What Was It Like Serving In Northern Ireland During The Troubles? | Forces TV

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Northern Ireland has been remembering the start of Operation Banner 50 years ago. It is when British troops were deployed on the streets of Northern Ireland and stayed for more than three decades. We have been speaking to some of those who served during that period which became known as 'the Troubles'.
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Video thumbnail courtesy of ITN.
#TheTroubles #NorthernIreland #OperationBanner

[@ZZKe7]

“In Londonderry where families claim their loved ones were killed unlawfully by British troops….” This is a really disappointing bit of commentary. They WERE killed unlawfully by British troops. Even the British government says so

[@paulduffy4585]

Do yourself a big favour, don't read this comments section.

[@fugg3543]

Gonna take your advice

[@IrishKingzz]

Should have listened now im raging.

[@TomTheSaintsGuy]

Quite frankly I think that applies to any video about The Troubles.

[@wysardje2545]

I hear that. But I will anyway.

[@paulduffy4585]

@@wysardje2545 wear a helmet.

[@monkeydank7842]

Let’s hope, that this doesn’t come back.

[@monkeydank7842]

And work for it.

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

It really hasn't went away. The ira are still trying to bomb the police. They are still shooting people. They are mainly all drug sellers now. Only difference is most people are getting on with their own life's and trying to put it behind us. But there is still is a big Protestant ,Catholic divide . There's still a lot of hate and that's not going away anytime soon. Am fed up with people saying we at peace. And next day on the news ira tried to bomb a police station or bomb found in the street. Now with soldier F it's going to start a lot of problems.

[@skullcompco]

@@monkeydank7842 its never gone away.... GFA was a farce

[@monkeydank7842]

PCI Xpress Ltd. Not away, but sleeping.

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

@@monkeydank7842 sleeping wow so the ira shooting at young girl dead is sleeping or the failed bombs all around the country in the last few months.

[@zagorith14]

Some of the worst enemies and most devastating conflicts are the ones fought in your home against your neighbors and country people.

[@glensargent647]

Shame this wasn't the case in ireland because it belongs to the irish and not the british

[@rhysshaughnessy4757]

@@glensargent647 can NI not have a vote to get out of the UK? I'm genuinely asking because I don't know

[@paulduffy4585]

@@rhysshaughnessy4757 it will at some point.

[@rhysshaughnessy4757]

@@paulduffy4585 have they had one before?

[@ProfileP246]

@@glensargent647 No it doesn't

[@peterhouston161]

I was there 1976 and 1979-1980. Saw the RUC throwing stones at peacfull marchers for no good reason and I saw them beat up a skinny old man one Sunday afternoon. The old man was a bit drunk after a lunch-time seesh and was struggling to get his key into the lock on his front door. Two Ruc officers give him a few licks with their battons for being born on the wrong side of the political divide. I was only 18 at the time and unsure what to do. Spoke to my platoon commander and he didn't know what to do either. So we stood back and did nothing. We behaved like cowards. He later reminded me that our role in NI was to support the RUC.

[@joprocter4573]

Sounds porkie RUC WERE FAR too busy for tripe you speak Peter houstan..

[@joeoreilly1479]

It might be a year too late to say to you. You my friend have a conscience and knows what's right and wrong. God child so to speak. God bless you

[@olearyma57]

@@joprocter4573 RUC never to busy to bash a Taig. Busied themselves nicely in Armagh around this time.

[@Charlie25068]

That's exactly how it all went wrong. The BA was seen as supporting the sectarianism, and they did. Remember the Catholics initially welcomed the BA bringing the cups of tea, they innocently thought the BA would protect them from the RUC, UDA and Loyalist sectarian attacks. How wrong they were.

[@pentuplove6542]

800 years military deployment is a long time.

[@Dibley8899]

Let's hope it's another 800 years.

[@christianmccann7884]

Tom Thumb you can HOPE all you want ...

[@caolanlennon8405]

They could do way going home now like

[@WoollyWanderers]

Blame the Norman French

[@toniabyrne764]

@Tom Sharpe yo if the British is soooo powerful then how did it buckle to a paramilitary force and was destroyed in 2 wars with Iceland?

[@ardakolimsky7107]

English. Served in NI late 90s. Saw some disgusting behaviour by the police. There was always an excuse.

[@johnnymac8680]

Everyone has a camera now so RUC/BA violence directed at civilians would instantly be available via social media.

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@Evan Scollan Most squaddies were poor, ignorant and scared. Army command and the RUC played on that. It always amazes me looking back what people can get used to and rationalise. But even with that there was huge kick back against the police by many of us. It seemed liked they reveled in torturing the nationalist community with raids and harassment. We hated it because we were forced to protect them. Hope those days never return.

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@ That flippant remark demeans the real victims of the troubles.

@@ardakolimsky7107 stop acting righteous. England has been run by middle east bankers since 1694. Every war, invasion and colonisation has been to benefit the owners of that Central Bank. Anyone who tries to free the English from being slaves to a Middle East Bank, the English declare war on! "This system of inflation was put into operation by the Bank of England in 1694. This bank was chartered by a company or an association of persons who loaned the English government £1,200,000 and who received in exchange for it a perpetual annuity, a right to a series of payments forever from the state. In other words it created a perpetual debt upon which the people of England must forever pay interest." Who funded Oliver Cromwells New Model Army.... then you know why you were in the North.

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@ 😂😂😂😂😂

[@AnonAnonAnon]

Op Banner, the 'Forgotten War'. I did a total of two years, 11 months and five days between 1988 and 1997. Had some great times, had some horrible times. Worked hard, sometimes silly hours for days on end. Had a fantastic social life when I was based in Palace Barracks with Bangor seaside resort just up the road! Great people in Northern Ireland, from both sides of the divide. Its good to know that the dark days of 'The Troubles' are no longer plaguing NI. To the men and women who lost their lives on Op Banner, never forgotten.

[@AnonAnonAnon]

@Shane Gallagher Gracious words Shane. And I sincerely hope one day everyone gets along in Northern Ireland, great cities and towns, and above all, great people from both sides of the divide. PS: You may get a bit of abuse now but you know the score, part and parcel of of standing by your convictions. All the best.

[@matthew1882]

@Shane Gallagher very mature and respectful of you.

[@Puppy-ew4be]

The Troubles are far from over and it would be naive of you to think they were.

[@matthew1882]

@@Puppy-ew4be relatively speaking though things are quite calm. There's been what: 1 paramilitary linked death in the past 2 years and barely 100 since the Good Friday agreement 24 years ago. In that same period in the previous 24 years (1997-1973) there was 2500 deaths.

[@barrymcguire7124]

@@matthew1882 ha thew matthew

[@grahamwatts8836]

Soldiers in the early days were very young, ill prepared for that type of conflict, put at very significant risk. The British were thrown in there having learn how to cope on the run. The Govt was out of touch even disinterested with the soldiers and Irish peoples situation, military operations were protracted, adhoc, even dysfunctional. Shame they could not have commenced the peace process in 1972, the commanding officer in Ireland and MI5 and RUC Special Branch basically recommended a de escalation at the time. Pity the soldiers and Irish people for what they went through. Politicians could have done a much better job ie Margaret Thatcher.

