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Strange thing today
I went to Google street maps in Belfast and traveled some routes from 30 years ago. Never seen it since those days !
Started by chance on the Monagh bypass where we actually had a shoot. It was from Ballymurphy estate as it was called at the time in 1985 and a house on the Monagh road, all open ground to the bypass at the time. A big machine gun (M60) opened as the old personal carriers (Pig) slowed driving up the hill.
They fired a few short burst at us. It almost took some ones head off but we had a lucky day.
The boys deployed and assaulted the position with great courage. QRF up in seconds but the bad guys got away. I looked at the tracer marks on the Pig later. So close to his head. Lucky day!
The following months/years were also interesting !
Never been there since but found it on Google street maps today ! How strange !
The street and houses look like someone has spent a lot of money !
No sign of Fort Whiterock up there on the left as one approaches the hill top. The SF base is all gone !
Turn right into Springfield road towards the city, past Kelly Corner ( bad place for an issue which I once had ) Go down the street and its all smart houses which have clean red bricks with new red roofs. Lots of money spent. As I Google down into Springfield Road looking for my old SF base … its long gone !
This is good. Probably many years ago. Normal life, as it should be for all.
It got so nasty and for so long. But its over, thanks to some brave souls.
Its unfair, its unjust and its simply tragic, for mothers, fathers, wives and kids who have lost loved ones.
The MOD forget, but some of us do remember.
This is Sapper Howard Benson Edwards day …..
Keep it going !
T
I went to Google street maps in Belfast and traveled some routes from 30 years ago. Never seen it since those days !
Started by chance on the Monagh bypass where we actually had a shoot. It was from Ballymurphy estate as it was called at the time in 1985 and a house on the Monagh road, all open ground to the bypass at the time. A big machine gun (M60) opened as the old personal carriers (Pig) slowed driving up the hill.
They fired a few short burst at us. It almost took some ones head off but we had a lucky day.
The boys deployed and assaulted the position with great courage. QRF up in seconds but the bad guys got away. I looked at the tracer marks on the Pig later. So close to his head. Lucky day!
The following months/years were also interesting !
Never been there since but found it on Google street maps today ! How strange !
The street and houses look like someone has spent a lot of money !
No sign of Fort Whiterock up there on the left as one approaches the hill top. The SF base is all gone !
Turn right into Springfield road towards the city, past Kelly Corner ( bad place for an issue which I once had ) Go down the street and its all smart houses which have clean red bricks with new red roofs. Lots of money spent. As I Google down into Springfield Road looking for my old SF base … its long gone !
This is good. Probably many years ago. Normal life, as it should be for all.
It got so nasty and for so long. But its over, thanks to some brave souls.
Its unfair, its unjust and its simply tragic, for mothers, fathers, wives and kids who have lost loved ones.
The MOD forget, but some of us do remember.
This is Sapper Howard Benson Edwards day …..
Keep it going !
T
In memory of Private David James McCahill
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