Thanks for the vid Robert. I was with 1 GREEN HOWARDS on that tour. The young Corporal interviewed by Peter Taylor at Lenadoon who was asked if he would purchase his discharge actually went on to serve a full career, all of the soldiers with him on that interview left the Army long before him. He took a later entry Commission and retired as a Major. A credit to our Regiment. I remember listening to the the gun battles fought by 1 KOSB in and around Roger Casement Park in Andersonstown, not far away from where we were based with A Company at Musgrave Park. It was my first tour of OP BANNER. Out of a career spanning 22 years, I served 10 of them in the Province on short 4-month roulemont and longer Garrison tours throughout the Province. Now well into my 60s, the thing I will always take away from Northern Ireland is not the bombings and the shootings and the endless patrolling. It is, rather the kindness and generosity of ordinary people on both sides of the sectarian divide in extraordinary situations. I have a great affection for the people there and was overjoyed for them when the troubles finally came to an end. Once again, thanks for the vid. Great memories!
I am an ex (B) coy Green Howards Army cadet Sgt from Thornaby on Tees detachment and some of us Joined up in 1971/72 my mate Alan Hewitt from the Yarm detachment joined the battalion , i went into the logistics doing my full service , bumped into Alan while he was a colour Sgt running Rowallan Company RMA sandhurst
40yrs later and sometimes I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, I scan every window, doorway and alley, look at every vehicle with suspicion, avoiding streetlights as I walk and then it passes, a few deep breaths and back to normal. Banner in the brain forever.
I'm with you Joe. I seem to have survived the 70's on very little sleep and having perfected the art of walking backwards. Memories still bring a lump to my throat and no one that wasn't there will ever understand why. Well done mucker.
As an ex soldier who served many years in NI people need to understand that the British government dosent care less about any soldiers welfare. They treat soldiers as cannon fodder to further their own addenda. Loyalists and republicans need understand that the real enemy is the British government. They need to work together to ensure that all of the people of Ireland North and South can live in peace. People have suffered enough. Its time for people of Northern Ireland to to accept their differences and focus on the future prosperity for all people North and South of the border.
A positive step would be for Boris not to pervert the course of justice by blocking former soldier prosecutions. Soldiers broke the law of land when they gunned down innocent civilians and killed innocent men, women and children. How can the families of these victims move on when the perpetrators are known to the authorities. These were british citizens killed by members of the British security forces. When the authorities became aware of paramilitaries who were involved in criminal activity then they used all available resources in order to pursue, arrest and convict - why were soldiers allowed special status and exempt from prosecution? Everyone already knows that the real enemy was and is the british government - nothing new there. But it was not the MP for Cambridgeshire who shot dead JP Cunningham, and it was not the MP for Oxfordshire who shot dead Daniel Hegarty, nor was it the MP for Birmingham who shot dead Margaret Gargan, these were all killed by british security personnel - where is the personal responsibility? Jails in the North & South of Ireland were filled with paramilitary prisoners - was it then wrong to convict and jail these 'soldiers' who would argue that they were only following orders? Would you now want all of these 'soldiers' currently incarcerated be set free? Sometimes it is only the 'soldier' that be charged for there is not any evidence to prosecute those who made the order - that has always been the case.
@@grahamwatts8836 I respectfully disagree. I grew up in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday, in a nationalist community in Derry. These soldiers are being scapegoated to hide the bigger picture.
I respectfully agree the British Govts way of investigating the Bloody Sunday situation at the time was very poor, not properly investigated. It was stated by many at the time IRA gun men were firing at the soldiers from behind the rioters, the soldiers returned fire people got shot was it the soldiers fault it depends. Apparently in the engagement Martin Mc Guinness was armed with a tommy gun who knows if he fired it at the soldiers. I would say this it must have been a pretty scary situation to a soldier drawn into the flats and then fired upon by snipers and confronted by a large group of rioters. It was stated the soldiers fire was indiscriminate, others say firearms used by the rioters who got shot were quickly taken away by the IRA. Who knows what went on. I say this soldiers have a reasonable right to defend themselves if fired upon or if their life is threatened. The enquires needed to consider the threat to a soldier when a large group of rioters could effectively be using deadly force against them ie throwing bricks, nail bombs, petrol bombs (whilst being shot at by snipers) and could bash them to death or grab their rifle and shot them. Ie if over run. At the time it all needed to be thoroughly investigated and considered which I think it was not. So who knows what really happened. Terrible situation, just clarifying shooting a person who is not a threat is homicide but shooting a group rioters who are throwing bricks at you who are over running you, could bash you to death or use your rifle to shoot you is could be a self defence. I say it is pretty very close distinction in a very difficult and stressful incident.
@@paulduffy4585 Thank You! I visited NI back in the late 70's when I was a kid. My dad did business with both Catholic and Protestant people! We stayed with a wonderful Catholic family in a place just outside of ardglass and eve though I joined the army later in life I knew from my experience that there were and still are good people from both sides!!
I've watched many of Peter Taylor's reports on the Irish troubles over the decades and he was without doubt the best Journalist to ever cover this brutal, savage conflict.
He did some great reporting from Vietnam too. A great journalist who always allowed the soldiers to express their own own opinions and not project his own views upon them.
Peter Taylor 16:46 is the best journalist to ever cover the Troubles. Thirty years later and all sides were still talking to him because of his ability to remain impartial to all sides.
Astonishing that the squaddies are allowed to speak so freely about their situation. This would be in no way allowed nowadays, access to the media for serving personnel is strictly controlled by the MOD.
I would think that also applied in 1972 Mark - and probably always has. Thing is though - we were not very interested in what the MOD said in the first place about anything really. Armchair critics like them usually spout a load of rubbish and it might have helped a bit if we had seen any of them when rocks, bombs and bullets were in the air. On the way to Bermuda in the 1970s I was interviewed at the airport by this bird with a TV camera. There had been riots and arson taking place and the Yanks had told out government to sort it out First - and in fact only question was "How do you feel about going to terrorize these poor people who are only trying to express their rights". Due to my rather lively reply - I had had no sleep from the night before as we were mobilizing and due to hit the ground 12 hours after the call came - she did not ask any more questions and - believe it or not - they did not show it on TV either.
That's one way to manage the media! I remember JP & JN appearing on Wogan not long after their release from Iraqi captivity. They looked uncomfortable and had no idea what Terry would ask them. In his book Tornado Down, JP said he had no media training whatsoever from the MOD, so just had to muddle along for 20 minutes on live TV. Nowadays the MOD is much more media-savvy, they even have their own Twitter & Facebook accounts (unthinkable in 1991!)
You don't know why you're there or what your fellow soldiers have died for??? Because according to your own government you're NOT in a foreign land but at home trying to keep the peace in the U.K.
I once met some British soldiers in a pub. I got talking with them, and they told me they had been in the Falklands war and also Northern Ireland. I asked which was worse. "Northern Ireland, mate" they answered.
Derek Richardson by calling the Catholic civilian population the ‘enemy’ you demonstrate better than anything that the British had no business being in Ireland,
Great Vid. As I am an English born and educated now living in Ireland for many years. The one thing that keeps coming up time and time again when I study the history of the war in Northern Ireland is that the real monster of the North wasn't the British army uvf ira it was a horror by the name of rev Ian paisley. This man instilled in the loyalist a deep sense of hatred and bigotry for anything catholic. He made his loyalist feel they had god on their side when they committed so many horrors. He made them believe there was an enemy when there was no enemy to face. He is responsible for the level of depravity in Northern Ireland.