[@steve08717]

wrong on so meny levels we had ncos who had served in aden kenya even malaya to teach us the problem was they wanted us to be policemen not the counter terrorist troops we where

[@mufc20timesbitches36]

Aden, Malaysia, paras in Cyprus 1967!

[@Threetwocharlie]

Graham.. totally agree. I was 16 - just prior to 17th. Birthday. Ballykinler being a ‘home’ posting - what we hoped would be a pleasant 2 year posting with lots of fishing in the back bay.. was naturally anything but.. 1969 (Queens Regiment). On street patrol in Andersontown.. glass filled sandwiches included, most sadly Gunner Curtis was murdered.. first British Soldier KIA as you would know. All we serving this ‘police action’ under the age of 18 were withdrawn from the streets due to the protests from 🇬🇧 mainland finding the age of Soldiers serving. Returned 4 x 6 more monthly ‘tours’ hatred never ceased.. Just saying- all other postings- Gibraltar, Kenya, Cyprus and Belize completed a really great 9 year career (10 really as service did not count ‘till 18) loved our muckers 🍻 ✌️

[@johnnyfortube]

@@Threetwocharlie You really would wonder why the hatred never ceased. Did the penny never drop on that one .

[@callumwilliams1449]

This is so simplistic. While the army did have a part to play in escalations, 80% of all killings were committed by Republican paramilitaries. Most killed were Catholic.

[@eoghand9656]

3 men with small amounts of weapons vs a platoon on patrol..... cowards?

[@mrrooter3630]

Your man is just upset because he got shot. If he was hiding in the bushes and killed an enemy it would be heroic but because he was the victim he's just thick.

[@eoghand9656]

Shanks Battle of Lenadoon. Know your history

[@robertdore9592]

The IRA sometimes outgunned the British Army thanks to Noraid, no one ever talks the yanks to task about that.

[@JW-YT]

@@ShanksNLMB what about all the direct assaults on police headquarters?

[@xrstufty8651]

@@ShanksNLMB ur wrong bud, sorry

[@averagejoe8358]

I remember my friends dad worked at a factory, in which he was a security guard. The factory was bombed by the provos, and the asbestos kicked into the environment was ENORMOUS. After 20 year of constantly inhaling it, he died of lung cancer. Poor guy, I still miss him. He was great to my friend and myself.

[@willfoster2635]

A sad loss - RIP.

[@papadoc711]

i feel for the young lads who were sent here just doing their job.

[@JeremiahStillWillChill]

I feel for the Irishmen who were forced to fight and kill to defend our country

[@papadoc711]

@Brak I'm sure not all British soldiers murdered innocent civilians, many did, in derry, ballymurphy, the curfew, with many more state attrocties and crimes on top of that, we could get into that but it won't do any good.

[@papadoc711]

@@JeremiahStillWillChill and the children who lost their mother and fathers to time served or being killed during the troubles, the 3 000 + killed and the tens of thousands injured on top of it.

[@wecandraw1]

yeah...except the ones that helped fuel the loyalist paramilataries. giving them info etc. leading to innocents being killed. but yeah..totally just doing a job mhm. im not even irish and loyalists sound like bootlickers and make me sick

[@papadoc711]

@@paulmcgrath6118 I have family members who were shot dead by those people, One died during the falls curfew, death by misadventure they said. But I do remember one young lad who gave us sweets and let me look at his SA80 and through its scope, I was only a child, I didn't know why these guys were here and why my mates were throwing stones and glass bottles at them when they came through our street on patrol. However I'm well aware of the conflict and the history behind it to know for a fact that not all British soldiers were terrible people, the same way not all PIRA/OIRA/INLA men and women were terrible.

[@joshuahowie1863]

When the reporter talks about internment, just think about the reality of what that means... jailing people without trial is a hallmark of a dictatorship, not a supposed democracy, yet this was deemed appropriate for NI in 1971. I’m sure the intentions of many of the soldiers who came over were good, but their government asked them to do some terrible things. There’s two sides to every story and people not from NI should make sure to read about the misery inflicted by all sides, even (sadly) the army of a Western nation

[@ciaranbrowne2]

Joshua Howie let it be known also that only catholic nationalists were interned

[@seanmacuaiteir437]

@@sayagain2926 took over a year for the first loyalist internment.

[@alandavis1188]

Joshua Howie. Have you ever served?

[@joemagee6125]

I appreciate the sentiment, and whilst in hindsight it is somewhat regrettable - I think the removal of the context of the troubles paints the issue with a single brush stroke whereas the whole issue of internment in particular is much more nuanced. I believe that there was a certain desperation and a feeling of hopelessness and loss of control amongst the Northern Irish politicians at the time, thus this internment move was brought in, the thinking was to get as many IRA suspects off the streets and remove their apparent ability to do harm. As we know, it didn't turn out as pretty, but I think it's one of those things that will continue to divide people for generations and that there will never be a completely non-biased opinion on the issue. - hope this helps

[@pockclash1276]

Yip, I've been told in Aldershot that I should support the soldiers in the conflict, like why would I support a side which was not clean? No side came out clean. British soldiers were dirty too.

[@okonawabull5010]

both sides did disgusting things in the name of peace

[@johnthorburn1913]

Matthew Boyle ?

[@gutworm686]

Both sides? The terrorists on both sides did disgusting things in the name of Ireland or Ulster. The Security Forces just did their best for peace and the rule of law while being stuck in the middle.

[@norfolkenchants1238]

@@gutworm686 you should read up on the collusion of british army and northern Ireland police forces with loyalist paramilitaries during the troubles that'll maybe help understand some of the motives behind the nationalist paramilitaries. Tbh I dont understand why the universal word "terrorists" are the bad ones yet the army's of the world create just as much if not a far greater death tolls on civilians throughout history and still to this day throughout the world. Can you blame a civilian force from rising up against governments who use their army to terrorise civilians they are meant to be protecting. I'm not ranting by they way I'm just trying to share a none partisan view of the world and someone who realises the only deferential between an "army" and "terrorist" is the latters actions in the mainstream are merely frowned upon.

[@bokvarv1926]

some sides much more than other sides though

[@jsck5198]

Mícheál Mac an tSionnaigh aye but this was in Northern Ireland? Irish republican terrorists basically tried to overthrow the government in NI even though they voted to stay in the UK

[@georgerobert4709]

Let us not forget the Army was deployed there in the first place to prevent LOYALISTS burning Catholics out of their homes (Ethnic cleansing basically) Unite Ireland and let the Loyalists move to England if they love it so much !! Always amazed me how little English squaddies knew about the history of Ireland given it was the English who caused the problems in the first place.

