The Emerald Isle

Over the emerald sea we went

To make it a better place

Patrolling the streets

We could feel the hate

Anger in every face

The petrol bombs, burning cars

Shouts of “Contact wait out,”

Drop down to ground

Firing position

This is a War, no doubt

Get up move quick hard target

Smoke is stinging my eyes

Then the mob is gone

An eerie silence

Our helicopter hovering in the sky

A huge explosion

The day goes black

Ears ringing I can hardly breathe

Sirens wail women scream

My brain finds it hard to conceive

Still alive, grab hold of my weapon

Look around to look for my mates

Civilian bodies scattered on the ground

Like children’s dolls

Was this always to be their fate?

Brain re-engages

Still scanning the rooftops

Brick commander screams, “ Follow me.”

Hard target back to the Saracen 

Please save me Lord is my silent plea

I was saved that day now its thirty years on

Only veterans those events I do talk

Was eighteen when I crossed the Emerald Isle

To my brothers I would say

It was only with you that I could walk that walk.

© Tony McNally

MILBABE

71

·                                 I have just watched the film 71 about a young British soldier that gets left behind by his comrades after a botched patrol in Belfast. I read a few bad comments about the film on a Northern Ireland veteran’s web site on Facebook, from veterans who served there. Having served in Northern Ireland and Belfast myself I was keen to watch it. This is not a Hollywood Blockbuster type movie with money to burn on special effects and big name movie stars and in my opinion it was all the better for it. They only had one old Bedford Army truck and land rover and an APC, all used in the 70s. From what I saw of the uniform they were wearing it looked ok for the time. They used the same rifles I used over there the 7.62mm SLR, the only difference I noticed was that the rifle slings were kept on the rifle and not attached to the wrist as we used them in the 80s. When a soldier in the film was knocked unconscious by the mob, its was easily stolen by a young kid. Filming began on location in Blackburn, Lancashire in April 2013 and continued in Sheffield and Liverpool and for me this didn't spoil the effects, I mean they couldn't really make the movie on the streets of Belfast could they? I think the producers captured that feeling of impending violence and the sectarian friction between the communities. I sure if I had served in the early 70s I would be picking the film to pieces, but I didn't and on the whole I enjoyed the film and was never bored at any time, I was desperate to see what happened to the young soldier who Jack O’Connell played very well. Overall eight out of ten.

A SOLDIERS STORY NORTHERN IRELAND

Falklands veteran dying of cancer told: You have to work again

FORMER commando Gordon Lang has been told he should get back to work – despite having terminal cancer.

Amputee Gordon, 62, was already in dispute with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after they forced the Falklands and Northern Ireland veteran to sign on to Jobseeker’s Allowance.

But the ex-marine was left feeling ‘betrayed’ after saying he told a government work programme about his cancer diagnosis, only to receive a response saying: ‘When you feel fit and ready for work we look forward to working with you to find a suitable job.’

Mr Lang, of Chilworth Grove, Gosport, was then told he will remain on a work programme – despite being about to undergo lung cancer treatment that may only add three months to his life.

Mr Lang, who has not been told how long he has to live, said: ‘I feel not only betrayed but criminalised for being ill.Read more  HERE  

I am extremely angry and upset reading this. Look how the British government treats its ex servicemen. I’m sure if they could get away with it, they would gas them like the NAZIS did to millions of human beings. You see the coalition Government do not see people like Gordon or myself as human beings, they just see us as a piece of equipment that is now obsolete and a drain on society, however, the tens of thousands of immigrants poring into the UK, are treated like Royalty and given houses some worth over a million pounds, eastern European families with ten or more children are given thousands each week in benefits. Ian Duncan Smith should be tried at the Hague, for crimes against humanity. 

Operation Banner - The Forgotten War Tribute

 

Operation 'Banner' 1969 - 2007

This is part one of a series, dedicated to all that served and died during Op Banner, the longest war we ever fought...

R.I.P.all those that lost their lives in Northern Ireland.

1971 Scottish Soldiers murdered by IRA

1971 Scottish soldiers' killings

COMBAT GRANNY

Veteran reservist nurse and grandmother of five Major Marie Semple, of 204 Field Hospital, is considering retirement from front line duties at the age of 55 upon finishing her third tour.The experienced sister of wards from Ballymena in Northern Ireland joined in 2003 at the age of 43 without telling her husband Ian, and was immediately mobilised to deploy to Iraq. When Maj Semple’s granddaughter saw her with a rifle for the first time she asked if, ‘Granny is shooting bad people?’
Marie went on to say: "I was managing a nursing home and I wanted a challenge but thought I was too old." Since Iraq she has deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and again in 2013.Read more HERE


Your Country is extremely proud of you Marie, time to put your slippers on and take it easy , you deserve it.

British Soldiers ‘shot amid security lapse’

Dissident republican terrorists exploited security lapses at an Army base in Northern Ireland to shoot dead two defenceless British soldiers, the trial of a man accused of the murders has heard. Three separate pieces of DNA evidence link defendant Brian Shivers, 47, to the car used in the attack that killed sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, and seriously injured four others outside Massereene barracks in Antrim four years ago, a prosecution lawyer told Belfast Crown Court. After grainy CCTV footage of the March 2009 shooting was shown to court, Terence Mooney QC said the likelihood of three genetic matches being found in the abandoned partially burnt-out vehicle - from matchsticks and a mobile phone - being a chance occurrence was “so unlikely that it may be discounted”. Opening the Crown case, Mr Mooney told judge Mr Justice Donnell Deeny that physically connecting Shivers, from Sperrin Mews, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, to the attack car was enough to prove he was part of a well-planned plot to kill members of the security forces. The lawyer insisted knowledge that a potentially-deadly criminal act was to be committed was sufficient to prosecute him for the murders. He argued that the terrorists would not entrust a random, unwitting acquaintance with involvement with or destroying the attack car. “Such an important role would not be left to chance,” said Mr Mooney. The lawyer claimed evidence presented to the trial would demonstrate Shivers’ “willing involvement in the attack”. Shivers also faces six counts of attempted murder and one of possession of two firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life in relation to the attack, which was claimed by the Real IRA. Sappers Quinsey, from Birmingham, and Azimkar, from London, were shot as they collected pizza outside the gates of the barracks. The soldiers from 38 Engineer Regiment were just hours away from deploying to Afghanistan and already dressed in desert fatigues.Read more HERE   R.I.P.

The Soldier The Sacrifice of the British Army in Ulster

  Also Sappers Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, and Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, were killed by dissident republicans at Massereene barracks in Antrim on March 7, 2009 R.I.P.

I SERVED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

R.I.P THE FALLEN

TOMMY ATKINS

ULSTER DEFENCE REGIMENT

We Will Remember Them

HT/ and more fabulous art work here at Spud Jock Milne

Operation Banner, remember the Fallen

Remembering the Fallen from Op Banner

HT/ and more fabulous art work here at Spud Jock Milne