Bit different to the way I saw it Chris Coppola. It seemed to me that British Governments prior to and after the 6 counties were formed used absolutely no sense at all to bond all of the people together. After the split they made no attempt at all to put it right and it was quite obvious it was a bomb just waiting to explode. I find no blame with the two religions involved and feel a great deal of shame of the way everyone was treated. It was bound to instill sectarian bigotry as the people were powerless to put it right. This is a long film but tries to demonstrate the hopelessness of the situation. ( oh - and someone did not like my music - but I don't care.) ruclips.net/video/36GWci58-bk/видео.html
@@robertkitson1935 I do agree some what. But your right the British government only wanted NI because of ship building linen mills and such like. It was a money maker. But now I believe if they could give the 6 back tomorrow they would . Personally I would love to see a United Ireland. I think loyalist see now even in a United Ireland they can still celebrate their culture have their parades and bonfires
@@oschiri66 if Ireland were part of the uk then it would not be united. Your not making sense I think you need to step back from the crack pipe because the only thing falling apart is the UK. Scotland wants away from it now Wales. British politicians are an absolute joke. Ben Elton couldn't write the shit thats going on in Westminster. It's so bad Even the yanks are telling you not to break the law. No trade deal if you mess with the good Friday agreement. What is it with us brits that even in 2020 we think we can destroy relationships break agreements and commitments and blame it on everyone else. Unfucking believable. Rule Britannia Britannia waves the rules.
It’s incredible to think that senior members of the army knew in 1972 that the IRA couldn’t be beaten yet allowed the conflict to continue for another 25 years. Surely there must have been another way the conflict could have been shortened.
Yes, it could've been avoided in many ways. If that had been the goal of British intelligence. But it wasn't. M15 used this conflict to strengthen their position - and ultimately toppled the Heath government. Once a conservative government was back in power their aim was to appease unionist politicians. In order to secure their vote in close parliaments. The age-old "orange card." Which is what started the Troubles in the first place. Conservatives were happy to turn a blind eye to an apartheid Stormont, so long as unionists backed them in parliament. This could've all been easily avoided if equal rights had been given to Catholics in NI. But a peaceful resolution was never on the agenda. Because that would've jeopardized unionist support. So 4000 lives and 30 years were lost instead. Dirty rotten politics.
Senior members of the Army are soldiers who need to follow orders, same as every other rank. The politicians made the decisions, not the generals. There are many Irish Catholics alive today, who wouldn't have been for long, had the British Army left.
In your msg at the end you left out the fact there were so many deaths was that the paras shot dead 13 people, 1 more later died in hospital in the civil rights march in Derry. And direct rule, bloody friday..it was the bloodiest year in the modern troubles... Just saying it was a big contribution along with motorman to keep it fair since its a Peter Taylor documentary! It is accepted on all sides recently that if the Army were unleashed in the province unrestricted then it would all of been over in 2-3years. I don't need to put how we would of done it. Peter Taylor, best documenter of NI full stop in my opinion. Nice upload.
Of the three KOSB Senior NCOs interviewed one was awarded the MM another a MID on previous tours... brave men who passed away not long after retiring from the Army. XXV!
The reason the British government will not call it a war is they would be charged with war crimes for what they did in Ireland! Would the British people stand for it if a outside force was on their soil ask your self that question and you get the answer to the Irish problem. Its over now and the people of North and South in Ireland will decide what the future will be.
Completely disagree with you, the British army acted with a lot a lot restraint considering what they were up against. There were times the British army acted wrongly but generally they behaved professionally. Try to see it from thier side? These aren't politicians or policy makers but just working class lads in the army put into an extremely stressful and dangerous situation. At that point in time the British army was a world superpower and could have ended the IRA in the north of Ireland in a matter of months but the civilian casualties would have been unacceptable. Do you think Russia, china, or even the USA would have acted with that level of restraint? That's just my opinion (as a Catholic also)
Thanks Robert. Just showed how smart these lads were, they spoke better than politicians! I spent a few tours there as a bootneck in the turf, andytown... murphy. we made the bad bastards pay believe me.
It was nice to see that soldier speak his mind...I fully believe if it was the loyalists who were trying to kill the soldiers then the troops would be on the nationalist side...I'm just glad the troubles is over..and hopefully conflict never returns to the streets of Ulster
We have done this all over the world. The main belief of the British Soldier is that they don't take sides - they are there to save lives and preserve the peace. This is my draft version of a film I am working on at the moment of one of my experiences in 1964 ruclips.net/video/N0HCsO7M4Hs/видео.html
derek miller don't hold your breath it's still there just under the surface , if it does kick off again i hope the british army will do the job gloves off this time
That's because its bred into the next generation if their families are hardcore Republicans or Loyalists it will be handed down..its all they know?..sad really. More important things to be worried about than a fucking flag
I have nothing against any of these soldiers personally and I respect any soldier for doing his duty. The problem is that these boys were pawns in the British war machine. It's unfortunate that any of them had to die but that goes for any army, in any combat situation, guerrilla or not. I mean, there were some rogue soldiers in every regiment, thats just the nature of people.. But what people from all sides need to understand is that these soldiers were not welcome in nationalist areas of Ireland. I know they weren't there by choice, again thats the British government for you, the soldiers said it themselves. They were told to be a police force in a volatile situation, which was never going to end well and the British government knew it.. You can't put armed foreigners on the streets of any nation and expect the population to accept it. The British army did suffer in Ireland, I accept that, I certainly don't gloat on it but the British army did kill a lot of innocent civillians, ( as did Republican & Loyalist paramilitaries ), yes but even simple things like getting pulled and searched by armed soldiers, having soldiers in your gardens, just the very presence of British soldiers on our doorsteps was antagonising... When soldiers were killed it was never personal against the man himself, it was what his uniform & weapons represented.. Unfortunately, thats the nature of the beast in any part of the world. Peace to everyone who was affected by this whole conflict we called the troubles, I was one of them.
Rufus Chucklebutty They were English, Scottish & Welsh (British). I understand that Loyalists consider them to be their fellow British nationals, but Irish nationals don’t. Around half the population of NI would consider themselves Irish & not British. Put it this way, if Irish soldiers from the Republic were patrolling the streets of NI back then and killing innocent Protestants, how would you feel?
@@JohnMcMahon. a reasonable comparison. But reason won't take you very far on a You Tube thread. Which is a shame, because this would be a great place to talk about things. Instead it's constant shit talking. Like yourself, I grew up in this, and I'd be interested in the point of view of the soldiers who were there. But you can never get to that dialogue. The bootlicking trolls make damn sure of that.
Why waste compassion on the soldiers? They willingly and knowingly decided to serve in an occupation army with the expressed purpose to maintain sectarian rule. No way to escape that moral bankruptcy
@BemusedBarfly Just as I thought. A believer in Killarney bog theory. Btw the world isnt flat. You're made up of a bunch of invaders just like me. Get over it.
Always noticed the Jock regiments had a real hatred for the Republican community. Growing up on a diet of old firm hatred doesn't help. I'm glad you have peace now Joe and stay safe lad.
Burton Rd Forever 1977 I’m not in NI. My grandparents were from Eire. Looking through history the British brutalised their way around the world to declare themselves ‘great’. The devastation everywhere they reigned is still felt today.