[@John-ro1iv]

As a neutral man who has the utmost regard for all sides, I would like to pay tribute with a song I recently discovered. I think you'll find it sums everything up nicely. Yours with respect. 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵I was born on a Dublin street where the royal drums did beat And the loving English feet they went all over us And every single night when me dad would came home tight He'd invite the neighbors out with this chorus Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra Come tell us how you slew them poor Arabs two by two Like the Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows How you bravely you faced one with your 16-pounder gun And you frightened them natives to their marrow Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra Come let us hear you tell how you slandered great Parnell When you thought him well and truly persecuted Where are the sneers and jeers that you bravely let us hear When our heroes of '16 were executed? Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵 🤪🤣🤣🤣🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕

[@mikewalsh721]

L C and so did the british. Both sides committed crimes during the what seems like a full century of rebellion and revolution.

[@NicePepsiProductionz]

@L C You've obviously never heard of collusion and the loyalist death squads

[@mikewalsh721]

BemusedBarfly well again, both sides used unethical tactics over the years against each other. You both brought up good points.

[@arthurgoodness7865]

@L C you see one of the major issues with your "perceived threat" excuse is the reliability of the people who actually branded these innocent victims to be a threat in the first place - British soldiers and other british security personnel. Nobody is contesting the barbaric acts committed by the paramilitaries, both republican and loyalist, perpetrated against innocent people in Northern Ireland, England and in Ireland. But to use a blanket defence of 'perceived threat' for all killings committed by British soldiers is at best questionable. To defend the indefensible would put you on a par with supporters of the republican and loyalist paramilitaties. Both of these groups murdered many innocent men, women and children and thankfully many of those responsible were convicted and sent to jail for their crimes - something that many British soldiers have been protected from for decade's. Would you view a priest on his knees tending to an injured man as a perceived threat? What if this priest was the victim of an accidental discharge of a firearm at his feet by a british soldier just days earlier - an incident that the priest had vowed to report to his MP but did not get a chance to before he was shot dead by a british soldier? What was the biggest threat to the soldier - a perceived threat to his life or to his military career? How about a 27 year old man with the learning capacity of an 8 year old running through a field home? How about a 17 year old lad walking towards his home with his cousin? What about a 44 year old woman whose only crime appears to be that she was standing across the road from an army barracks? All of these were unarmed, so how could soldiers get it so wrong in viewing these innocents as an imminent threat to their lives? Would you consider it a crime if a Captain ordered a soldier to plant ammunition on the body of an unarmed dead civilian as was testified by that former british soldier in a recent Inquest into the death of 11 innocent civilians? If this Captain wanted to plant ammunition, would that suggest to you that he was concerned about the army's responsibility in the shooting of 11 innocent civilians over a 3 day period? If all of these shootings were in line with the 'yellow card' then why would it be deemed necessary to plant ammunition on a dead body? Nobody is contesting that every single killing by a british soldier in Northern Ireland was a crime. Nobody is contesting thst all british security personnel killings of innocent men, women and children were crimes. But there are some of those 187 killings that are contentious and questionable.

[@paulduffy4585]

@L C Dresden was an act of terror designed to demoralize the civilian population. Had nothing to do with infrastructure. The carpet bombing was planned in waves that were hours apart. To maximize casualties. When the people believed it was over and came out onto the streets, the next wave came. A war crime by any definition.

[@BUZZCLIPS1]

One sided programme. No mention of why the army HAD to be in NI

[@mrrooter3630]

Yep. No mention of the misconduct of the RUC and B Specials. If northern Ireland's justice system was corrected from the very start there would have been no need for soldiers to be deployed.

[@petew5289]

@@mrrooter3630 spot on about ruc and especially the b specials

[@mrrooter3630]

@@petew5289 Thank you. It's a well known fact that is often overlooked in cases like this.

[@petew5289]

@@mrrooter3630 saw it first hand

[@mrrooter3630]

@@petew5289 I'm sorry to hear that. I wasn't about when all this was going on but I've heard awful story's from my parents and grandparents on the terrozing that these 2 groups used to do and what's worse again get away with.

[@KillingDeadThings]

8:30 Who the hell has she been talking to?! I find it extremely unlikely anyone that knows Northern Ireland, would ever say such a thing. It's just ridiculous.

[@l3gionmusic814]

I think just because generally the public know it as a thing of the past only. I'm not military so obviously it's not the same but if I went to northern Ireland now I wouldn't be thinking about the IRA being even the slightest threat. I know that's not necessarily accurate especially with these recent incidents suspected to be a new IRA movement but I imagine the public don't expect there to still be problems.

[@KillingDeadThings]

@@l3gionmusic814 Yeah probably. I suspect most outside of the Country probably don't give us a second thought really. Those of that live here know very well though that there is still an undercurrent of hate and bigotry. Catholic communities here actively hate on anything remotely British. Happy enough to use the NHS and the Queen's shilling but are openly hostile to Britishness. Messed up Country lol

[@matthewmclintock3514]

Unfortunately the majority in England really do not understand this period in history. Outside NI Scotland is the only place it;s remembered, understood and respected.

[@matthewmclintock3514]

@@l3gionmusic814 There is no new IRA movement. It's the same community, same people under a different command. If Republican politicians wanted to stamp it out and alert the police to these people they could, but they would rather turn a blind eye.

[@yournan6546]

@@matthewmclintock3514 Quite a difficult point to make really... Maybe the fact that the IRA didn't actively bomb Scotland means that there is slightly more sympathy shown. Being from England, admittedly, a lot of people disregard the period and only characterise it by IRA bombings - after all it was the only real glimpse of the Troubles they ever got to see. I can assure you I look back and respect the period, even after having a close family member being killed in Birmingham on that night. Although she'll never see justice, I have forgiven. Sadly some people cannot leave the past behind and groups on both sides still operate today.

[@1969JohnnyM]

love how they casually admitted that internment was just for Republican suspects, zero loyalists were interned. Nice to see the impartiality in operation.

[@mattybt400]

107 loyalists were interned.

[@user-bk2yi5jx2o]

Operation Demetrius started 9 August 1971 , The policy of internment lasted until December 1975 and during that time 1,981 people were interned , 1,874 were nationalist, while 107 were loyalist. The FIRST LOYALIST INTERNEE'S were detained in February 1973

[@user-bk2yi5jx2o]

Just to clear that up Matty Boy 😉

[@mrrooter3630]

@@user-bk2yi5jx2o they only detained them loyalists after Brian Faulkner resigned so they wouldn't be brought back the European courts for human rights infingments.

[@caleb4790]

You fool 107 loyalists were interment

[@Dannydantimpat]

The people who brought the tea and cakes to the occupying army soon regretted their acts of kindness.

[@colindoran1278]

That soldier saying they were cowards.. really you were in the army. It's called an ambush, popular tactic. And guerrilla warfare, hit run hide. Hard to fight that, have a look at the taliban

[@sandymackay6815]

Was there. Armagh 79. Still confused. The Irish are my cousins.

[@ProfileP246]

Well would you be okay living in the same house as your cousin if they were bombing women and children

[@meyou-gi8xq]

@@ProfileP246 hypocrisy mate. Prods killed more civilians than the ra.

