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40 years on, stories from the frontline of the Northern
Ireland troubles in
SOLDIERS' STORIES - NORTHERN IRELAND
"I left Ireland, but Ireland never left me" |
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Please click
"play" and allow video to load |
2009
marked the 40th anniversary of the British
Army’s arrival in
Northern Ireland..
They were deployed on 14
August 1969 by the
Wilson
government, as law and order had broken down in the
province.
Over the next three decades some 300,000 British troops
would serve in what became a war in all but name.
Occasionally they were welcomed, more often, they were
spat at, pelted with missiles or shot.
Operation Banner ended at
midnight on
31 July
2007 making it
the longest continuous deployment in the British Army's
history; but the memories of the soldiers who had served
here would last a lot longer…
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This
documentary for HISTORY, presented by former soldier Ken
Hames and based on the in-depth interviews conducted by
Northern Ireland veteran Ken Wharton for his books on
The Troubles, provides a new and unique insight into the
conflict in Northern Ireland. Soldiers have never
before given such personal interviews and reveal stories
of bombings, humour in the face of adversity, of strong
comradeship and of heartache, from their own personal
perspective.
In the four decades that British troops were stationed
in Northern Ireland
they were subjected to bombings and shootings on a daily
basis. This was a brutal and terrifying time that
scarred all who served there.
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A Letter of Thanks
click to view |
During
The Troubles over 1300 British Military personnel were
killed, 6000 were wounded and over 3000 civilians were
killed. There were no parades and no heroes welcome
for the 300,000 soldiers who served in
Northern Ireland
and for those who came home their memories will last a
lifetime.
This is their story.
Using first-hand accounts and
personal memories, brought to life with archive footage
and some dramatic reconstruction, this powerful
documentary paints a vivid, unforgettable and personal
picture of the lives of the soldiers during the last
forty years in
Northern Ireland.
These soldiers’ stories
provide the viewer with a compelling perspective on The
Troubles, never seen before.
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