@@BUZZCLIPS1 And? We also gave the world everything worth mentioning. So you've heard a few one sided stories from Granny Boyle eh? Give us a breakdown on the crimes committed by the Scottish regiments in NI as opposed to say the US Marines in Vietnam? Also, the Irish in America treated the blacks with love and affection eh? I'm sure the Irish in the NYPD committed worse discrimination towards blacks in the 20s,30s,40s,50s and 60s than Scottish regiments did to the Nationalist population of NI.
As a Veteran who served 3 Tours in NIrelandbetween July 72 and Febuary 1975 ,in the following, ArDoyne Flax St Milll attached to 1LI Palace Barracks aspart of The RCT Squadron and finally at 39 InfantryBigade HQ&SIGNAL Squadron Commanders Escort Group August 1974 a d Febuary1975 plusatour of fduty with TheUN Oeacekeeping force in Cyprus. In1974 I only spent 4 weeks in my units home base a case have kitbag willtravel Such was the life of a RCT DRIVER with8 Squadron 4 to 6 moths in Cyprus one year and a Op Banner tour just 3 months later wit 39 brigade MY Parent unit followed me to NI 2months laterNo considerationfor family live .
You might be interested in this one as well which features in some parts 2nd Battalion The Queen's Regiment in 1969 ruclips.net/video/NOIikU7GylQ/видео.html
I had 2 tours there R. Sigs. 1970s.First accom was on a ship! I enjoyed it but during & later all the killings bombs just passed me by. Now looking at documentaries it appals me what went on. They really on Independence should have gave them the whole island & let them sort it out, tho it would have been no different to how it is now. Thank god peace has come but it is a fragile one & Brexit is a threat to it.
Imagine the devastation the US Army would've caused in that position? The squaddies are spot on about having their hands tied behind their backs? Look at the IDF? They think nothing of rolling down the streets of the West Bank and Gaza in tanks and if they are shot at the building that's suspected is coming down. What did the British Army have to do? Shout 3 warnings!! Did you ever see tanks in Ulster apart from Motorman? Never.
the motherfucker low intensity operations? Frank Kitson was seen a bit of a bogeyman by the Republican population. Obviously I understand that with it being part of the UK the spotlight was firmly on the Army and it's actions, the IRA took full advantage of that. Four square laundry and the brothel on the Antrim Rd were quite rudimentary but they learned quickly. Still I think our Army acted in a restrained, professional manner and became extremely proficient in anti-terrorism and the intelligence gathering attached to that. Cheers.
That's a ridiculous statement. It was still a British province with British civilians everywhere. Wouldn't matter what country your from you would still have had restrictions you would have met. Or go prison for years.
@@acecolnaco6587 the mrf didn't infiltrate the IRA, they were Protestant. And loyalist gunmen. A terrible mistake we made and paid for it. 14th Int were closest we came to that with wandering the streets on various assignments. The IRA infil'd the IRA. Informers were rife. But some climbed to the top of there ranks yes.
@TheVisigoth No one won that war. We came of worse & eventually a government came along who were weak enough to let the Provo's bullshit political wing have what they want, as they said would happen on many occasions.... So if anyone "succeeded" in the war in the end it was the Provo's. And yes if Kitson had his way he could of ended the worse of the troubles in a few years.
If they were trained better they would of drove, and shot there way out. It was a terrible thing. Though the fact it was a funeral march they walked into for the 3 Provo's we shot in Gibraltar and Michael Stone had shot and thrown grenades another days before, didn't help feelings. Think of it objectivity and its just utter madness. Why did we keep those six counties... why. Total bloody minded old fashioned politics.
If they were trained better they wouldnt be touring the area like it was a movie set, they were lucky they were only beaten and shot. Pure stupidity cost them their lives.
@@Jie67 what other forms of brutality could make that beating "lucky" they were dead men as soon as they tried to get away but got trapped by the black hacks you can be sure the Pira had a operation in place for this incident esp after Milltown, my point is they showed real restraint not shooting the guys attacking them would it be justified I think so if it was you would you open fire just a yes or no will do mate lol.
@@Jie67 Its easy to make a wrong turn in west Belfast, even if there is a funeral column a mile long... especially back then. The whole place was made to look the same, no road names up or house numbers. Pain in arse.
LEGGIE .You are so right,what happened to those two soldiers was nothing short of barbaric. But it wasn`t restraint. They were just two ordinary soldiers that got themselves into a situation that they were totally unprepared and untrained for. Had they been special forces troops,as it has been suggested on numerous occasions ,the outcome would have had a very different ending. Would they have still been killed? probably yes. But that street would have been littered with corpses because the primary weapon would have been the vehicle,with the two Browning`s used as secondary. Also they would have certainly had a fully automatic option as well.
The Brits were meant to abide by the Geneva convention. But in a lot of cases the shot unarmed men and Boys and women. the RA always had the element of surprise. TAL32
The problem is the Brits had their hands tied due to the Geneva convention, which is why the IRA didn't get wiped out completely. Loyalists and Nationalists are both scumbags in Northern Ireland. Only difference between the two groups is that the Republicans have always been good at propaganda, hence why the Brits couldn't get them as hard as they could have.
The IRA suffered a lot of defeats, And it didn’t affect the cause, The soldiers were saying they would have sorted the situation overnight, They would have created civil overnight if the government had allowed them to do what they wanted, I’m glad that the north of Ireland is at peace, People should live in peace and harmony, And they have earned the right to govern themselves, Ian paisley was right in what he said to martin Mc Guinness! We don’t need Dublin or London telling us what to do we can govern ourselves.
Drove a Sarecan, my Major volunteered me to be a combat Medic, although I was specialised in bomb disposal, its one of the draughbacks of being educated.
Done five tours there, we didn't care about the politics behind it, to be honest. We were just a buffer between two groups trying to kill each other and one side finding ways of killing us.
14:00 onwards...... that is why the Brits were hated. Could you imagine the indignation of them in their own country if they were subjected to shit like that?
I was born in NI in 1972. Both sides here were at fault. There was no middle ground. I just want to thank the Army for the hard and frustrating job they did here. Likely we would have had civil war without them. RESPECT and THANKS GUYS!!!!!
Outstanding report by Robert Kee as usual! It's a scary thought that these British Troops admit here that they did the job for money only! What else would or even did they do for money! Their memory should clearly not be glorified.
Back in the 1960s, the only choice for young, British (less educated), working class men was a job in a factory or the Army. The army used to advertise it as: "Join the Army. Fight for your country. Get a trade. Become a man. Earn lots of money." This became attractive to young men who had no hopes in life - and I can guarantee that 99% of them had no idea of the situation in NI. Think before you judge situations that you know little about.
@Chief Big Bob Very articulate Bob - maybe you would have preferred that the Unionist state should still be running a police state for their own benefit. The British legacy in Ireland has been a curse here for centuries. School kids, including relatives of mine in the UK were never taught the truth.
@@seamuscostello4487 The last song starts at 26.55 in Christmas in Belfast and i son't need to tell you what it is called. Perhaps you are trying to make a point?
So fucked up, these guys running up the street, essentially fearing for their lives and theres a woman pushing her pram past them like its nothing. Absolutely disgusting that Northern Ireland was brought to the brink of collapse because of pettiness on both sides. I feel so lucky that I dont need to be searched to walk down Royal Avenue or to worry if that car Im walking past has a bomb in it, but I equally feel so sorry for those who had to live through those desperate times.
