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March 25th, 1982
Cavendish St / Crocus St, off Springfield Rd, Belfast
Rfn Daniel Holland RGJ - 19, single, South-East London
Rfn Nicholas Malakos RGJ - 19, single, Purley, Surrey
Rfn Anthony Rapley RGJ - 22, Oxford
"A mobile patrol was taking a RAF sgt from Springfield Road to North Howard Street Mill.
The IRA had taken over a house in Cavendish St, holding an 81 year-old woman, her daughter and son-in-law hostage for 11 hours before the attack. The gunmen set up a firing point and as the two rovers left the station and drove into Cavendish St, they opened fire with assault rifles and an M-60 machine gun.
Coming under heavy fire the front vehicle sped away; fire was then switched to the second vehicle which stopped.
Rfn Rapley was killed instantly; Rfn Holland and Rfn Malakos died later of their injuries.
The RAF sgt and four civilians were also injured in this attack.
For bravery shown the lead vehicle driver, a corporal, was awarded the Military Medal for his action in assaulting the occupied house.
A Felix team later defused a booby-trap device at the rear of the house."
(extracted from 'Lost lives')
Rest easy, riflemen.
Cavendish St / Crocus St, off Springfield Rd, Belfast
Rfn Daniel Holland RGJ - 19, single, South-East London
Rfn Nicholas Malakos RGJ - 19, single, Purley, Surrey
Rfn Anthony Rapley RGJ - 22, Oxford
"A mobile patrol was taking a RAF sgt from Springfield Road to North Howard Street Mill.
The IRA had taken over a house in Cavendish St, holding an 81 year-old woman, her daughter and son-in-law hostage for 11 hours before the attack. The gunmen set up a firing point and as the two rovers left the station and drove into Cavendish St, they opened fire with assault rifles and an M-60 machine gun.
Coming under heavy fire the front vehicle sped away; fire was then switched to the second vehicle which stopped.
Rfn Rapley was killed instantly; Rfn Holland and Rfn Malakos died later of their injuries.
The RAF sgt and four civilians were also injured in this attack.
For bravery shown the lead vehicle driver, a corporal, was awarded the Military Medal for his action in assaulting the occupied house.
A Felix team later defused a booby-trap device at the rear of the house."
(extracted from 'Lost lives')
Rest easy, riflemen.
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