[@patdeburca7235]

If the roles where reversed and it was the Irish army setting up check points all over England what would you think the English reaction would be

[@darrenarmstrong208]

@maroonmafia67 ulster is in Ireland

[@retardcapital2976]

if the roles were reversed the English people would of had to of voted in favour of joining Ireland. Majority wanted to stay in the UK

[@paulduffy4585]

@maroonmafia67 seriously? Ulster is a province of Ireland and has been since deep antiquity. Six of its counties are currently in a twilight zone where, under international law, the inhabitants can choose their nationality.

[@ProfileP246]

@@darrenarmstrong208 No it's in the UK, Ireland belongs to the EU now, poor sods.

[@paulduffy4585]

@@ProfileP246 and Ulster is a province of Ireland.

[@adammacnamee6768]

The victims family’s “claim their love ones were killed unlawfully”. Can you mot just admit you made even one mistake? Thats a weird way to say your troops murdered unarmed civilians. Its regrettable even in 2019 you refuse to accept the truth.

[@sebby324]

My old school bus driver was in the troubles he never talks about it I only know because he was talking about fun during training missions and then he said “and sometimes we even had fun in Ireland” and went quite

[@MarkIRE1]

Went quite what? Maybe you need to back to school

[@finty4975]

Still alot of hate about, idk could we all just chill, "hate only creates more hate" or something like that

[@CFMLEAP]

Yeah it kind of sucks. There was lots of bad stuff on both sides so really it was just one of those crazy conflicts that I wish never happened. Good thing it’s in the past now.

[@amysands2413]

@@CFMLEAP And hope it stays there. At the end of the day only the people can decide with a vote.

[@michaelmewis4761]

I served from 1977 to 1981. My friend Kevin Waller was killed in 1982 just after I left by a drain pipe explosion. He was only 19 years old, such a waste of a young life and for what?

[@Jungleland33]

That was a nice balanced presentation.

[@lordmopton]

sarcasm i hope ...

[@lukem5994]

hmmm , this is the most pro-british video i have ever seen

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

“Cowards” yeah that sounds about right, more like you got caught lacking outside the wire and caught the start of an ambush, but I’m sure had it been a British ambush attacking IRA it wouldn’t have been cowardly, no not at all, just gentlemanly exchange of gunfire with the added defense measure of not being seen first

[@ravenmusic6392]

The reason soldiers react like this is because of the tactics the IRA used. They never actually engaged in pitched battles against the British army and when they did in Loughgall in ended in a total disaster. Soldiers called them cowards because their tactics rarely involved fighting against soldiers who shot back, mainly landmines, time bombs and ambushes on off duty soldiers accounted for 80% of casualties caused by the IRA

[@anothertime1282]

@@ravenmusic6392 'They never actually engaged in pitched battles' - No, it's called guerrilla war. You don't fight a superior and better armed force in a pitched battle.

[@ravenmusic6392]

@@anothertime1282 It wasn't even a guerilla war most of the time. That ended after operation motorman. The tactics effectively changed to terrorism in the 80s, with the cell structure, bombings and occasional sniper attacks on soldiers and civilians. Their campaign was pretty similar to that of ISIL in Lebanon and Hezbollah in the 80s, and can't really be compared to insurgencies like the VC or Taliban

[@anothertime1282]

@@ravenmusic6392 I take your point. But in the sense that guerrilla war means 'small war', not a war of position by mass forces, I don't think it's the wrong term for what was going on. It's a dirty business and I'm glad it's over, but I still think an ambush is an ambush, who ever conducts it.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

​@@ravenmusic6392maybe you wouldn't be so condescending if you grew up in nationalist areas

[@dufmor]

Sadly with retrospect if peace keeping was the objective, UN troops should have been deployed British troops should never have been involved....?

[@diligentone-six2688]

UN Peacekeepers are only to be dispatched in Countries that has Unstable Governments or in a middle of a Full blown civil war.

[@chriswilde7246]

Or brought over police from the mainland until something else could be sorted out..but I agree, troops should never have been sent..

[@paulcurry1481]

Or if there is ethnic cleansing of a race of people

[@misterbd9641]

Irish Home Rule Bill passed over 100 years ago at the Palace of West-minster. Protestants in Ireland promised a Civil War in England if Ireland was returned to the Irish. The reason Northern Ireland was created.

[@johnnymac8680]

The British working class sent over in uniforms to suppress the Irish working class. Margaret Thatcher and the parachute regiment were the best recruiting agents that the IRA ever had. I knew that they were not my army when a para grabbed me by the throat in my own bedroom. After that and other incidents including a female neighbour and mother having half her face shot off by a para, I vowed to make their lives as unpleasant as possible.

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

Oh well 🇬🇧

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

No need to keep whinging about it 🇬🇧

[@Puppy-ew4be]

Rubbish. Tony Blair was the best recruiting agent the IRA ever had. Due to the bungled GFA the threat from dissident republicans is worse than ever.

[@johnnymac8680]

@@Puppy-ew4be It is obvious that you have never spent the decades of the 'troubles' living in Belfast as I have. If you had you might have had a different perspective.

[@andylane247]

@@Lorenzo-qz6ce I remember Tony Benn saying he'd lost count of the number of ex terrorists who had sat down to tea with the queen, and were now leaders of their countries. George Washington would be a terrorist to the British in the 1770's...

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

Growing up in Northern Ireland was for my point of view fun and sad. My Dad and uncle was police part time. Then UDR formed and my Dad joined them.then in the late 70s early 80s half the British army was in our house as cousin was a Para and they all came to our house over the weekends . Ration pack chocolate the old dark chocolate. As a 13 year old Irish Guards army cadets. Playing with guns. 22/303/7.62.. then just before cousin went to the Falklands our uncle David Brown killed by the ira 82. In 84 boy chef and then TA back home. But running around as a kid pointing toy guns at the soldiers and getting a kick up the ass for my troubles. Giving my dad a heart attack by taking his pistol to school . I was six. No bullets. That was my troubles as a kid in Belfast. Every shop had security . security gates every where. Going to a football match and hearing about the Omagh town bombing as we was playing Omagh . And most of the family in the army at one point.

[@wullieg7269]

I hear you.

[@mattiasfaldt1725]

Belfast viking . what a joke. your not a viking less im then im irish

[@missingwords6723]

Your a glenman Martin ?

[@tapperzukie3994]

Good story mate....

[@tomweldon4867]

@Your Dad they claim irish decent because they are, you know they arent in america much longer than a century or 2, exiled by the british, which is why the british dont seem to like it when they know where they came from and why

[@oliversayer5904]

Thank you to all who served 🇬🇧

[@vamii2171]

Thank you pira 🇮🇪

[@KillingDeadThings]

@@vamii2171 Go get a sausage supper.

[@Brecconable]

@@vamii2171 Is that code for Sieg Heil Jeremy Corbyn?

[@jaybird-8311]

Tiocfaidh ar la

[@iamsoldierf8316]

jaybird - unfortunately your day will never come.