Im neither Catholic nor Protestant and although iv enjoyed all of Taylor's documentaries over the years he does clearly appear to be a Republican Sympathiser
Only one side were trying to force their politics on the population by violence instead of democracy, if you think the IRA were right and had majority support then they could have won an election.
Two more Operation Banner films to watch. Due to RUclips applying USA law to prevent children accessing fils with violence they are for over 18s only. You may be asked for an age check. ruclips.net/video/t2BMZKuBxWM/видео.html
@Tom Thumb I know - RAF Reg were there before any other regiment, since the 50's, and one of the last regiments to leave. My comment was supposed to be humorous. Thanks for your service, and respect to the Corps...
De escalation means a slow gradual move out say over 5 to 8 years, in many other campaigns with good discussions with both sides this has been achieved.
How tragic the Republic of Ireland remains ruled by foreigners via EU papal empire . A new Ireland is needed . An Ireland free from London and free from eu / Vatican . An ulster with devolved government acknowledging its unique independent region of the island with its ancient links to Scotland and the north of England . It’s people it’s culture its religion of Patrick the evangelist. All unique to ulster .
It is such a pity then that the british security forces killed more innocent men, women and children than they did terrorists. A dirty war by all parties to the conflict - how many innocent people died even though british security personnel had advance notice of attacks through their agents on both sides of the paramilitary divide? I am interested as to who you are describing as the 'ruthless enemy'?
@@timoakes450 So out of those killed directly by british security personnel 186 were innocent civilians, 146 were republicans and 16 were loyalists, so again one would be left questioning who were the real enemy that you fighting - was it the Catholic nationalist people or was it the paramilitaries? The numbers would suggest that the british military tried to defeat the republican paramilitaries by attacking the Catholic civilian population - a ploy that was also used by the loyalist paramilitaries throughout the campaign - how else would trained soldiers kill more civilians than paramilitaries?
Dirty war is right. Thousands of fully armed Brits, SAS, mi5, ruc, UDR, special branch and all running loyalist death squads uda, uff, uvf, rhc, not to mention touts on republican side and best u cud do was a draw
Thanks for the vid Robert. I was with 1 GREEN HOWARDS on that tour. The young Corporal interviewed by Peter Taylor at Lenadoon who was asked if he would purchase his discharge actually went on to serve a full career, all of the soldiers with him on that interview left the Army long before him. He took a later entry Commission and retired as a Major. A credit to our Regiment. I remember listening to the the gun battles fought by 1 KOSB in and around Roger Casement Park in Andersonstown, not far away from where we were based with A Company at Musgrave Park. It was my first tour of OP BANNER. Out of a career spanning 22 years, I served 10 of them in the Province on short 4-month roulemont and longer Garrison tours throughout the Province. Now well into my 60s, the thing I will always take away from Northern Ireland is not the bombings and the shootings and the endless patrolling. It is, rather the kindness and generosity of ordinary people on both sides of the sectarian divide in extraordinary situations. I have a great affection for the people there and was overjoyed for them when the troubles finally came to an end. Once again, thanks for the vid. Great memories!
Very good and interesting post to read. Thanks for doing you bit to try and help bring about peace.
I probably threw stones at you.
Thanks for your service mate👍
I am an ex (B) coy Green Howards Army cadet Sgt from Thornaby on Tees detachment and some of us Joined up in 1971/72 my mate Alan Hewitt from the Yarm detachment joined the battalion , i went into the logistics doing my full service , bumped into Alan while he was a colour Sgt running Rowallan Company RMA sandhurst
@@SNOWDONTRYFAN Alan rose to RSM of the 1st Battalion back in 1991. I may be wrong but I have heard that he has since succumbed to the big C.
40yrs later and sometimes I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, I scan every window, doorway and alley, look at every vehicle with suspicion, avoiding streetlights as I walk and then it passes, a few deep breaths and back to normal. Banner in the brain forever.
You were there? Would you mind sharing some experiences?
I'm with you Joe. I seem to have survived the 70's on very little sleep and having perfected the art of walking backwards.
Memories still bring a lump to my throat and no one that wasn't there will ever understand why. Well done mucker.
@@kevinwhitmill2599 I just wish I could stop memorising car registrations ffs.
I grew up in Derry and constantly thought I’d be getting a bullet from one of your observation posts. Bloody Sunday left all of us the same
Thank you for your service.
I got to be a teenager because of you guys.
God Bless each and everyone of you and for your brothers
🌺 Lest We Forget
As an ex soldier who served many years in NI people need to understand that the British government dosent care less about any soldiers welfare. They treat soldiers as cannon fodder to further their own addenda. Loyalists and republicans need understand that the real enemy is the British government. They need to work together to ensure that all of the people of Ireland North and South can live in peace. People have suffered enough. Its time for people of Northern Ireland to to accept their differences and focus on the future prosperity for all people North and South of the border.
A positive step would be for Boris not to pervert the course of justice by blocking former soldier prosecutions. Soldiers broke the law of land when they gunned down innocent civilians and killed innocent men, women and children. How can the families of these victims move on when the perpetrators are known to the authorities. These were british citizens killed by members of the British security forces. When the authorities became aware of paramilitaries who were involved in criminal activity then they used all available resources in order to pursue, arrest and convict - why were soldiers allowed special status and exempt from prosecution?
Everyone already knows that the real enemy was and is the british government - nothing new there. But it was not the MP for Cambridgeshire who shot dead JP Cunningham, and it was not the MP for Oxfordshire who shot dead Daniel Hegarty, nor was it the MP for Birmingham who shot dead Margaret Gargan, these were all killed by british security personnel - where is the personal responsibility?
Jails in the North & South of Ireland were filled with paramilitary prisoners - was it then wrong to convict and jail these 'soldiers' who would argue that they were only following orders? Would you now want all of these 'soldiers' currently incarcerated be set free? Sometimes it is only the 'soldier' that be charged for there is not any evidence to prosecute those who made the order - that has always been the case.
I agree
@@grahamwatts8836 I respectfully disagree. I grew up in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday, in a nationalist community in Derry. These soldiers are being scapegoated to hide the bigger picture.
I respectfully agree the British Govts way of investigating the Bloody Sunday situation at the time was very poor, not properly investigated. It was stated by many at the time IRA gun men were firing at the soldiers from behind the rioters, the soldiers returned fire people got shot was it the soldiers fault it depends. Apparently in the engagement Martin Mc Guinness was armed with a tommy gun who knows if he fired it at the soldiers. I would say this it must have been a pretty scary situation to a soldier drawn into the flats and then fired upon by snipers and confronted by a large group of rioters. It was stated the soldiers fire was indiscriminate, others say firearms used by the rioters who got shot were quickly taken away by the IRA. Who knows what went on. I say this soldiers have a reasonable right to defend themselves if fired upon or if their life is threatened. The enquires needed to consider the threat to a soldier when a large group of rioters could effectively be using deadly force against them ie throwing bricks, nail bombs, petrol bombs (whilst being shot at by snipers) and could bash them to death or grab their rifle and shot them. Ie if over run. At the time it all needed to be thoroughly investigated and considered which I think it was not. So who knows what really happened. Terrible situation, just clarifying shooting a person who is not a threat is homicide but shooting a group rioters who are throwing bricks at you who are over running you, could bash you to death or use your rifle to shoot you is could be a self defence. I say it is pretty very close distinction in a very difficult and stressful incident.
