soldiers' stories on history
On August 14th 1969 the first of the British Army troops arrived in Northern Ireland, deployed by the Wilson government as law and order had broken down in the province.
Over the next three decades some 300,000 British troops would serve in what became a war in all but name. Occasionally they were welcomed, more often, they were spat at, pelted with missiles or shot.
Operation Banner ended at midnight on 31 July 2007 making it the longest continuous deployment in the British Army’s history; but the memories of the soldiers who had served here would last a lot longer…This year marks the 40th anniversary of the British Army’s arrival in Northern Ireland and Sodiers’ Stories tells the story from the frontline in a powerful and unforgettable documentary from HISTORY.
Soldiers’ Stories is presented by former soldier Ken Hames and based on the in-depth interviews conducted by Northern Ireland veteran Ken Wharton for his books on The Troubles, provides a new and unique insight into the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Soldiers have never before given such personal interviews and reveal stories of bombings, humour in the face of adversity, of strong comradeship and of heartache, from their own personal perspective.
During The Troubles over 1300 British Military personnel were killed, 6000 were wounded and over 3000 civilians were killed. There were no parades and no hero’s welcome for the 300,000 soldiers who served in Northern Ireland and for those who came home their memories will last a lifetime. This is their story.
Using first-hand accounts and personal memories, brought to life with archive footage and some dramatic reconstruction, this powerful documentary will paint a vivid, unforgettable and personal picture of the lives of the soldiers during the last forty years in Northern Ireland.
Soldiers ‘ Stories can be seen on Monday 26 October at 9pm on HISTORY™ and HISTORY™ HD
16 comments so far
1 Richard Lee Nettleton // Oct 15, 2009 at 1:35 pm
The effort put in by Soldiers during the troubled times in the provence is well overdue some form of credit, or even a proper medal to commemerate this fact. This war has become like the Vietnam war, no one appears to want to know and prefer it all to be brushed under the carpet, but we that were there will remember the good and bad times forever
2 Carol Richards (formerly Ware) // Oct 18, 2009 at 5:31 pm
This is an important documentary that I hope many people will see, I dont think the general public have any idea what went on in N.I I lost my husband on Aug 17th 1991 a day I will never forget and his brother Darren will be part of this documentary telling his own story and his brothers so I will definitely be watching
3 Chris Finlan // Oct 22, 2009 at 2:49 am
i served in west belfast in 1989 we lost steve shaw there and there were plenty of bombs going off at the time,it wasn’t nice when i found out simon ware had been killed in 1991,you never forget and i am always thankfull for the days i have lived since then.
4 James Bell // Oct 27, 2009 at 11:51 am
As a ex soldier who served in Northern Ireland from 1972 the worst year of the troubles and 3 x further emergency tours as well as an 18 month tour,and lost my best mate on our last tour.I would like to thank the makers of the documentry, for to long the soldiers who served and died in the troubles have been forgotten.
5 janette bradbury // Oct 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm
i was in NI in 1991 with the coldstream guards serving in South Armagh straight out of training this was a daunting time. The memories i have of that time will last forever, especially the death of Simon Ware and the impact it left for the remaining months left there.
6 Ty Devlin // Oct 29, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Watched this last night on SKY anytime. Very good documentary, well put together and agree with previous comments of long overdue. I served 86-92 and have vivid memories of the period.
7 Kris McKenner nee (Hutchinson) // Oct 30, 2009 at 8:55 pm
My brother, Phil Hutchinson took part in this documentary. He was in the coach bombing on the M62. I would like to say how pround I am of Him and of all the other soldiers that went over to Northern Ireland to do what must of been a very difficult job but a job very well done. God Bless to all who made it home and to those that did’nt.
8 John Walters // Nov 5, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Congratulations on what I have been saying for many years. I served in Northern Ireland in 1971-2.
operation motorman. We were, and still are the forgotten one’s.
The British governments just wish to sweep our efforts under the carpet and wipe it out of our history.
It’s now time for the Norther Ireland vets to parade on remembrance day ‘Lets be proud of all of our efforts’
9 Phil // Nov 7, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Sadly from recent history they havent learned a thing and people are still dieing.
