Remembered with Honour – out Tribute to the Soldiers
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REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR A tribute to the soldiers of the British Army, murdered by the IRA whilst serving on REMEMBEREDOperation Banner in County Fermanagh WITH HONOUR A tribute to the soldiers of the British Army, murdered by the IRA whilst serving on Operation Banner in County Fermanagh © The The Ely Ely CentreCentre 2014 2014 1 The Ely Centre, 60 Forthill Street, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 6AJ Tel:02866320977 Email: [email protected] Website: www.victimsurvivor.com © The Ely Centre 2014 REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR © The Ely Centre 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. The Ely Centre, 60 Forthill Street, Enniskillen,Published by Co Fermanagh, BT74 6AJ Tel:02866320977 Email: [email protected] The Ely Centre,Website: www.victimsurvivor.com 60 Forthill Street, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 6AJ Tel:02866320977© The Ely Centre 2014 Email: [email protected] Website: www.victimsurvivor.com The Ely Centre is an independent company (established in 2002) limited by guarantee (no.NI 43875 and is accepted as a charity by the Inland Revenue under ref. XR 41064 The Ely Centre aim is to offer recognition, care and support to innocent civilians, serving / retired security force personnel and their families who have been bereaved and/or suffered physical and psychological injury as a result of terrorism throughout the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area during the “Troubles”. Any views expressed in this publication are those of their authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Ely Centre 2 Acknowledgements The Ely Centre express their sincerest gratitude to all those individuals who have worked with us in the creation of this Remember with Honour publication which accompanies our 2014 County Fermanagh Roll of Honour. This publication would not have been possible without the support and commitment of many individuals and organisations, we thank each of you for assistance throughout this process, however the following organisations and individuals deserve particular mention. The Ely Centre would like to thank the Royal British Legion Enniskillen Branch and in particular Mr Gordon Acheson, Vice President and Director ofthe Ely Centre for, endless hours he has committed to the creation of the Roll of Honour and this accompanying publication. The Ely Centre thank the Northern Ireland Veterans Association (NIVA) and their team of dedicated volunteers who have supported our remembrance project throughout and have been essential in encouraging us throughout and ensuring we have always received the most accurate information and support Finally, we thank the Regimental Association of the Ulster Defence Regiment Enniskillen Branch and in particular Mr William Wallace, Association Secretary, for the invaluable information and guidance provided throughout the development of this publication which aims to reverently acknowledge and pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice which each of these fallen heroes paid. Mr W.J Dixon Chairperson The Ely Centre 3 Foreword Operation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces’ operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the unionist government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). After the 1998 Belfast Agreement, the operation was gradually scaled down. Its role was to assert the authority of the Government of the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines in direct support of the Army commitment supplied a maritime component under the codename of Operation Grenada. In total 1,441 members of the British armed forces died in Operation Banner, including natural causes and suicide. Recent evidence suggest that suicide may be attributable to at least 25-33% of unknown deaths amongst members of the armed forces (NIVA, 2014). 692 soldiers in the regular British Army were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 689 died from other causes 197 soldiers from the Ulster Defence Regiment were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 284 died from other causes. 7 soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 7 died from other causes. 9 soldiers from the Territorial Army were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 8 died from other causes. 2 members from other branches in the army were killed as a result of paramilitary violence. 21 Royal Marines were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 5 died from other causes. 8 Royal Navy servicemen were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 3 died from other causes. 