@@paulduffy4585 Thank You! I visited NI back in the late 70's when I was a kid. My dad did business with both Catholic and Protestant people! We stayed with a wonderful Catholic family in a place just outside of ardglass and eve though I joined the army later in life I knew from my experience that there were and still are good people from both sides!!
Salute all you guys for giving your all and keeping us safe. I was a child when you served here. I salute you all until the day I die 👏 👏 👏
I've watched many of Peter Taylor's reports on the Irish troubles over the decades and he was without doubt the best Journalist to ever cover this brutal, savage conflict.
He did some great reporting from Vietnam too. A great journalist who always allowed the soldiers to express their own own opinions and not project his own views upon them.
peter taylor is a biased agenda pusher
Peter Taylor is a republican, always has been and always will be.
@@thewesties8725 hahaha taylor is mi5 mi6 100%
That’s because he tended to tell the truth about British atrocities in Ireland. A great man
Peter Taylor 16:46 is the best journalist to ever cover the Troubles. Thirty years later and all sides were still talking to him because of his ability to remain impartial to all sides.
Well said. Without doubt.
He was in the RA ffs
@@ffspablo8739 Sure, just provide your sources. Otherwise, go back to your glue sniffing.
@@user-br3bw7wr2l don't knock the glue until you try it fella.
He sympathized with the republican movement.
@@ffspablo8739 😂👌
Reporter-"How do you feel about Catholics, now?" Soldier- "I am Catholic." Fucking madness that shit was.
Shows the stupidity of reporters.
civil war generally is uncivilized?
Astonishing that the squaddies are allowed to speak so freely about their situation. This would be in no way allowed nowadays, access to the media for serving personnel is strictly controlled by the MOD.
I would think that also applied in 1972 Mark - and probably always has. Thing is though - we were not very interested in what the MOD said in the first place about anything really. Armchair critics like them usually spout a load of rubbish and it might have helped a bit if we had seen any of them when rocks, bombs and bullets were in the air. On the way to Bermuda in the 1970s I was interviewed at the airport by this bird with a TV camera. There had been riots and arson taking place and the Yanks had told out government to sort it out First - and in fact only question was "How do you feel about going to terrorize these poor people who are only trying to express their rights". Due to my rather lively reply - I had had no sleep from the night before as we were mobilizing and due to hit the ground 12 hours after the call came - she did not ask any more questions and - believe it or not - they did not show it on TV either.
That's one way to manage the media! I remember JP & JN appearing on Wogan not long after their release from Iraqi captivity. They looked uncomfortable and had no idea what Terry would ask them. In his book Tornado Down, JP said he had no media training whatsoever from the MOD, so just had to muddle along for 20 minutes on live TV. Nowadays the MOD is much more media-savvy, they even have their own Twitter & Facebook accounts (unthinkable in 1991!)
I remember those days and those places. I remember before, during and after. Wish I could forget.
Remember the 1st Queens very well some great mates they were based in Werl Germany great parties around Xmas and new year.
You don't know why you're there or what your fellow soldiers have died for??? Because according to your own government you're NOT in a foreign land but at home trying to keep the peace in the U.K.
I once met some British soldiers in a pub. I got talking with them, and they told me they had been in the Falklands war and also Northern Ireland. I asked which was worse. "Northern Ireland, mate" they answered.
Derek Richardson by calling the Catholic civilian population the ‘enemy’ you demonstrate better than anything that the British had no business being in Ireland,
@BemusedBarfly There is no such thing as a conscript in the British Army.
@BemusedBarfly 👍
Great Vid. As I am an English born and educated now living in Ireland for many years. The one thing that keeps coming up time and time again when I study the history of the war in Northern Ireland is that the real monster of the North wasn't the British army uvf ira it was a horror by the name of rev Ian paisley. This man instilled in the loyalist a deep sense of hatred and bigotry for anything catholic. He made his loyalist feel they had god on their side when they committed so many horrors. He made them believe there was an enemy when there was no enemy to face. He is responsible for the level of depravity in Northern Ireland.
Bit different to the way I saw it Chris Coppola. It seemed to me that British Governments prior to and after the 6 counties were formed used absolutely no sense at all to bond all of the people together. After the split they made no attempt at all to put it right and it was quite obvious it was a bomb just waiting to explode. I find no blame with the two religions involved and feel a great deal of shame of the way everyone was treated. It was bound to instill sectarian bigotry as the people were powerless to put it right. This is a long film but tries to demonstrate the hopelessness of the situation. ( oh - and someone did not like my music - but I don't care.) ruclips.net/video/36GWci58-bk/видео.html
@@robertkitson1935 I do agree some what. But your right the British government only wanted NI because of ship building linen mills and such like. It was a money maker. But now I believe if they could give the 6 back tomorrow they would . Personally I would love to see a United Ireland. I think loyalist see now even in a United Ireland they can still celebrate their culture have their parades and bonfires
@@Emerald007007 You can have your United Ireland as part of the U.K. at Dublin's request. Just wait until the EU falls apart... ;)
@@oschiri66 if Ireland were part of the uk then it would not be united. Your not making sense I think you need to step back from the crack pipe because the only thing falling apart is the UK. Scotland wants away from it now Wales. British politicians are an absolute joke. Ben Elton couldn't write the shit thats going on in Westminster. It's so bad Even the yanks are telling you not to break the law. No trade deal if you mess with the good Friday agreement. What is it with us brits that even in 2020 we think we can destroy relationships break agreements and commitments and blame it on everyone else. Unfucking believable. Rule Britannia Britannia waves the rules.
@@Emerald007007 When did the U.K. ever fell apart? How old is the European Union? How old is the Republic of Ireland? Now think for yourself...
They were soldiers taking orders in the Army. If you're a soldier you know this is true. They weren't demons so don't demonize the British Army.
well then don't demonize the IRA ,
I'd say most the squaddies on the ground would of loved to be called Demon's, especially the fierstest regiment(s).
So should we forgive nazis for following orders?
@Straight White British Protestant there was literally a shoot to kill policy enacted during the troubles...
You always shoot to kill it's how your trained
Well done lads always in my thoughts on remembrance Sunday
Very interesting. Thank you.
Great documentary, respect to the soldiers.
I remember the. New Lodge in the late 70’s, Snipers paradise down those long alleyways. We lost 1 on that tour and 1 in the Ardoyne..
Sir, I'm really sorry to hear that....
You're heroes to me!!
The IRA are savages!!
Barbarian beasts who murder innocent people!!
Thanks for your Service Dave. Your a credit to our great country. 👍🇬🇧
@ The British army never murdered innocent people sure.
@ I'm not defending the IRA, murder is murder whoever done it's wrong,the British army murdered kids also. Btw you'll the one defending murderers.
@ Julie livingston
It’s incredible to think that senior members of the army knew in 1972 that the IRA couldn’t be beaten yet allowed the conflict to continue for another 25 years. Surely there must have been another way the conflict could have been shortened.
Yes, it could've been avoided in many ways. If that had been the goal of British intelligence. But it wasn't. M15 used this conflict to strengthen their position - and ultimately toppled the Heath government. Once a conservative government was back in power their aim was to appease unionist politicians. In order to secure their vote in close parliaments. The age-old "orange card." Which is what started the Troubles in the first place. Conservatives were happy to turn a blind eye to an apartheid Stormont, so long as unionists backed them in parliament. This could've all been easily avoided if equal rights had been given to Catholics in NI. But a peaceful resolution was never on the agenda. Because that would've jeopardized unionist support. So 4000 lives and 30 years were lost instead. Dirty rotten politics.
