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Gunner Mark Anthony Ashford of 49 Battery, 42 Regiment, Royal Regiment of Artillery
India 1 P.C.P. Great James Street, Londonderry.
17 January 1976
At 1400 hours, Gnr Ashford, two fellow soldiers and a female member of the C.S.U. were on duty manning the India 1 personnel checkpoint in Great James Street. Two males approached from the Bogside and as they got up close, one of them shot Gnr Ashford twice in the head from point blank range with a 7.65mm pistol. The other male kicked open the door of the sanger and fired six shots from a .45 revolver hitting both soldiers. Both terrorists then made their escape in a car which was waiting round the corner in Little James Street.
Gnr Ashford was killed instantly but the other two soldiers had a lucky escape, suffering only minor injuries. One received a flesh wound to the forearm while the other was struck on the shoulder but his flak jacket deflected the bullet.
Mark Ashford was 19 years old, one of several lads from the Missile Regiments who volunteered to go with 42 Regiment on that tour.
DSC00352.JPG
R.I.P. Lad. Always Remembered Never Forgotten.
India 1 P.C.P. Great James Street, Londonderry.
17 January 1976
At 1400 hours, Gnr Ashford, two fellow soldiers and a female member of the C.S.U. were on duty manning the India 1 personnel checkpoint in Great James Street. Two males approached from the Bogside and as they got up close, one of them shot Gnr Ashford twice in the head from point blank range with a 7.65mm pistol. The other male kicked open the door of the sanger and fired six shots from a .45 revolver hitting both soldiers. Both terrorists then made their escape in a car which was waiting round the corner in Little James Street.
Gnr Ashford was killed instantly but the other two soldiers had a lucky escape, suffering only minor injuries. One received a flesh wound to the forearm while the other was struck on the shoulder but his flak jacket deflected the bullet.
Mark Ashford was 19 years old, one of several lads from the Missile Regiments who volunteered to go with 42 Regiment on that tour.
DSC00352.JPG
R.I.P. Lad. Always Remembered Never Forgotten.
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