Family request. Image of fallen father and husband requested?

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Hi all.

I am in touch with the son of Captain Eric Sheils, Company Commander of 8 UDR who was killed on April 29th 1977 at Dungannon. My Sqn offered close protection to both him and his family. On the day we left the province & during the changeover of units Capt Eric Sheils was murdered by IRA assassins.

Eric's son Keith has informed me that the family do not have a single photo of him in uniform. If anyone can assist us here we would both be delighted and for ever grateful if such an image could be forthcoming?

Over to you guys and looking forward to any positive results.

Best wishes

Chris

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C, I've taken the liberty of putting this request on two groups on FB.

If I hear anything I'll let you know.

[Jock2413 Association Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jock2413]

NIVA gravewatch to the rescue. Unfortunately it is slightly out of focus, but it is the only one we have on file. I can email it as an attachment if you want Chris.

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Jesus Jock. Outstanding effort and well done!! The family will be overjoyed that's for sure.

I can forward onto the eldest son Keith Shiels but I would like for this to be a you and NIVA thing. If I pm you his email addy would you forward onto him please?

If not no probs and I will do so.

Wonderful Jock & tis just how I remember him!!

Thank you also Stevie!!

[Jock2413 Association Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jock2413]

Just hold fire a bit on this Chris. We are trying to source a better photo, one that doesn't lose focus when enlarged.

[spanner Association Member & WUSA Overseas rep aka Cathie Find all posts View Profile Close spanner]

Well done, this is what niva is all about. Suggestion, send that one and if a better one does turn up , send tha too.

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All noted Jock.

Special tanks must go to yourself, Onion & Big Stevie. Where would we be without you all!!

As a further development. Former comrades of my Sqn who provided Capt Eric's close protection have responded with some lovely comments concerning their stay within the Shiels family house over the 4 months deployment. The realisation that the bloody provos got to him when his personal protection was at it's weakest, that being the during the Sqn's changeover is still most depressing to this day. Never forgotten!!

This was also a very depressing period for the security forces. I believe the casualty count for this period was over 50 dead with Onion's unit losing two guys in quick succession I believe.

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[On1on Association Member Find all posts View Profile Close On1on]

All noted Jock.

Special tanks must go to yourself, Onion & Big Stevie.

No thanks, I had one once, a Centurion for OP work, kept breaking down and never got off the gun park...

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Update.

I have just placed this update onto the 3RTR fb page for their awareness.

Capt Eric Shiells UDR 29/4/1977 continued.

Yesterday evening I was invited to attend St George's Memorial Church for a commemoration service on behalf of the Friends of the Somme Mid Ulster Branch which is made up of mostly former UDR & RUC members & their families from Dungannon, Caolisland, Stewartstown, Pomeroy, Cookstown and elsewhere.
Some were widows, others survivors themselves from constant IRA INLA bomb and bullet attacks throughout those long civil war years. It was most upsetting for me to hear of their appalling existence where we once served briefly. Not so for them as the many widows, widowers and survivors of attack confirmed.
I spoke with them concerning the A Sqn 3RTR 76-77 tour and was completely taken back when I was literally swamped with offers of image assistance on behalf of the son of Capt Shiells.

I spoke with the elderly couple today but who were then the same age group as us who operated one of the many safe farmsteads/ houses which some of you stayed briefly after being inserted into the badlands by Scout or other. They still remember you, they remember the RTR badge and asked me to inform you that they are proud they were able to be of assistance despite the threat of torture and execution hanging over them if betrayed or caught out.
I spoke to the couple who ran the newsagents immediately outside Castle Hill camp & they apologised for being unable to serve you after being threatened with pistols placed against their heads by IRA gunmen. Others who did so and then betrayed were shot through the knees or ankles. They hope you have forgiven them!
I informed them that I will be in Dungannon on April 29th 2017, this being my birthday which was my 19th back then, the day Capt Shiells was murdered. This being the day after we left the Province.

I intend to place flowers on Capt Shiells grave and by the end of the evening, most including some of the RUC and UDR guys we worked with had confirmed they will also attend along me. They have also invited both myself and my wife to visit the Dungannon Presbyterian church in Scotch St to visit the remembrance plaque installed within on behalf of Capt Eric & also to escort us around the Castle Hill Barracks site.

I recalled the White Heather bar in Scotch St bomb explosion which could have been disastrous for the four guys of my half section. Some remembered the explosion and confirmed we were indeed lucky. Many others were not who lived, worked or served in this dangerous part of East Tyrone.

Was saddened to hear of the 6 British soldiers who were killed when an IED blew apart their Saracen APC on the Ballygawley Road on the outskirts of Dungannon just before we arrived. Some attended the aftermath and have never gotten over the scene which confronted them. I guess we were lucky!
Discussions are to continue and who knows where this will end. What I can reveal to all of you who deployed on that particular tour is this. You are still held in great esteem and your efforts have not been forgotten. That was made very clear and they have asked me to forward their best wishes with gratitude onto you all.
If anyone wishes to attend Dungannon on the 29th April next year and join this moment of pilgrimage on behalf of one of the guys some of you managed to protect so successfully, yet due to no fault of your own Capt Eric Shiells lost his life the day after you left.

I warrant that if you do attend, these warm and grateful people will make you very welcome that's for sure!!

Fear Naught

Switches.

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Just hold fire a bit on this Chris. We are trying to source a better photo, one that doesn't lose focus when enlarged.

Jock the "out of focus" picky is meant to be a thumb-nail picture. Normally linked (target image) to a larger higher res picky.