jam1e Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 I've just watched a documentary about the so called 'Troubles' in N.I. on You-tube. And it was quite clearly very complex in some eyes, and very clear in others eyes... But regardless of this i take my hat off to ANY of our 'Services' armed or otherwise, who served in N.I. Until i watched this, I thought working as a Police Officer in the UK was complex. But it doesn't come near to those who served in N.I. Respect to you all..... James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 I did two years over there when I was in the army. It was "interesting" to say the least. Quick edit to request that this thread doesnt degenerate into a bunfight about UK/NI/ROI politics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 I did two years over there when I was in the army. It was "interesting" to say the least. Quick edit to request that this thread doesnt degenerate into a bunfight about UK/NI/ROI politics please I agree. I'm not writing my personal opinions, i'm just stating my gratitude to all of you, including you Zapp. I was only a boy then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 I know, I was just preempting the usual chimpanzees' tea party that occurs whenever this comes up Also, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) I've done 6 6 month tours of South Armagh,a 4 month tour of Strabane and 2 years in Londonderry,enjoyed most of it,apart from a few bad times. Met some of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet,and had 2 years in Londonderry with some absolutely fantastic shooting down at Magilligan,BB Edited July 9, 2017 by Bluebarrels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 I've done 6 6 month tours of South Armagh,a 4 month tour of Strabane and 2 years in Londonderry,enjoyed most of it,apart from a few bad times. Well respect to you my man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Echo what everyone has already said but must also add that the soldiers did not ask to be sent. Politicians sent them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) I've just watched a documentary about the so called 'Troubles' in N.I. on You-tube. And it was quite clearly very complex in some eyes, and very clear in others eyes... But regardless of this i take my hat off to ANY of our 'Services' armed or otherwise, who served in N.I. Until i watched this, I thought working as a Police Officer in the UK was complex. But it doesn't come near to those who served in N.I. Respect to you all..... James + 1 I thought working as a Police Officer in the UK was complex. Being a police officer in this part of the (UK) was changing complex and dangerous to put it mildly. Edited July 9, 2017 by ordnance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 my brother sadly not with us now did many tours there with the paras and then special forces told me unmentionable tales and feared the irish militants after the conflicts in case he was recognised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 My uncle was in the grenadier gaurds, he did several tours in NI. Up most respect for the guy, crazy days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) I've done 6 6 month tours of South Armagh,a 4 month tour of Strabane and 2 years in Londonderry,enjoyed most of it,apart from a few bad times. Met some of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet,and had 2 years in Londonderry with some absolutely fantastic shooting down at Magilligan,BB Rurals could be mind numbing but urbans kept you on your toes. Belfast was a gig a minute job but was good. Good program but the interviewers an **** to say the least.Notice he didnt ask Darky the same stupid questions as he did the Brits. Edited July 9, 2017 by sako751sg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 My elder half Brother did three tours with the marines, apparently they were issued ammunition when they went out on patrol that all had to be accounted for when they returned but were always handed several extra they wouldn't have to account for, he picked us up from.school with my mum and I always remember he suddenly started walking backwards looking into a bedroom window "because he thought he saw a sniper", this was in Stanmore though :-) I think he was in 42 commando but I was only young so could have got that mixed up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millrace Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Interesting we certaintly are....lol what you have to understand is that 99% of us cdnt give a monkeys and get on with each other only for the 1% of scum who keep things going...were very friendly easy going and have a great wee country sadly very badly portrayed by the news for years most visitors i think are quite shocked by just how normal most of us are....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Interesting we certaintly are....lol what you have to understand is that 99% of us cdnt give a monkeys and get on with each other only for the 1% of scum who keep things going...were very friendly easy going and have a great wee country sadly very badly portrayed by the news for years most visitors i think are quite shocked by just how normal most of us are....... My uncle run into a hell of alot of the 1% during his time there 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 My brother was in the Green Jackets and done a few tours. Not a nice time for our Mum and Dad. All the time he was there my Mum had a radio on constantly even at night listening to the world service and any news from NI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iano Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) I've always been fascinated by one thing that took place in the troubles: My father used to work up North in the 70as80s, and he remembers an interaction with a checkpoint soldier who just practically waved him on. he said something like 'ah sure, I could have anything in the car' and then got a very detailed list of all the places he had been that day over the radio. Have heard similar stories from other people who worked up there. That was back in the days before ANPR I'm sure - the complexity of logging, querying and reporting that many reg plates manually is impressive; or was there some tech behind it? Edited July 10, 2017 by iano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 My family worked there for 15 years I served there interesting is a way of discrimination it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Know a few lads who were over there one in the seventies two in the eighties and one in the early nineties. The lad in the parras in the seventies had some real bad times and it still affected him years later. Think a lot was done on both sides but I'm glad we have peace now, long may it continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) I knew and socialised with a lot of ex SAS people because I was a member of The Artists Rifles for years. I remember one of them telling me the principal occupation of the IRA was smuggling and protection rackets. We turned a blind eye to that to keep the peace, well, maybe 'peace' is not the right word, but it was a trade off Edited July 10, 2017 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 thanks for your service lads.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 I was posted there for 18 months in 1971 directly after operation motor man . Could I tell some tales . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Did construction tour out there,not fun when your section commander decides to play with an excavator and with one touch of the controls taps the wall on the front of the base you are working on and suddenly 50 yards of wall has fallen into the main road and everyone is staring back at you I did make the BBC 6 o'clock news in Londonderry.,not fun having your face on the Tv while out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 I'm from Belfast, born in '68. I remember sitting in primary school down the Ravenhill Road, an odd time you'd hear a muffled 'BOOM' from town (3 miles away?) and just thought "that's another bomb gone off". It's what we had grown up with. When it came to careers I was lucky enough to head to university but I'll always remember the respect I had for catholic guys my age who joined the police. I still can't see how they could ever have properly relaxed. Thanks all who who served in NI during those difficult times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oisin og Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Lest it be thought that the presence of the British Army was applauded by all, I beg to differ. I grew up in a Nationalist part of Belfast. As a general rule the Army were brutal, they dominated our daily existence and we lived in fear of them. The violence they employed against the local community was indiscriminate and unremitting. This was especially so if you were a young male. To suggest that everyone was grateful to the Army is entirely false. There are many who bitterly resented their role and presence, and this included significant numbers who did not support the Republican Movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) First four and a half month roulement as a No2 with 321 EOD Coy in 1985. A few weeks in Girdwood Park in Belfast, then the rest of the time in Bessbrook Mill covering South Armagh. Back in 1987 for a 2 year tour as a No1 operator based at Lisburn, but doing R&R stand ins at all 321 EOD locations in the province. Back in 1994 for a 6 month roulement tour as a No1 operator split between the 321 EOD (now Sqn not Coy with the change from RAOC to RLC) dets at the Maze and Lisanelly bks in Omagh. 1997 to 1999 another 2 year tour based out of Lisburn but working all over the Province. I have a son (now 27) who was born in Northern Ireland and I still have a lot of friends there. As an ATO I was the first responder to some fairly gruesome scenes, but I also think I made a bit of a difference in a small way. In response to the poster above, I can honestly say I never witnessed the violence and brutality towards the civilian community they mention. Though I am not saying it didnt happen, but I never saw it. I certainly saw with my own eyes, torture, death and life changing injuries meted out by paramilitaries both "Loyalist" and Republican. To say Op Banner was a big part of my life would be an understatement. Edited July 10, 2017 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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