@Tom Thumb didn't realize that people fighting an invading army, that had occupied them for 600 years, were terrorists.
Senior members of the Army are soldiers who need to follow orders, same as every other rank. The politicians made the decisions, not the generals.
There are many Irish Catholics alive today, who wouldn't have been for long, had the British Army left.
In your msg at the end you left out the fact there were so many deaths was that the paras shot dead 13
people, 1 more later died in hospital in the civil rights march in Derry. And direct rule, bloody friday..it was the bloodiest year in the modern troubles... Just saying it was a big contribution along with motorman to keep it fair since its a Peter Taylor documentary!
It is accepted on all sides recently that if the Army were unleashed in the province unrestricted then it would all of been over in 2-3years. I don't need to put how we would of done it.
Peter Taylor, best documenter of NI full stop in my opinion. Nice upload.
DML1888 Aaawwwwww. Me heart bleeds purple piss.
@Chrissie 1950 YOU SAD DELUDED FOOL
Of the three KOSB Senior NCOs interviewed one was awarded the MM another a MID on previous tours... brave men who passed away not long after retiring from the Army. XXV!
They spoke so well, was very proud of their handling. RIP.Royal
The reason the British government will not call it a war is they would be charged with war crimes for what they did in Ireland! Would the British people stand for it if a outside force was on their soil ask your self that question and you get the answer to the Irish problem. Its over now and the people of North and South in Ireland will decide what the future will be.
Completely disagree with you, the British army acted with a lot a lot restraint considering what they were up against. There were times the British army acted wrongly but generally they behaved professionally. Try to see it from thier side? These aren't politicians or policy makers but just working class lads in the army put into an extremely stressful and dangerous situation.
At that point in time the British army was a world superpower and could have ended the IRA in the north of Ireland in a matter of months but the civilian casualties would have been unacceptable.
Do you think Russia, china, or even the USA would have acted with that level of restraint?
That's just my opinion (as a Catholic also)
God Bless All Who Served
Brilliant work boys we fought a tough enemy today's politicians wouldn't last a second they are so quick to forget the threat what fools
Well I remember on the 11" 11 I where my Poppy with pride QS
Good for you
Always good to see someone donating to charity.
21 minutes in and the most sensible thing was said
War is horrible and those poor people that lived through it was stuck in the middle of terror and no doubt those soliders too lived in terror
A lot of these soldiers sounded either scottish, or Irish.
Spent my last Christmas in the Army in NI after 2year posting to Ballykinler THINKING OF YOU LADS RAOC 1964 1973
Did you know Danny Smith, he was Rag and oil at that time.....
Thanks for your Service lads. We're all proud of you. Stay safe. 🇬🇧👍👍
Thanks Robert. Just showed how smart these lads were, they spoke better than politicians! I spent a few tours there as a bootneck in the turf, andytown... murphy. we made the bad bastards pay believe me.
It was nice to see that soldier speak his mind...I fully believe if it was the loyalists who were trying to kill the soldiers then the troops would be on the nationalist side...I'm just glad the troubles is over..and hopefully conflict never returns to the streets of Ulster
We have done this all over the world. The main belief of the British Soldier is that they don't take sides - they are there to save lives and preserve the peace. This is my draft version of a film I am working on at the moment of one of my experiences in 1964 ruclips.net/video/N0HCsO7M4Hs/видео.html
derek miller don't hold your breath it's still there just under the surface , if it does kick off again i hope the british army will do the job gloves off this time
mickd6942 this time we’ve got Apaches. 😂
Was in the Lenadoon Ave O.P when it was hit by an RPG...72 2nd Btn RRF.
The scars of the past are slow to disappear:
Yes,we can begin to heal when the British pack up their belongings and leave Ireland.
That's because its bred into the next generation if their families are hardcore Republicans or Loyalists it will be handed down..its all they know?..sad really. More important things to be worried about than a fucking flag
I have nothing against any of these soldiers personally and I respect any soldier for doing his duty. The problem is that these boys were pawns in the British war machine. It's unfortunate that any of them had to die but that goes for any army, in any combat situation, guerrilla or not. I mean, there were some rogue soldiers in every regiment, thats just the nature of people.. But what people from all sides need to understand is that these soldiers were not welcome in nationalist areas of Ireland. I know they weren't there by choice, again thats the British government for you, the soldiers said it themselves. They were told to be a police force in a volatile situation, which was never going to end well and the British government knew it.. You can't put armed foreigners on the streets of any nation and expect the population to accept it. The British army did suffer in Ireland, I accept that, I certainly don't gloat on it but the British army did kill a lot of innocent civillians, ( as did Republican & Loyalist paramilitaries ), yes but even simple things like getting pulled and searched by armed soldiers, having soldiers in your gardens, just the very presence of British soldiers on our doorsteps was antagonising...
When soldiers were killed it was never personal against the man himself, it was what his uniform & weapons represented.. Unfortunately, thats the nature of the beast in any part of the world.
Peace to everyone who was affected by this whole conflict we called the troubles, I was one of them.
They weren't foreigners NI is part of the UK . Basic facts mate.
Rufus Chucklebutty They were English, Scottish & Welsh (British). I understand that Loyalists consider them to be their fellow British nationals, but Irish nationals don’t. Around half the population of NI would consider themselves Irish & not British.
Put it this way, if Irish soldiers from the Republic were patrolling the streets of NI back then and killing innocent Protestants, how would you feel?
@@JohnMcMahon. a reasonable comparison. But reason won't take you very far on a You Tube thread. Which is a shame, because this would be a great place to talk about things. Instead it's constant shit talking.
Like yourself, I grew up in this, and I'd be interested in the point of view of the soldiers who were there. But you can never get to that dialogue. The bootlicking trolls make damn sure of that.
No mate it is not
Why waste compassion on the soldiers?
They willingly and knowingly decided to serve in an occupation army with the expressed purpose to maintain sectarian rule.
No way to escape that moral bankruptcy
well i will remember on the 11"11 that way i ware my poppy with pride if i was not for the army wee would not be hare
back to school for you
Typical thick ignorant prod ha ha
Lmfao
@@belfastsoul8863 It`s a Belfast R Soul
@@geordie114 Another thick prod I see!!
The bigoted Scottish soldiers in the Scottish regiments did not help the situation. Just like the plantation initiative in the 1600’s
The bigoted republicans who wanted to ethnically cleanse N.Ireland of its Protestant community didn't help.
@BemusedBarfly Just as I thought. A believer in Killarney bog theory. Btw the world isnt flat. You're made up of a bunch of invaders just like me. Get over it.
Always noticed the Jock regiments had a real hatred for the Republican community. Growing up on a diet of old firm hatred doesn't help. I'm glad you have peace now Joe and stay safe lad.
Burton Rd Forever 1977 I’m not in NI. My grandparents were from Eire. Looking through history the British brutalised their way around the world to declare themselves ‘great’. The devastation everywhere they reigned is still felt today.
