Ballykinler


	DERR

1st Bn Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment

(Berkshire and Wiltshire)

Ballykinler, Northern Ireland

Province Locations

THE GROUND

Ballykinler is situated on the South Eastern side of Northern Ireland in County Down. July saw the Battalion taking over from the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment at Abercorn Barracks. Shortly after they were fully operational and committed to operations across the province. The Battalions role from Ballykinler being one of 'Province Reserve', this meant being able to move anywhere at anytime, often at short notice, and being operationally effective on arrival. The highlights of the tour as regards to deployment being, the

ULSTER WORKERS STRIKE

H.M.P THE MAZE RIOTS

BESSBROOK

SOUTH ARMAGH

BELFAST

LONDONDERRY

DUNGANNON

PORTADOWN

STRABANE

And of course the unfortunate SANDES HOME BOMBING

The Battalion enjoyed a very high degree of success against the various Terrorist Factions with a number of excellent finds of weapons and explosives, leading to successful arrests and prosecutions, 'C' Company had a very good operation resulting in the top IRA leader in South down being killed. Unfortunally the Battalion also suffered casualties both in wounded and fatalities during its tour.

However life was not all work and time was found o participate in sporting and Military Competitions with the Battalion enjoying success at,

TENNIS (Army Champions)

BOXING (U.K.L.F. Finalists)

CROSS COUNTRY (Northern Ireland Champions)

ORIENTEERING (Northern Ireland Champions)

NISAAM (Northern Ireland Champions)

To name but a few. The Battalion having been warned off for posting to Shoeburyness in 1975 looked forward to a period of peace and stability.

BALLYKINLER TIMELINE
EVENT	TIME/DATE
Battalion to Ballykinler	July 1973
Bn assumes responsibility as Province reserve	12.00 hours, Tuesday 3rd July 1973
B Coy to Portadown	July 1973
C Coy 3 locations, 3 Brigade area	July 1973
Tac HQ & 2 Coys to Derry	10th August 1973
Capt SUTTON killed	14th August 1973
Bn assumes command for operations in County Tyrone	1st September 1973
Bn won N.I. Orienteering Compitition	30th September 1973
Bn covers for Duke of Wellingtons Regt	Mid October
Bn deployed for 8th Inf Brigade	11th - 14th November 1973
Ferozeshah Parade (1 Coy)	December 1973
Bn Block leave	December 1973
Quarter final Army unit Boxing championships (Beat 2 RGJ, 9 bouts to 2)	18th December 1973
Bn back from leave	31st December 1973
A Coy to Londonderry	January 1974
B Coy to Fermanagh	January 1974
Bn beat Royal Scots in Boxing match	18th January 1974
Bn relieve 1st Bn R.R.W. for block leave	30th January 1974
D Coy to Strabane	January 1974
C Coy to Londonderry	January 1974
Bn boxers beaten in away match to R.W.F. (4 bouts to 7)	January 1974
Bn Cross country team win NI championships	January 1974
Battle of the 'Hump'	06.55 hours, 22nd February 1974
Operation 'Averse'	February 1974
D Coy under command Emergency tour Bn	9th March 1974 onwards
Attack on Auchnacloy V.C.P.	March 1974
Coy deployments throughout province	Aprilo/May 1974
Ulster Workers Strike	May 1974
B & D Coys to Belfast	May 1974
C Coy to Newtonards/Bangor	May 1974
Small bore team win N.I. Championship	MAy 1974
Expedition to Iceland	June 1974
Band/Drums beat retreat, Ballykinler	8th June 1974
D Coy to Newtown Hamilton	Mid June
Band/Drums on Operation Friendship	June 1974
Bn tennis team win both N.I. and U.K. championships	June 1974
B Coy reserve for 8 Brigade Londonderry	July 1974
Ptes Missenden of D Coy and Pte Wallis of A Coy wounded by riflefire	July 1974
C Coy eliminate gunman	July 1974
Standby H.M.P. the Maze	15th September 1974
N. I. skill at arms meeting	20th -22nd September 1974
Bn Win Major unit Championship	20th - 22nd September 1974
Riot H.M.P. the Maze	15th October 1974
Bombing of Sandes Soldiers home (2 Killed, 33 wounded)	28th October 1974
Bn take responsibility for South Armagh	4th November 1974
Patrol ambushed in Crossmaglen (2 killed Cpl WINDSOR, Pte ALLEN, Pte WALTERS wounded)	6th November 1974
Hand over to 1st Bn R.G.J.	Mid December 1974
B Coy to Auchnacloy	Late December 1974
A Coy to Portadown	Late December 1974
Ferozeshah Parade	December 1974
Bn hands over to Queens Lancashire Regt	8th January 1975
Bn to Shoeburyness	January 1975