Back in the 70 the forces knew who the scum were and should have been allowed to do there job and whiped them out
10 John Doe // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:37 am
I find it amazing having grown up in the troubles that people like those commenting above can believe that the army did a good job in NI. I must have imagined innocent people being dragged from their beds, beaten and put in jail without commiting a crime although not everyone was innocent. I agree it should be recognised as a war but only if those who fought against the army can be recognised as they are as attrocities were committed by both sides, the army included
11 phil // Nov 21, 2009 at 3:45 am
It wasnt a war wars are fought by soldiers not by soldiers and cowardly scum who kill children
12 Dave McEvoy // Jan 11, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I watched your program Soldiers Story last night. It brought back some hard memories. I congratulate you on your recognition of the importance of low level intelligence gathering. It’s lonely and very dangerous. Since leaving the army in late 74, up until recently, I haven’t given Ireland much thought. But like a lot of veterans, it as started catching up on me.
I recently started writing all my thoughts and reactions down, incident by incident, in an attempt to purge them from my soul. The trouble is, you can’t really share them with others, in any great detail. Below is a little of what I’ve written. Two days from a two year tour.
18th May 1973 Knock-na-Moe Castle Hotel Murders.
The Hotel stands in its own extensive grounds in the countryside on the outskirts of Omagh. A large neo gothic structure, it looks as if it was converted to a hotel from a substantial country house. The hotel was popular across the religious divide and every Friday night a dance was held. On the night of Friday the 18th of May, five army pilots attended the dance, from the helicopter squadron at Lisanelly camp in Omagh.
In the early hours in the following morning when the dance finished the five climbed into there car in the car park having had a good night out.
The car exploded as it started to move away. Sergeants, Derek Reed, Barrie Cox, Sheriden Young and Fred Drake, where killed instantly. The fifth man who was driving the car died in hospital a few days later. A fifty-pound booby trap bomb had been placed under the car during the course of the evening.
It was the start of my first day in Ireland having arrived at Omagh the previous afternoon. I was told that there was an incident and that men were needed to collect evidence at the scene. It wasn’t my job but I might as well get stuck into the tour, so I went. On arrival at the hotel I was told that the bodies had been removed, (the bits that they could find anyway). I spent the remainder of this inauspicious day collecting fragments of car, clothing and people in a bin liner. I suppose it should have told me something about the next eighteen months.
1973 Knock-na-Moe Castle Hotel 2 (a few weeks after above) [see photos]
A suspicious car was found in the car park of the hotel, Ron Becket our ATO and his team, where called to the scene. As usual I was with them. There were a number of cars parked in front of the Hotel and it didn’t take long to detect were the stench of ANFO was coming from. A dark coloured car quite close to the Hotel entrance. Ron wanted some photographs of the scene before getting stuck in. So I took some shots from the car park and then, at Ron’s suggestion, climbed a fire escape onto the roof of the hotel, in order that I could position myself directly above the suspect car, for more photographs.
Ron decided to disrupt the bomb by means of a “segmented plate”.
If you can imagine a light stand holding a vertical steel plate. The front of the plate has a kind of frame on it. There is a sandwich of plastic explosive and one inch thick segmented steel plate, resting in the frame. The idea is that the frame is propped against the area of the car where the bomb is. On detonation the steel backing plate allows the explosive force to travel in only one direction, carrying the segmented plate with it. The effect is similar to a giant shotgun being fired at the car from very close range. The segments of the steel plate drive through the bodywork of the car, disrupting the timing mechanism and detonator of the bomb within, in passing. That is the theory anyway.
On this occasion it worked without setting of an explosion in the car. With the help of the fire brigades high-pressure hoses, the remaining explosive was washed out of the car safely. The bomb was calculated to be a three hundred pounder.
13 Rab Robinson // Feb 21, 2010 at 5:03 pm
If your an ex Solider with the 14intel please can you help my family solve the killing of our loved one Brian Robinson in september 1989 anything that can give us closier would hep thanks
14 Rab Robinson // Feb 21, 2010 at 5:04 pm
If your an ex Solider with the 14intel please can you help my family solve the killing of our loved one Brian Robinson in september 1989 anything that can give us closier would help thanks
15 Dave McEvoy // Apr 1, 2010 at 11:01 am
As I’m sure your well aware, Brian Robinson who was a member of the UVF was shot dead by undercover soldiers whilst trying to escape after committing the murder of Patrick McKenna (a catholic) in the Ardoyne. Brians mothers subsequent death was a great tragedy.
Terrorism has many shads, and by involving himself in it, Brian got what he deserved.
16 Darren Ware // Jun 11, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Another great documentary remembering those who did not come home. In particular my brother LCpl Simon Ware who is the feature of my book called A Rendezvous With The Enemy which is published in July 2010..any info or questions please feel free to e-mail me danware1597@sky.com Thanks