[@burants89]

I’d a mate who served with Kings own Scottish and said they had to practically run through crossmaglen....tragedy on both sides no matter what any other comments say....I know how I’d feel with foreign troops on my street so I can’t criticise as we all know what we’d do if truth be told....British government could’ve handled it better that’s all I’ll say....RIP to all soldiers from both sides

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

burants foreign troops?

[@mattybt400]

LOL "Foreign troops"

[@mattybt400]

@Billy Reid Lol. That's funny.

[@muskrat477]

The British government really could have nipped this all in the bud

[@burants89]

Jabber 1974 yeah to the republicans.....the brits were an occupying force

[@Hal-zf4fv]

I hope things get back to complete normality. Especially for the young people of that beautiful country.

[@paulsaul7674]

My grandfather joined the army and fought the Germans, otherwise he would have starved to death.

[@tommyjackowksi5774]

My great grandad who is still alive was on the Russian side of Poland when they were invaded he was sent to a labour camp in Siberia when he was about 14 he then was sent to Egypt and Italy to serve with the British when the Germans invaded Russia

[@irishrepublicofglasgow3273]

My Grandfather Joined the IRB so your Grandfather wouldn't have had to Join a Foreign Army to Fight foreign Wars.

[@NJI-hy1pq]

@@tommyjackowksi5774 a hug for him from here! Xx

[@rubybrady7051]

@Graham Clarke cannon fodder for the ruling class

[@rubybrady7051]

@@irishrepublicofglasgow3273 now that. you got rid of the British our new masters are just as corrupt as our previous. Corrupt judges. Corrupt politicians, corrupt police. Corrupt civil service,

[@paddycaldwell3112]

The brave young men of Ireland had to control their areas because the British army definitely didn’t defend the catholic nationalist areas, look back to 69 to Bombay st Ardoyne the whole street was burnt out by loyalists and no British army in sight, and every time there was a loyalist attack they where never around, they were meant to come and keep the catholic sides safe and the communities were glad to see them at first but it all changed very quickly when it became clear there were collusion between them and killing 14 in Derry in 72. 🇨🇮TAL🇨🇮

[@pentuplove6542]

6:30 The British government said sorry for murdering civilians walking for equal rights they people murdered by British Paratroopers were all civilians. The British Paratroopers planted pistols on the bodies. The British Paratroopers shot more rounds of ammo than they were issued with.

[@iamachildofgodministry9360]

@Godjrah your stinking government shouldn't be in our country There the real terrorist and history has shown this

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

LMAO 🇬🇧

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

Laughing at the last sentence. Just when you think you've read everything possible for them lot to cry about, all of sudden, our troops fired too many rounds... Haha

[@jamesyboy4626]

I'd ask my uncle Owen but unfortunately he was the first British soldier who was killed and he was off duty visiting his friend and his wife in the hospital when they were having a baby and the one of the IRA pulled up on him and shot him.

[@cannonball9478]

V sorry for your loss . I’m sure he was a great man trying to make a difference

[@jamesyboy4626]

@Alex 28 You're right, definitely not the first idk why I wrote that... Either a late night mate or a drinking one. He was killed though as described though. "11 November: British soldier Owen McQuade was shot dead by the IRA while sitting in a stationary British Army minibus in the main driveway of Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry."

[@Dibley8899]

Condolences.

[@marchonore]

Completely one-sided.

[@vipiccb6896]

you upset because it doesn't bend to your IRA republican BS?

[@mufc20timesbitches36]

FORCES NEWS, might just give it away.

[@noco7243]

Wait, you're telling me a KZbin channel about the British military is going to give the perspective of the people in the British military?!? I'm shocked.

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

Not everything is about you whining IRA lovers.

[@marchonore]

@@Lorenzo-qz6ce 😘🍑

[@tommyryan9880]

What the hell where they doin in Ireland in the first place should have stayed at home

[@normanmaclean7684]

Read the history .

[@homeboy2166]

I remember the Blues and Royals were based at Lovian barracks in Detmold during the 1980s.

[@bridgetown45]

Just a few weeks after the Fall Road Curfew, I can still remember the Saturday afternoon, usually a very volatile time, between the Shankill Road and the Falls Road, when the two Company Commanders at the North Howard Street Mill, gave us,thier REME Vehicle Mechanics instructions to leave our weapons in the armoury and proceed to the Lower Falls with our toolboxes, a Land Rover and a radio o give assistance to residents there who were experiencing mechanical problems with their cars. We were well received by the residents.

[@andrewlusty5584]

Why would anyone in their right mind join the armed forces after the UK government has thrown veterans who have served in Northern Ireland under the bus !

[@alastairward2774]

How have they thrown them under the bus specifically?

[@mac6899]

@@alastairward2774many end up homeless bums.

[@alastairward2774]

@@mac6899 no offence, but doesn't that happen to a lot of ex-servicemen? What's so special about NI?

[@Mr_Makina]

Happens all over the country bud, the guy who done the Iranian siege is nearly or is homeless

[@mac6899]

@@alastairward2774 in Northern Ireland uniformed British troops fired on unarmed civilians including children on many occasions.

[@williamsteele1296]

every foreign soldier in ireland is a legit target period you dont get many german or french soldiers killing your people in london or newcastle or liverpool do you

[@marklloyd4087]

And every terrorist was a legitimate target also my friend. 🖕

[@retardcapital2976]

they are not foreign, northern ireland is part of UK

[@LivingOnaPrayer123]

Were the many children murdered in IRA bomb attacks also legitimate targets then?

[@anothertime1282]

It seems very strange calling the three men who mounted the ambush 'cowards'. It was a military operation. How many similar ambushes were mounted by the army?

[@alexhatfield4448]

As an American I'm sympathetic to the Irish Cause.

[@vipiccb6896]

as a British person from NORTHERN IRELAND, you are stupid

[@alexhatfield4448]

@@vipiccb6896 you're empire collapsed and your are irrelevant.

[@vipiccb6896]

@@alexhatfield4448 you prove why Americans are considered uneducated! Your country is about to become irrelevant 😂😂😂

[@markirish7599]

Thank you and your on the side of right and justice

[@sebby324]

I’m English and I support the Irish cause Ireland is Ireland Britain is Britain we should be friends and allies but the islands should be separate countries

[@johncrouch8988]

God bless you folks!❤️

[@andrewcombe8907]

Northern Ireland - the British serviceman’s equivalent of the US experience in the Vietnam War.

[@seniorscouse3346]

@Warlightor why they lose then

[@michaeltroy7935]

@Warlightor except america lost in Vietnam 😂 and the brits were in foreign land lol

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

The US soldiers had for more freedom to kill their enemies.

[@trevorhoward7682]

I spoke to a few people and was advised against returning to Northern Ireland until I was out of the habit of saying, "Say again" instead of pardon.

[@simonyip5978]

The thing is that the typical British citizen in England, Scotland and Wales hardly care either way about whether Ulster/Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom or not. Probably the majority of mainland British have little understanding of the situation in Ulster, or the reason why the situation came about, many more British people have been to Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, France, Florida and many other places, than have ever been to Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, etc. And for those people who believe that the English hate the Irish, they should remember that a large minority of English, Scottish and Welsh people have full or part Irish ancestry (myself included). So those people who seem to think that the British people enjoy seeing their close neighbours being killed or maimed, or that they gloated each time a catholic was killed or wounded, that was hardly ever the case. The killing of young boys in British forces made some of the British people hate the Irish, but was not as black and white as some people like to make us believe.