@@BUZZCLIPS1 And? We also gave the world everything worth mentioning. So you've heard a few one sided stories from Granny Boyle eh? Give us a breakdown on the crimes committed by the Scottish regiments in NI as opposed to say the US Marines in Vietnam? Also, the Irish in America treated the blacks with love and affection eh? I'm sure the Irish in the NYPD committed worse discrimination towards blacks in the 20s,30s,40s,50s and 60s than Scottish regiments did to the Nationalist population of NI.
3 tours in 70s .A lifetime ago .I walked the walk
Make it sound like a Bruce Springsteen rock concert
As a Veteran who served 3 Tours in NIrelandbetween July 72 and Febuary 1975 ,in the following, ArDoyne Flax St Milll attached to 1LI Palace Barracks aspart of The RCT Squadron and finally at 39 InfantryBigade HQ&SIGNAL Squadron Commanders Escort Group August 1974 a d Febuary1975 plusatour of fduty with TheUN Oeacekeeping force in Cyprus.
In1974 I only spent 4 weeks in my units home base a case have kitbag willtravel Such was the life of a RCT DRIVER with8 Squadron 4 to 6 moths in Cyprus one year and a Op Banner tour just 3 months later wit 39 brigade
MY Parent unit followed me to NI 2months laterNo considerationfor family live .
Steady The Buffs....!
Hi Robert, could I please use some of the clips from your video for a project I am doing
Carry on - my pleasure Regards Bob
Many Thanks
You might be interested in this one as well which features in some parts 2nd Battalion The Queen's Regiment in 1969 ruclips.net/video/NOIikU7GylQ/видео.html
and perhaps this one ruclips.net/video/27Hir1tNNws/видео.html
and this one ruclips.net/video/KLIC4dCTxyc/видео.html
I had 2 tours there R. Sigs. 1970s.First accom was on a ship! I enjoyed it but during & later all the killings bombs just passed me by. Now looking at documentaries it appals me what went on. They really on Independence should have gave them the whole island & let them sort it out, tho it would have been no different to how it is now. Thank god peace has come but it is a fragile one & Brexit is a threat to it.
Imagine the devastation the US Army would've caused in that position? The squaddies are spot on about having their hands tied behind their backs? Look at the IDF? They think nothing of rolling down the streets of the West Bank and Gaza in tanks and if they are shot at the building that's suspected is coming down. What did the British Army have to do? Shout 3 warnings!! Did you ever see tanks in Ulster apart from Motorman? Never.
the motherfucker low intensity operations? Frank Kitson was seen a bit of a bogeyman by the Republican population. Obviously I understand that with it being part of the UK the spotlight was firmly on the Army and it's actions, the IRA took full advantage of that. Four square laundry and the brothel on the Antrim Rd were quite rudimentary but they learned quickly. Still I think our Army acted in a restrained, professional manner and became extremely proficient in anti-terrorism and the intelligence gathering attached to that. Cheers.
HEAR HEAR!!
That's a ridiculous statement. It was still a British province with British civilians everywhere. Wouldn't matter what country your from you would still have had restrictions you would have met. Or go prison for years.
@@acecolnaco6587 the mrf didn't infiltrate the IRA, they were Protestant. And loyalist gunmen. A terrible mistake we made and paid for it. 14th Int were closest we came to that with wandering the streets on various assignments.
The IRA infil'd the IRA. Informers were rife. But some climbed to the top of there ranks yes.
@TheVisigoth No one won that war. We came of worse & eventually a government came along who were weak enough to let the Provo's bullshit political wing have what they want, as they said would happen on many occasions.... So if anyone "succeeded" in the war in the end it was the Provo's.
And yes if Kitson had his way he could of ended the worse of the troubles in a few years.
Think of those 2 corporals butchered by cowards they showed real restraint though armed in not taking a few with them.
If they were trained better they would of drove, and shot there way out. It was a terrible thing. Though the fact it was a funeral march they walked into for the 3 Provo's we shot in Gibraltar and Michael Stone had shot and thrown grenades another days before, didn't help feelings. Think of it objectivity and its just utter madness. Why did we keep those six counties... why. Total bloody minded old fashioned politics.
If they were trained better they wouldnt be touring the area like it was a movie set, they were lucky they were only beaten and shot. Pure stupidity cost them their lives.
@@Jie67 what other forms of brutality could make that beating "lucky" they were dead men as soon as they tried to get away but got trapped by the black hacks you can be sure the Pira had a operation in place for this incident esp after Milltown, my point is they showed real restraint not shooting the guys attacking them would it be justified I think so if it was you would you open fire just a yes or no will do mate lol.
@@Jie67 Its easy to make a wrong turn in west Belfast, even if there is a funeral column a mile long... especially back then. The whole place was made to look the same, no road names up or house numbers. Pain in arse.
LEGGIE .You are so right,what happened to those two soldiers was nothing short of barbaric. But it wasn`t restraint. They were just two ordinary soldiers that got themselves into a situation that they were totally unprepared and untrained for. Had they been special forces troops,as it has been suggested on numerous occasions ,the outcome would have had a very different ending. Would they have still been killed? probably yes. But that street would have been littered with corpses because the primary weapon would have been the vehicle,with the two Browning`s used as secondary. Also they would have certainly had a fully automatic option as well.
at 17 minutes I see Peter Taylor.
The Brits were meant to abide by the Geneva convention. But in a lot of cases the shot unarmed men and Boys and women. the RA always had the element of surprise. TAL32
The problem is the Brits had their hands tied due to the Geneva convention, which is why the IRA didn't get wiped out completely. Loyalists and Nationalists are both scumbags in Northern Ireland. Only difference between the two groups is that the Republicans have always been good at propaganda, hence why the Brits couldn't get them as hard as they could have.
You mean you wanted them to abide by the rules while the IRA ignored them.
The Green Howard's troops all sound like Teesside lads
They are. Teeside is (or now was) their main recruiting base.
The body language in the interviews tells you all you need to know.
Now Ireland must make sure neither England , Scotland nor Wales is ever allowed to rejoin the EU.
Ever.
And Ireland should not be allowed to trade with the UK EVER
@@jonlewis6700 Trade between ROI and Ingrate Britain used to be 80%. Now its around 6%. We don't like your politics of ruin. Not for us, ta ta.
@@CollieJenn And good Riddance
Can you hear the screaming can you see the faces.......EVERY TIME YOU CLOSE YOUR EYE'S
'Our revenge will be the laughter of our children '
The soldier at 21mins talks sense.
Ira supporters just know
Gloves off the ira wud have been gone overnight
I doubt it would have been that quick but the English gov would have sent in more troops til there was no one left to kill. Standard procedure.
The IRA suffered a lot of defeats,
And it didn’t affect the cause,
The soldiers were saying they would have sorted the situation overnight,
They would have created civil overnight if the government had allowed them to do what they wanted,
I’m glad that the north of Ireland is at peace,
People should live in peace and harmony,
And they have earned the right to govern themselves,
Ian paisley was right in what he said to martin Mc Guinness!
We don’t need Dublin or London telling us what to do we can govern ourselves.
@BemusedBarfly lolol sad
@BemusedBarfly mate I think u need to check again lol
too much intro
Drove a Sarecan, my Major volunteered me to be a combat Medic, although I was specialised in bomb disposal, its one of the draughbacks of being educated.
Brendan Harcourt, hahaha, if you're going to boast about being educated, at least use correct spelling and grammar!
Done five tours there, we didn't care about the politics behind it, to be honest. We were just a buffer between two groups trying to kill each other and one side finding ways of killing us.
