bold. Until the final RV.

  Dedications

  To every young, fresh-faced British soldier who headed to Northern Ireland with the optimistic hope of making a difference; to the eternal memory of every lad and lass who fell in Belfast, Londonderry and countless other places of the northern part of that ‘Emerald Isle’

  To the late Ken ‘B’, who did so much to help me.

  To the 1,300 who never returned to their loved ones.

  To Darren Ware, Dave Hallam, Ken Pettengale, Gren Wilson, Dave Judge, Tim Marsh; to the Royal Green Jackets, Celer et Audux

  To Mike Sangster, John & Bernie Swaine, Mick Potter, Royal Artillery, Ubique

  To Paddy Lenaghan, George Prosser, King’s Regiment

  To Mick ‘Benny Hill’ Steve ‘Foxy’ Norman, Andy Thomas, Royal Anglians

  To Mark ‘C’, James Henderson, B.R., Haydn Williams, Glen Espie and the men and Greenfinches of the Ulster Defence Regiment

  To Dave Parkinson, RTR

  To Jay Bell, ATO

  To Kenneth Anderson, Kev Wright, Tommy Clarke, Royal Corps of Transport

  To Dave ‘Slops’ Langston, Army Catering Corps

  To Eddie Atkinson & Mick Brooks, Green Howards

  To Tam Hutton and the Royal Highland Fusiliers

  My cousin John Leighton, a Royal Artillery TA soldier

  To Helen, my loving partner for all of her support and energy and patience and her guidance.

  To my children: Anne-Marie, Anna-Martina, Jonathan, Jenny, Robbie, Alex and Nathan; love you all and always will.

  To my grandchildren: Sherriden, Kelsy, William, Sammy and Layla-Mae; also to Morgan Addy.

  Anyone else remember being on mobiles and coming to a red light in the early morning hours, running to take up all round defence, until the light changed to green and returning with a bottle of milk from some poor sod’s door step?

  Erich Modrowics

  I have long wondered what the Yanks would have done or said if, say, the Mormons had set up a military wing that killed policeman and soldiers, and we took collection tins around pubs so they could buy more guns.

  Martin Wells />
  Thank you, Ken, for pursuing the publication of another book that I am sure will tell many truths, collate a wide range of stories that might have got lost on their own, and will serve as a record for posterity.

  Andrew MacDonald, King’s Royal Border Regiment

  You run across gaps, hide in doorways, move all the time, even when stopped, use the locals as human shields, kids are even better, stand at a house window, a gunman won’t fire if you have a living room window behind you. Use every trick in the book, even the dirty ones to stay alive; it is cat and mouse out there on every patrol. On each patrol you feel like a walking ‘Figure 11’ (a full sized ‘running enemy’ target used on the rifle ranges)

  Steve Hale, Scottish soldier

  It was such a terrible time for so many young men / women. Do not think any amount of pre-deployment training could prepare one for what we saw and did. Through the pain, fear and uncertainty, it was one’s comrades that never came home that will never be forgotten.

  Robert McGregor, Royal Artillery

  We all went through the same shit, so we know what it is all about. I was 1 Scots Guards. The Regiment was formed in 1642 to pacify Ireland; 340 years later, we were still at it.

  Tom Mitchell, Scots Guards

  I remember in Belfast this tiny kid threw a stone at us around 9pm, one night; he must have been about six or seven, so I asked him why he threw it. He said because you are British bastards. If I had asked him why, he probably wouldn’t have known.

  Tony Bramley

  Your books on the Troubles have grown into a wonderful volume on our war and I for one think that they have pride of place on many bookcases. Once again, well done mucker, and I look forward to the next one for two reasons – one, because of the tribute to Paul Sheppard, and the other is to add to the collection of a wonderful set of books on OP Banner.

  Mark Shaw

  I still feel you around me; still hear you come beside me; feel you panting in the dark. Still see your tail wagging; still hear you when you bark; can see you stand right next to me, alert and full of pride, willing to do your duty; from that you never did hide. You will always be with me until the day I die. We went through so many things, good and bad; together you and I. I was proud to serve with you, my special pal and friend; we did our job together, right until the end.

  Mark Shaw, Army Dog Handlers’ Unit

  In special memory of my service dog, 7C55 ALI Groundhog, Northern Ireland

  Contents

  List of Maps and Illustrations

  Foreword by Martin Dillon

  Preface

  Author’s Notes

  Abbreviations

  After a soldier was killed

  Maps

  Introduction

  Part 1: 1975

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Part 2: 1976

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Part 3: 1977

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Select Bibliography

  List of Maps and Illustrations

  Maps

  Northern Ireland

  Londonderry

  Belfast

  South Armagh (‘bandit country’)

  Illustrations

  Early days of the Troubles; welcome to the Falls Road. (Mark ‘C’)

  Life goes on for these Belfast residents as even the sight of an armed soldier can’t stop a night out. (Belfast Telegraph)

  Just window shopping; troops on patrol in Falls Road area. (Mark ‘C’)

  Bessbrook Mill base. (Mark ‘C’)

  Bessbrook Mill; once the biggest heliport in Europe. (Author’s photo)

  Memorial in Lisburn to the men and women of the UDR. (Author’s photo)

  Site of the former Abercorn restaurant in Belfast; blown up by the IRA on 4 March 1972. (Author’s photo)

  Clonnard area of Belfast; close to the ‘Peace Line’. (Mark ‘C’)

  Scottish troops in the Falls Road area. (Mark ‘C’)

  A soldier makes himself a hard target on a footsie in Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Car bomb in the centre of Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Bomb blast in Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  The Nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Cheshires patrol the Nationalist Creggan Estate, Londonderry. (Mark ‘C’)