[@caleb4790]

The English Scottish and Welsh don’t care about one another, why not preach that

[@yorkshiredales1619]

We should of never been there.

[@YTFD11]

Slán abhaile. 26+6=1

[@chrisbaggley3437]

Joe Fitzgerald it’s 32. Joe you’re a silly billy hehe

[@cathalmcwilliams3033]

He means one country

[@LiamHickey2967]

@@cathalmcwilliams3033 hey I thought his maths was fairly spot 😂 no just pulling ur leg man 😀😂

[@cathalmcwilliams3033]

@@LiamHickey2967 No problem. 😂😂😂

[@dotnetdevni]

Thank u for all the service in my country that your service has helped and am thankful for it. Thanks for your service xx

[@dotnetdevni]

It’s a disgrace what is happening to solider f.

[@josephmccrory618]

@@dotnetdevni Yes justice is terrible when it tracks you down.

[@dotnetdevni]

John David he was fitting for his country

[@olivenolan2723]

I am not.

[@STRANGFORD1]

and I'm so sorry thaat David Hutchings 80 yrs old, who was supposed to have shot a man dead in S Armagh has died during his civilian trial having got Covid on top of his other serious illnesses, he went to his grave with that accusation hanging over him, still fighting to clear not just his own name but all the rest of you veterans who are being so shamefully treated

[@olearyma57]

Gail this is uncontested - Hutchings shot an intellectually challenge Human Being (John Pat Cunningham) dead in Tyrone. Shot him in the back as he ran away from Hutchings and his patrol. He was unarmed. You stupid people don't recognize the real heroes of the Troubles: the bomb disposal officers of the early '71 - '76 years of the Troubles. Brave men who bravely walked into the unknown (some into the great unknown) with courage and 'sange froid'. Hutchings, by contrast, was a callous, casual killer. You people are mindless and ignorant Cannon Fodder used - for their own purposes - by a certain under pressure , ex-officer' type now living out their lives in well provisioned retirement in the Home Counties. These people fear Justice and you are their mindless pawns. associate yourself with the bald uncontested facts of the case.

[@gj6480]

Messy conflict with mistakes by both sides which as with all wars resulted in the death of innocents. Glad this conflict is behind us, let's hope lessons learned and humility can be displayed by everyone on both sides.

[@Puppy-ew4be]

What makes you think the conflict is behind us?

[@gj6480]

@@Puppy-ew4be ok the worst is seemingly behind us, but I get your point we are humans after all!

[@KaptainKlunk1]

@@Puppy-ew4be ...EVERYONES GETTING THEIR...AHMMMM COMMUNITY GRANTS ..SSSSSSSSHH 👍☮️😉

[@Puppy-ew4be]

@@KaptainKlunk1 Talk about things you'd like to do 🤣

[@waynerafferty1048]

My late uncle served in the UDR and my father was in the RUC. And people don't understand the threat all those who served in operation banner and there families were in 24/7 I've been battling PTSD and depression due what I went through and saw in the 80s as a child and teenager I am not alone . The fear and constant worry we were under. We could not go near the car or answer the door and at night time your hearing noises thinking the men were coming for us. My trauma happened in 1987. Growing up being scared and worried and in fear has lead to my mental health problems in my adult years. But I'm not alone and ALL COMMUNITIES suffered awful awful things either on a daily basis or seen or been traumatised constant hurt stress and anxiety . If I had the power I'd put all efforts into helping people who suffered and still suffer today. No matter what religion from shankill or falls road.more efforts are needed to help those with mental health issues. So they can start living and not just existing. If we can draw a line under the awful hurtful past . And look into tomorrow and future having a better quality of life physical and most importantly better mental health . I hope this will happen one day.i pray .people need help today and more effort by stormont is needed.

[@matro2]

Don't know how going on the attack, and then falling back to safety makes you a "coward" but alright.

[@jesuschrist1275]

Same. We do it ourselves

[@dylanroper6446]

If that was the case, surely Nations with an Air Force that drop bombs at the biggest cowards, seeing as the other side never has a chance to fire back?

[@andrewgnys6285]

Liam the PIRA bomber and Billy the UFF shooter are retired now. I lived in Ulster when I was younger in the early 90's.

[@johnnyfortube]

Everyone was younger once, it's called the passage of time.

[@simonh4553]

'Cowards', spot on. The I Ran Away

[@rosspatterson1233]

I’m British, and I usually support the more modern wars that Britain was involved in, but nit necessarily Northern Ireland. I support the soldiers who were sent there, just not necessarily the people who sent them. May Ireland and Britain continue to live in peace, and sort out our differences peacefully 🇮🇪🇬🇧

[@user-ol3wk2ds9m]

the truth is that most Irish don't have an issue with the British. it may look like that on the KZbin comment section but of course this is over the internet. Ireland and Britain will continue being buddies for a long time. however, it will be difficult if the brits start speaking Arabic!

[@rosspatterson1233]

BurgerKingFootLettuce well, we made you switch to our language once😂

[@caleb4790]

Northern Ireland *

[@SuperMuzz88]

Soldier tributes and murals flying next too Uda flags and you wonder why the catholic’s hated youse.

[@TimStamper89]

Nothing to do with the fact with gave those heathens a damn good pasting NS

[@barbaradyson6951]

Super Muzz88. Er try outside the grand central railway station, there's a housing estate which was blasted with graffiti about the ira, it was a new housing estate and all the walls had been demolished to be used as weapons.

[@SuperMuzz88]

TimStamper warrenpoint 18-0

[@edcarson3113]

SuperMuzz88 Northern Ireland is still British though. The Union flag is still flying in all six counties,everyday. We spend pounds sterling with the Queens head on it. Dry your eyes, it’s great being British 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 No Surrender!

[@pepperfan111]

@@edcarson3113 you may keep the six counties and fly the fleeting flag of a former Empire ro your heart content. The North is an economic drain as it stands for the Uk and would be detrimental to the Republic. Its filled with Conservative clinging to history plebs on both National and Union sides who would rather throw petrol bombs and bricks at one another than come to terms with the evil both sides done to one another.

[@noah-gs8tl]

my granda was in The UDR he is 84 he was born 1939

[@MikaelFlyer]

Salute to all those who served and protected the civilian population of Northern Ireland. Giants is what you are. We will remember them. 'Though I walk in the valley of death, yet I fear no ill, for you art with me'.

[@paulustarsus]

The Central Council of the Irish Republican Army thanks you equivically. 🇮🇪

[@andrewhayes9913]

Murdering children while been immune from prosecution. Shoot to kill policy on technically yer own people. Giants? Murdering war criminals more like.