The British empire have done it for centuries divide and conquer, create division between the two sides and let them kill eachother.....
14:00 onwards...... that is why the Brits were hated. Could you imagine the indignation of them in their own country if they were subjected to shit like that?
17:17 Every Soldier.
"When an IRA soldier dies, he dies a marter for the rest of his life." WataFuk - I think that soldier has had to many explosions go off near him!
@paul bean OK, Marter/Martyr my bad but youve missed my point but no great shakes my friend. Peace, out.
I was born in NI in 1972. Both sides here were at fault. There was no middle ground. I just want to thank the Army for the hard and frustrating job they did here. Likely we would have had civil war without them. RESPECT and THANKS GUYS!!!!!
Outstanding report by Robert Kee as usual! It's a scary thought that these British Troops admit here that they did the job for money only! What else would or even did they do for money! Their memory should clearly not be glorified.
Back in the 1960s, the only choice for young, British (less educated), working class men was a job in a factory or the Army. The army used to advertise it as: "Join the Army. Fight for your country. Get a trade. Become a man. Earn lots of money." This became attractive to young men who had no hopes in life - and I can guarantee that 99% of them had no idea of the situation in NI. Think before you judge situations that you know little about.
That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard.
@Chief Big Bob Very articulate Bob - maybe you would have preferred that the Unionist state should still be running a police state for their own benefit. The British legacy in Ireland has been a curse here for centuries. School kids, including relatives of mine in the UK were never taught the truth.
And people wonder why the Irish rebelled
What’s The Song At The End???
I posted 3 films on this thread Seamus one main one and two in comments. Which one do you mean?
@@robertkitson1935
The One At 27:17
@@robertkitson1935
I wanna know that song too like.
@@seamuscostello4487 The last song starts at 26.55 in Christmas in Belfast and i son't need to tell you what it is called. Perhaps you are trying to make a point?
@@robertkitson1935
Could you tell me the song please?
Lord Ashfordly was in the Green Howards
Buy your way out?.our kid served there and H.K.
What does operation Banner after that any of that lighting with a cheetah this makes absolutely no sense
So fucked up, these guys running up the street, essentially fearing for their lives and theres a woman pushing her pram past them like its nothing. Absolutely disgusting that Northern Ireland was brought to the brink of collapse because of pettiness on both sides. I feel so lucky that I dont need to be searched to walk down Royal Avenue or to worry if that car Im walking past has a bomb in it, but I equally feel so sorry for those who had to live through those desperate times.
Respect to the army - 100%
Im neither Catholic nor Protestant and although iv enjoyed all of Taylor's documentaries over the years he does clearly appear to be a Republican Sympathiser
The treble things the British Army had to do to maintain the empire and soon there will be none
both sides were wrong no one won!
learn a bit more about civil rights marches in 68, then fucking tell me both sides were wrong.
Only one side were trying to force their politics on the population by violence instead of democracy, if you think the IRA were right and had majority support then they could have won an election.
"if an IRA man dies, he is a hero for the rest of his life", amazin'....
God bless him.
@ fuck you and your entire family mate
@DML1888 Well said. There are streets named after IRA volunteers all over the world.
@@hoopenhanger Did not know that. Thanks for info
🇬🇧
If Seamus Costell and Protestant Boy 1872 are not taking the proverbial michael then - thsi is the song ruclips.net/video/pIj6wtHN21s/видео.html
The facts are that the British army protected 98% against the 2%.
Haha thank you I haven't laughed like that in a long time
Two more Operation Banner films to watch. Due to RUclips applying USA law to prevent children accessing fils with violence they are for over 18s only. You may be asked for an age check. ruclips.net/video/t2BMZKuBxWM/видео.html
Good to hear someone pronounce Keen-ya properly rather than Ken-ya.
Where were RAF Reg..?
Alastair West
Ask MrMick Roach ...he was "in the RAF" and then those nasty Yanks at RUclips banned him from here !
@Tom Thumb I know - RAF Reg were there before any other regiment, since the 50's, and one of the last regiments to leave. My comment was supposed to be humorous. Thanks for your service, and respect to the Corps...
The British army should have started de escalating and move out about that time.
De escalation means a slow gradual move out say over 5 to 8 years, in many other campaigns with good discussions with both sides this has been achieved.
@@acecolnaco6587 well transferring powers to the Irish arms in an unified Ireland would have solved that problem no?
the people united shall never be defeated, free Ireland,free Palestine, .
Crap you couldn't be bothered to spell the name of the Regiment correctly. It's the Queen's Regiment.
2nd film ruclips.net/video/YUQO1UB6Izo/видео.html
tragic THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO LIFE BECAUSE OF A RELIGION
I wonder what atracks people to join the army must be because of ther backgrounds and handless skills.
How tragic the Republic of Ireland remains ruled by foreigners via EU papal empire . A new Ireland is needed . An Ireland free from London and free from eu / Vatican . An ulster with devolved government acknowledging its unique independent region of the island with its ancient links to Scotland and the north of England . It’s people it’s culture its religion of Patrick the evangelist. All unique to ulster .
Ireland was a pagan nation
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don't ever come back to our country... you know.... we will rise up once more. Erin go bragh
. saoirse
You surrendered remember ?
And your Fucking welcome to It
Veteran,ROYAL SCOTS....GOOD MONEY THE SQUDDIE SAID. ?? What a joke...lol
To eradicate the perpetrators, send a blizsterd of the SAS and paratroopers, with gunships and intelligence.!
Dirty War-fought with hands tied behind back against ruthless enemy-God bless-TOMMY27
no fun on either end-PAX TOMMY27
It is such a pity then that the british security forces killed more innocent men, women and children than they did terrorists. A dirty war by all parties to the conflict - how many innocent people died even though british security personnel had advance notice of attacks through their agents on both sides of the paramilitary divide? I am interested as to who you are describing as the 'ruthless enemy'?
ruthless enemy=PIRA/RDF/UDA/IRA/RIRA et al=TERRORISTS DNR-TOMMY24
@@timoakes450 So out of those killed directly by british security personnel 186 were innocent civilians, 146 were republicans and 16 were loyalists, so again one would be left questioning who were the real enemy that you fighting - was it the Catholic nationalist people or was it the paramilitaries? The numbers would suggest that the british military tried to defeat the republican paramilitaries by attacking the Catholic civilian population - a ploy that was also used by the loyalist paramilitaries throughout the campaign - how else would trained soldiers kill more civilians than paramilitaries?
Dirty war is right. Thousands of fully armed Brits, SAS, mi5, ruc, UDR, special branch and all running loyalist death squads uda, uff, uvf, rhc, not to mention touts on republican side and best u cud do was a draw
Oppressors oppressing
I will always be proud to be the son of a British soldier the best in the world.!
ireland forever
Peter Taylor was a Republican sympathiser, and supporter of the IRA.
He was'nt
Ta ar la tagtha
Haha most of these borstal boys are now on the strongest nerve medicine available, that's the ones that didn't throw the rope up first though!!!
@Flying goat Yourda At least they're not all rope tossers lol
God bless you lads!
fashizm in 1972
Dasha Q Noble from PIRA? Yes
Mup the Provos
@Flying goat Yourda just not true though is it
@Flying goat Yourda say so
@Flying goat Yourda evidence?
Great army, but what on earth are they doing on a foreign Island?
Time, demography and politics will see a free Ireland.