|
| |
| 1st
Bn Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment |
| 'Charlie'
Company in action |
| As with most
deployments in Ulster the norm is long periods of boredom interspersed
with flurries of violence. 'C' Companies deployment in 1969 was no exception. This
page records two incidents, the first on the 24th September, and the second
on the 25th October 1969. Two of many 'Rucks' during the tour. These two
events are covered mainly because of the
photographic record maintained at that time. All the information reported
below comes from the Coroners Inquest and reported at the time in the
local newspapers |
| 'THE
FATAL INCIDENT' 24th SEPTEMBER 1969 |
| An extremely
violent clash between Catholic and protestants mobs took place on this
evening, during which an Ex serviceman called William KING was kicked to
death. This set the tone for the next number of hours. At the later
inquest in which Soldiers from 'C' Company gave evidence, Cpl James FLETCHER (1 DERR) said "All hell broke loose"
in the melee at the corner of Bishop Street and London Street where the Army
Personnel were trying to keep back hostile crowds, Cpl FLETCHER at
this point was struck in the face when he tried to fight his way through
to KINGS aid. |
|
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| Cpl 'Jim' FLETCHER 1st Bn
DERR showing the effects of 'The night before' |
| Another witness
at the inquest Second
Lt HARDWICK, 'C' Company, 1 DERR said he was threatened by several protestants after he
had grabbed a youth with a white handkerchief across his face who burst
through the cordon at London Street and hurled a bottle towards the
Catholic crowd The Catholic crowd of about 120 broke through the Army
cordon and bitter fighting broke out. Lt HARDWICK went on to say, that the
first time he saw Mr KING was when he was lying on the ground and the
Company Sergeant Major (PARSONS) was beating away from him people who were
striking the man. |
|
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| Lt HARDWICK (Back to
Camera) grapples with rioter as described in the inquest report above. Pte
'Woggie' WHARTON looks on whilst holding dannett wire. |
| Major
Hugh CANNING (O.C. 'C' Coy) said as a crowd of 50 raced up Bishop Street
towards London Street soldiers were doing their utmost to contain
Protestants in London Street, As the two factions closed a general melee
ensued in which several people were knocked to the ground. The air was
fuill of missilies. A man lying on the ground was viciously kicked and
punched (KING) |
|
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| Company Sgt Major Steve
PARSONS leads 'C' Company Headquarters on the evening of the 24th
September 1969. Shortly after this picture was taken he was involved in
the attempt to save Mr KING |
| Images
from the same night |
|
 |
A Soldier from the 1st Bn Queens
Regiment pursues at gunpoint a rioter later described by Lt HARDWICK at Mr
KINGS Inquest. |
 |
The same rioter detained by Lt
HARDWICK as he tries to get over the barbed wire at the Commanding officer
of 1st Queens. Pte WHARTON and one other DERR Soldier cling onto the wire
which always got in the way and seemed to cause more problems than it
solved. |
|
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| Cpl
Bruce WOLLEN and his section confront one faction of the crowd. With
Shields, Batons and Rifles in hand at the same time we had very little
else to use ? |
| 25th
October 1969 |
|
 |
| 9Plt 'C'
Coy 1st Bn D.E.R.R. deployed just below the City walls. The above picture
has been published elsewhere under the incorrect heading of 'B' Coy 1st Bn Queen Regt. This
incident was caused because a protestant crowd, protesting against the
disbandment of the 'B' Specials, staged a sit-down demonstration on the
Craigavon Bridge. After being moved on by the R.U.C., it moved into the
city centre and exchanged insults and stones with a Catholic mob. In
between as ever were the troops. |
| Images
from the 25th October 1969 |
| The following
images taken on the 25th October 1969 in Londonderry. The 1st QUEENS Regiment in addition to being reinforced by
'C' Company 1st Bn D.E.R.R., were also reinforced with a four platoon
Company of the 2nd Bn GRENADIER GUARDS and supported by a squadron of the
17th/21st Lancers. |
|
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| A
Platoon of the 2nd Bn GRENADIER GUARDS in 'Box' Formation, Note the rolls
of barbed wire and rolled up Banner 'Disperse or we fire' |
|
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| A
Platoon of the 1st Bn QUEENS REGIMENT, somewhat more leisurely than the
guards |
|
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| Ferret
Scout cars of the 17th/21st Lancers, these ones ended up behind 9 Plt, C
Coy as shown above |
|
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| Cpl
PAVEY, C Coy 1 DERR 'persuading' the locals to move on in the Diamond on
the 25th October 1969 |
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