[@Irishman0855]

There were the biggest threat to the civilian population🤦‍♂️

[@o-tuathail]

funny thing is, the british army is the biggest threat to the civilian population, catholic and protestant alike

[@Jack70M]

They also opened fire on crowds of Catholics, how noble

[@thomasfox1792]

I feel terrible for John Ross the fact he can’t feel safe in his own home or country is terrible.

[@dg-hughes]

What country? Even the UK doesn't refer to it as a country it's just part of the UK. It doesn't even have a flag. That shows you how much the UK thinks (or doesn't) of it and the people there.

[@cormackross5428]

@@dg-hughes most people in the UK refer to Northern Ireland as it's own country like scotland while among the public it gets recognised as a country it's not technically one

[@caleb4790]

David Hughes the UK does, the home officer referred to it “the four country’s of the United Kingdom” there’s nothing that makes it not a country, governed the same was as wales and Scotland

[@paulduffy4585]

@@caleb4790 if you want to call a failed apartheid statelet, with sectarianism as its very core, a country - then yes, it's definitely a country.

[@caleb4790]

@@paulduffy4585 you know what you said isn’t true as of today though

[@markmc906]

Some great Bias journalism

[@itswednesdaymydudes8631]

Mark Mc long live the queen

[@aidy6000]

Well it is the news service of Crown Forces...

[@rhysshaughnessy4757]

@@itswednesdaymydudes8631 as a brit just shut up. There's always two sides to a story, and you should always be able to hear both

[@schrodingcheshirecat]

It must have taken true grit to have stood on either side.

[@colin2116]

Not sure I understand how the attackers can be described as cowards. They waged a war with all advantage available to them. Was the expectation a duel at dawn?

[@florinivan6907]

Conventional armies always hate it when insurgents melt back into the populace so a common insult is 'cowards'.OTOH if the IRA had tried to engage in open battle British Army soldiers would have called them idiots. 'We had armored vehicles helicopters heavy weapons and they attacked us how stupid can you get.' Ultimately its frustration at being unable to root the IRA out. Its also to an extent a method of deligitimising the other side of not recognising its role.

[@leelicayan2180]

While I'm anti-Loyalist being from the Republic, I didn't really have any issues with this report. While it did have strong pro unionist sentiments, it's only natural since Forces TV is a UK channel. Irish history, in contrast to British, displays the Troubles as a struggle against internment, gerrymandering and human rights violations against Catholics. In reality, the North is simply a victim of circumstance and while people on both sides are to blame for atrocities, no one side was truly good or truly evil. Historical interpretation differs between states. (I'm ready to be attacked by both sides so at least make your rant coherently and grammatically correct)

[@harryb8945]

Chris' #1 Fan glad to know your willing to watch this with an open mind. Although I will point out that the initial deployment of British troops was to keep the peace for both sides, and had nothing to do with religion. And wile the mission changed to combating the Ira which did carry out terrorist attacks in England killing civilians, most British soldiers would have helped catholic citizens in need. Also the IDF in the south assisted the British miltary in the north a lot.

[@gayleralan]

Probably the best and most neutral discription of the "troubles" I've ever heard. Thank god people like you exist!

[@charliebarnett7429]

We need more people like you in this world. Although I disagree with you I respect you 100%. All the best mate

[@gaius_enceladus]

Chris' #1 Fan - good on you! You come across as a good, decent down-to-earth person that anyone should be proud to have a pint with! Cheers from New Zealand!

[@Sammy1234568910]

That is the apparent rewriting of history Unionists are warning about. Its fair to say Security forces made mistakes but on the other hand Security Forces never murdered anybody in their own home, burned hotel guests alive, kidnap someone murder them and bury them in secret denying the family the right to a funeral or forced anyone to blow themselves up while holding their family at gunpoint. Terrorists did. Northern Ireland might have had its problems but I do not believe a violent campaign of murder and intimidation was needed to bring about change, and neither did the Terrorists as thats not what they were interested in at the time. They were interested in forcing Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom against the democratic wishes of the majority, they only now claim those interests after failing in that goal.

[@seamusmaguidhir6523]

Why would you describe the people who attacked you as cowards simply because they were prepared? Surely thats good tactics or is it only the British are allowed to be prepared?

[@nvrbetrwhoohoo3941]

Thank you General Sir Jackson for not starting WW3 in Kosovo by the way!

[@hilarioushen4164]

Republicans have to remember it was Gerry fit who ask the British Government to send the troops to Northern Ireland. Not the protestants. But now most of the soldiers are gone back home, It won’t be long before there called on again by the same people to come back.

[@raibeartthehairypict4696]

All gave some, some gave all. LWF.

[@coval5694]

Guess everybody in the military is a coward because you pick positions and choose when to ambush the enemy

[@cowboy4378]

Oh yeah, but every single bomb that went off was an act of bravery.

[@JW-YT]

@@cowboy4378 how many times did the RAF phone in warnings when they flew over Germany?

[@cowboy4378]

@@JW-YT you think i agree with bombing civilians? No i dont. This isnt an excuse but the luftwaffe done the exact same thing even to my home town in northern ireland so i think britain would be stupid not to do the same.

[@missingwords6723]

@@JW-YT lets not forget the belfast blitz of 1941 . When over 1000 belfast citizen were killed 10 S of thousand injured . And more made homeless by the Luftwaffe. .

[@JW-YT]

@@missingwords6723 Whats your point caller? My own town was levelled by the German.

[@patrobrien]

Where families claim their loved ones were killed unlawfully? The British Government has apologised for the unlawful killings so you may want to catch up.

[@williamkelly9859]

Liars,frauds,bullies and a million miles away from being heroes. You will never tell the truth. We know the truth.

[@ericcartman5867]

My uncle served in northern Ireland and the things he told me from kids spitting to snipers taken soldiers out. My uncle died an Alcoholic thanks British Army

[@Monkeypole]

Kids were only spitting because the British Army were hiding behind them

[@MikeJones-xw3te]

Served on Op Banner during my 12 years in the Royal Engineers, both as infantry, search team and engineering tasks. Best bloke in NI was the Choggie, the rip off merchant who sold us brews, egg, bacon banjos or burgers ( which would put Macca's to shame). Miss my mates, the hard graft, excitement, anticipation and danger. Never Forget those who paid the ultimate price.

[@Crum-pe4mn]

Do you think it was right that the British army were/are deployed in Ireland? Ireland should not be partitioned, nobody wanted a war

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Remember the Irish people too who died for their beliefs

[@MikeJones-xw3te]

@@jackietreehorn5561 I only support loyalist fores and NI forces. I'm what would be known in the old days as a Cromwellian.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@MikeJones-xw3te with a Celtic name!

[@MikeJones-xw3te]

@@jackietreehorn5561 Besides Jones, I'm 3rd English. I'm also a Campbell on my Nans side

[@chaz725]

Want to know the truth and I’m not alone ? I never trusted the UDR one iota?