4 Royal Air Force servicemen were killed as a result of paramilitary violence 22 died from other causes. In Co Fermanagh a total of 21 regular British Amy soldiers were murdered. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) was solely responsible for all British Army killings. Thirteen soldiers were murdered during the 1970’s and a further eight soldiers were murdered in the 1980’s. 4 Thousands more suffered and continue to suffer from the physical and psychological injuries sustained in Operation Banner. The highest number of fatalities was sustained on the 321 (EOD) Company Royal Army Ordnance Corps and The Royal Regiment of Artillery, who each, had four soldiers killed during the 1970’s. The Royal Regiment of the Fusiliers had three members killed, The Kings Own Scottish Borderers and The 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) regiments each had 2 members killed. The Special Air Service, The Royal Corps Transport, The Royal Green Jackets, The 15th/19th Kings Royal Hussar, The 16th/5th Queens Royal Lancers and The Royal Hampshire Regiment each had one member killed. The Ely Centre extends our sincerest gratitude to all the brave and courageous soldiers of the British Army who fought against terrorism during the ‘Troubles”. We remember with honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending Northern Ireland from terrorism. Mr L McDowell Director The Ely Centre 5 321 EOD Squadron 11 EOD Regiment RLC is a unit of the British Army responsible321321 EOD EOD for Squadron bomb Squadron disposal 11 duties 11EOD EOD in RegimentNorthern Regiment Ireland. RLC RLC is is 321a unit EOD of Squadron the British 11 EOD Regiment RLC is a unit of the British 321 EODa SquadronunitArmy of the responsible11 EOD British Regiment Army for RLCbombresponsible is a disposalunit of forthe Britishbombduties in NorthernArmy responsible Ireland. for bomb disposal duties in Northern Ireland. 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COMPANY 321 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCEdecorated unit in the BritishDISPOSAL321 Army. EXPLOSIVE COMPANY ORDNANCE DISPOSAL COMPANY 321ROYAL EXPLOSIVE ARMY ORDNANCE ORDNANCE CORPS DISPOSAL COMPANY TheROYAL Unit was ARMYre-designated ORDNANCE 321EOD Squadron CORPS Royal Logistic ROYALCorps on ARMY 5th ORDNANCE CORPS ROYAL321 EXPLOSIVE ARMY ORDNANCE ORDNANCE CORPS DISPOSAL COMPANY AprilThe 1993 Unit was re-designated 321EOD SquadronThe Royal Unit wasLogistic re-designated Corps 321EOD on 5th Squadron Royal Logistic Corps on 5th TheROYALApril Unit 1993 was ARMY re -designated ORDNANCE 321EOD Squadron CORPS Royal Logistic AprilCorps 1993 on 5th April 1993 StaffThe UnitSergeant was re-designatedRonald Frank 321EOD Beckett Squadron Royal Logistic Corps on 5th April Staff Sergeant Ronald Frank Beckett 1993 Staff Sergeant Ronald Frank Beckett Staff Sergeant Ronald Frank23211152, Beckett Royal Army Ordnance Corps 23211152, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Killed in action, age 36, on 30 August 1973 as he dragged a 23211152, Royal Army Ordnance Corps 20l23211152,b IRA bomb RoyalKilled out Army ofin a ac OrdnancePosttion, Office age Corps at 36,Tullyhommon, on 30 August Co. 1973 as Killedhe dragged in action, a age 36, on 30 August 1973 as he dragged a Staff Sergeant Ronald Frank Beckett FermanaghKilled in ac.20ltion, b age IRA 36, bombon 30 August out of 1973 a Pasost he draggedOffice aat Tullyhommon,20lb IRA Co.bomb out of a Post Office at Tullyhommon, Co. Fermanagh. Laid20lb IRAto rest bomb at out of a Post Office at Tullyhommon, Co. Fermanagh. Laid to rest at23211152, Royal Army Ordnance Corps STFermanagh PAULS. CHURCHYARD, Laid to rest at Killed in action,ST PAULS age 36, onCHURCHYARD, 30 August 1973 as he dragged a 20lb TUPSLEY,Laid to rest atHEREFORD. ST PAULS CHURCHYARD, IRA bombTUPSLEY, out of a Post HEREFORD. Office at Tullyhommon, Co. Fermanagh. ST PAULS CHURCHYARD, Laid to rest at TUPSLEY, HEREFORD. REMEMBEREDTUPSLEY, HEREFORD. WITH HONOUR REMEMBEREDST PAULS CHURCHYARD, WITH TUPSLEY, HONOUR HEREFORD . REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR Warrant Officer 2 John Arthur Maddocks Warrant Officer 2 John Arthur Maddocks Warrant Officer 2 John Arthur Maddocks 23507805, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Warrant Officer 2 John Arthur Maddocks23507805, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Warrant Officer 2 John Arthur 23507805, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Killed in action,Killed age in32, action, on 2 December age 32, 1974 on as 2 he December examined 1974 as he examined 23507805, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Maddocks an IRA milka nchurn IRA bom milkb at Gortmullen,churn bom Derrylinb at Gortmullen,, Co.