  Mountainview Tavern; bombed by PIRA 4 April, 1975. (Author’s photo)

  The Strand Bar; attacked by the UVF on 4 April 1975, killing six innocent Catholics. (Author’s photo)

  An Army Dog Handler in Newry sniffing out explosives. (Mark ‘C’)

  The Nationalist Ardoyne area. (Author’s photo)

  Scottish troops; possibly in Flax Street, Ardoyne. (Mark ‘C’)

  Bomb blast in Belfast City Centre. (Mark ‘C’)

  Cumann na mBan (women’s IRA) mural, Crocus Street, Belfast. (Author’s photo)

  Cumann na mBan (women’s IRA) mural, Ballymurphy Estate. (Author’s photo)

  Cumann na mBan (female IRA) in action. (Mark ‘C’)

  Jim Bryson mural on the Ballymurphy Estate. (Author’s photo)

  Around the Glenalinas, Ballymurphy Estate. (Author’s photo)

  Troops patrol the Ballymurphy/Whiterock area. (Mark ‘C’)

  VCP in Falls Road area. (Mark ‘C’)

  Royal Regiment of Wales troops in the Falls Road area. (Mark ‘C’)

  Memorial to those murdered in PIRA bombing of Bayardo Bar. (Author’s photo)

  Names of the murdered at the Bayardo Bar. (Author’s photo)

  The Shankill Road, deep in Loyalist territory. (Author’s photo)

  PIGS on parade! (Mark ‘C’)

  Sangar: North Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Troops duck as a bomb explodes in May Street, Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Footsies on Benares Street, Lower Falls area. (Mark ‘C’)

  Bollocking for that man! A Royal Green Jacket without his ‘flakker’. (Mark ‘C’)

  The Yellow Card issued to soldiers. (via Author)

  Troops patrol the Crumlin Road, Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  This is where the Lawnbrook Social Club once stood; site of the Shankill Butchers’ ‘Romper Room’. (Author’s photo)

  Belfast City Centre segment gates at Christmas. (Mark ‘C’)

  Paras stop and search in Donegal Square, Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Loyalist Sandy Row, Belfast. (Author’s photo)

  Scene of the Kingsmill massacre in January 1975. (Author’s photo)

  The lonely road where the 11 Protestants were lined up and mowed down by an IRA murder gang at Kingsmill. (Author’s photo)

  Permanent memorial to the men murdered by the IRA at Kingsmill. (Author’s photo)

  OP at Glenveagh Parade, Lenadoon area. (Robert Hutton)

  Rab Hutton, Jimmy Morrison and Alec Weir. (Robert Hutton)

  (L-R) George Gallagher, Jimmy Morrison, Rab Hutton and Rab McPherson. (Robert Hutton)

  Where the three Scots soldiers were murdered in 1971 by the IRA. (Author’s photo)

  Where the three Scots soldiers were murdered in 1971 by the IRA. (Author’s photo)

  Memorial to three Scots soldiers murdered, unarmed and off-duty in March 1971 at Ligoniel. (Author’s photo)

  Grand Central Hotel Army base, Belfast. (Mark
‘C’)

  The author seen on the site of the now demolished North Howard Street Mill, Belfast. The ‘Peace Line’ can be seen in the background. (Author’s photo)

  Pick-up from a rural location in South Armagh. (Mark ‘C’)

  Foot patrol on the Glenbryns, Ardoyne area. (Mark ‘C’)

  Londonderry. (Walter Stirling)

  “Dear mum, this is how we sleep”. (Walter Stirling)

  Site of the former Chlorane Bar which was attacked by the UVF on 5 June 1976 when five innocent Catholics were murdered. (Author’s photo)

  Checkpoint into the Bogside, Londonderry. (Walter Stirling)

  Belfast. (Walter Stirling)

  Search team, Londonderry. (Walter Stirling)

  Aerial view of the Nationalist Bogside. (Mark ‘C’)

  Foot and mobile patrols in South Armagh. (Mark ‘C’)

  Scottish troops in an area of Bawnmore, Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  B’ Company, 2RGJ, Borucki Sangar. (Mark ‘C’)

  Once the most dangerous place in the world to be a British soldier - South Armagh. (Mark ‘C’)

  Hillman Street, close to where British soldier Gunner Rob Curtis was murdered in 1971 by the IRA. (Author’s photo)

  Palace Barracks, Belfast. (Mark ‘C’)

  Young rioters in the Ardoyne express their dissatisfaction as soldiers refuse to hand out their chocolate rations. (Mark ‘C’)

  The Ardoyne seen from Flax Street Mill. (Mark ‘C’)

  The Army base at Flax Street Mill, Ardoyne. (Mark ‘C’)

  Berwick Road, in the Nationalist Ardoyne. Light Infantry soldier Tommy Stoker was killed here in 1972. (Mark ‘C’)

  Anderstown RUC station, 28 October 1976 - the soldier to the right, being struck, writes, “This was at the Andy Town RUC station after a search in which I arrested the mother of the girl who is hitting me, at 0400 that morning. It was 28th October 1976 on our 76/77 tour of Turf Lodge. I lost one of my brick, Andy Crocker, by a sniper, and was ambushed two weeks before coming home – the lad in the photo (left) was shot in the leg, another in the back on an anti-mortar patrol, mobile.” (Ewen Burn)

  Little Patrick Street, Belfast, close to IRA bomb attack on Begg’s Plumbing. (Mark ‘C’)

  Riot at Castle Street, close to Divis Flats. (Mark ‘C’)

  Crumlin Road Jail, or the ‘Crum’ as it was known. (Mark ‘C’)

  Crumlin Road jail back in 1977. (Mark ‘C’)