[@stewsaquarium1397]

It's Derry BTW, not Londonderry. : )

[@albertowens6122]

B

[@vincentmcnabb939]

A Welsh man describing the IRA as cowards for fighting a guerrilla war against the English usurpation of their country; when a Welshman’s greatest fear is that the English grant them independence. The British Army would never have stood against the IRA on a level playing field. The British Army possessed and continue to possess a huge advantage in man power, equipment and finance. If the former Welsh patrol leader wanted to display his bravery, he and his ex-squaddie mates could have crossed the lower-Newtownards Road into the nationalist Short Strand area instead of ogling the sectarian murals of Loyalists whom many in the British Army colluded with.

[@anthonyquinn5058]

If ambushes are cowardly then hannibal must be the biggest coward in history

[@dowdallerno1]

Mr Hughes who really were the cowards? If you stayed at home. You wouldn't have got shot.

[@Steamerbeen]

I had a grandad that was RAF & a grandad on my mums side (Irish) that was pro-IRA. I have had to listen to many an argument & fights a at roast dinner but one things is true, they are both right in their own perspectives. One thing that was frightening is that one of my uncles was 16 when he was sent to the troubles, he received a brick in the mouth by a mob & when he realised he had lost his teeth proceeded to beat the shit out of his commanding officer. Apparently the UK side were not allowed to do shit & I could believe that as you would not of known who was a civilian. They banged him up then court martialed him! Nobody wanted to be there that was in the fighting. #politicians 👎 - both my Grandads are dead now, I wish Pat & Frank could of resolved their differences before they went. 🙏

[@thing8357]

Both sides of this conflict were just as wrong. I'm sorry your grandfathers couldn't resolve there issues. May they rest in peace

[@darrenbrogan5328]

The British army had no right to be there I’d like to see how yous feel with occupying force in your streets killing your family and friends

[@willfoster2635]

@@darrenbrogan5328 Northern Ireland, whether you like it or not, is British.

[@willfoster2635]

@Patrick Carson British: English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh. Are you dim or just daft!!

[@Dannydantimpat]

@@willfoster2635 No it isn’t , it is part of Ireland that is occupied by the British / imperialist/ colonial Westminster elite warmongers .

[@jokersgiddygrin]

Genuine question for career soldiers from someone who just doesn't understand "Ours is not to reason why..." Isn't that giving away a piece of your humanity, just for your paycheck? When yours is to "do or die" without reason, you are bound to end up doing things that fly in the face of your morality.

[@jokersgiddygrin]

...really hoping "for Queen and country" isn't an answer to my question.

[@neilharrison8568]

@@jokersgiddygrin given all British soldiers are volunteers and not conscripted, you really don't have a valid argument, had the army been left to do the job properly without political interference it would have been over in a few years rather than the decades it took, which ended with both sides still at a stalemate

[@olearyma57]

@@neilharrison8568Yes they are the thickest of the thick from inner city Liverpool annd Glasgow and deprived area such as Hartlepool and Grimsby. Don't understand at all. You mean you would have shot down citizens of the UK in their own country, unarmed ?. You would have put them in concentration camps ?.

[@cdwyer737]

Give me the green white and gold everytime, give me the three leaf shamrock of Ireland, os our landcan be a nation once again!

[@johnspryshak9593]

oh you meant serving in the British Army

[@haz-iq]

Pretty one-sided video imo. I think that if they'd interviewed an ex-IRA member so that they could tell their side of the story would've been much better.

[@irishrepublicofglasgow3273]

@@haz-iq The Brits would start crying

[@danielhalliday9237]

Irish Republic of Glasgow you’s never fought you always just targeted civilians

[@jixuscrixus1967]

h4ziq it’s forces TV of course it’s going to give a one sided perspective, do you think the Israelis would consider the Palestinians take on any documentary?

[@rhysshaughnessy4757]

@@irishrepublicofglasgow3273 not really I'm a brit and it would be very interesting 😂😂 you should always listen to both sides of the story, if not then you can never grasp the whole situation

[@ciaran134]

Both sides lost people in bad ways and hope all the beliefs stop and everyone can get along

[@lukee4k934]

In a world like this no one can get along by the looks of it

[@petesy03]

Today is a new day for Ireland, in the unionist words” we are in the waiting room for a united ireland “ . It’s long past it’s sell by date british soldiers in Ireland

[@paulthomas2178]

Read Southside provisional by Kieran Conway. You'll get another view of the conflict in Northern Ireland from a former head of intelligence in the PIRA

[@danielwhyatt3278]

Such brave men all of them. Facing such cruel and hostile odds over there in Ireland. Still so relieved my dad wasn’t sent over there at the time.

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

Northern Ireland. We are British. Ireland is the south ira bit

[@vamii2171]

@@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603 deluded

[@adammagill930]

@@vamii2171 no he's correct, check google maps and you'll see.

[@vamii2171]

@@adammagill930 Shhh brush your teeth

[@rhondacupples1943]

@@vamii2171 shut up yank

[@Horizon344]

Let's start calling it the 'Paramilitary War in Ulster', "The Troubles" was always a gutless & defeatist name for it.

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

Nuts

[@rhondacupples1943]

What about the British army? They're not a paramilitary

[@Horizon344]

@@rhondacupples1943 It was fighting a paramilitary force.

[@rhondacupples1943]

@@Horizon344 ik...

[@hiddenknowledge2012]

@@Horizon344 That's what happens when you shoot 13 civilians during a nationalist-unionist divided country.

[@darbyogill8383]

Irish nationalists had to fight the British army and the protestant paramilitaries still undefeated Erin go bragh

[@Lorenzo-qz6ce]

And each other 👍

[@plumduff3303]

The troubles on the mainland were pretty hairy at times too ...

[@darbyogill8383]

The DUP make me sick

[@deehamilton2728]

Cannonfodder , both sides

[@andrewspence7635]

@blackswan20 true that .

[@paulduffy4585]

Definitely. All the brass and politicians involved in this conflict knew from the early 70s it could only end with a power sharing agreement. Yet for another 30 years they continued to send people to their deaths. What a waste. And for what? Domestic political gain.

[@Judgementday-qp1ol]

What a waste of young English boys, used by their Government in Westminster, to keep up a Colonial Past. Most Soldier's ended up with PTSD and left to their own devices back home. Shameful all round.

[@dizzybee7386]

Everyone in that conflict had their cruel, callous and cowardly colleagues. It was a very dirty war. There was no obvious goodies & baddies. The division that happened, was a simmering pot that boiled over. Thatcher was of no help, nor her toffy pals with "now look here" attitudes. It took a Labour secretary with cancer and no hair left on her head to quiet them down into civil discussions - not hairspray and elocution lessons. RIP Mo Mowlam xo

[@kbonh22]

Jeffrey Donaldson a veteran lmao

[@MrLeeleeeeeeee]

The future generations of Northern Ireland have been infected by sectarian violence. Sadly this will continue the game continues with new players.

[@center__mass]

I won the lottery my immediate family emigrated to NZ in 1974 when I was 18 mth old.

[@paulduffy4585]

Congratulations.

[@chuckdrake2592]

No lottery in the 70s

[@chloedevereux6051]

What would you call the people who shot you - cowards. laughable a group of men fighting an empire cowards you can be replaced those freedom fighters are hard to come by