Ballykinler 1973-1975
The battalion arrived in Ballykinler in July 1973, assuming operational responsibility as the Northern Ireland Province Reserve.
The next two years were to be extremely busy with hazards not only confined to the IRA and terrorist action. Accidents involving heavy armoured vehicles on tracks and minor roads that were designed for light traffic were common.
In August 1973 ‘C’ Company were deployed to the Bogside area of Londonderry, an area very familiar to the old soldiers of this Company.
Ballykinler is situated on the South Eastern side of Northern Ireland in County Down. July saw the Battalion taking over from the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment at Abercorn Barracks. Shortly after they were fully operational and committed to operations across the province. The Battalions role from Ballykinler being one of 'Province Reserve', this meant being able to move anywhere at anytime, often at short notice, and being operationally effective on arrival. The highlights of the tour as regards to deployment being, the
ULSTER WORKERS STRIKE
H.M.P THE MAZE RIOTS
BESSBROOK
SOUTH ARMAGH
BELFAST
LONDONDERRY
DUNGANNON
PORTADOWN
STRABANE
And of course the unfortunate SANDES HOME BOMBING
The Battalion enjoyed a very high degree of success against the various Terrorist Factions with a number of excellent finds of weapons and explosives, leading to successful arrests and prosecutions, 'C' Company had a very good operation resulting in the top IRA leader in South down being killed. Unfortunally the Battalion also suffered casualties both in wounded and fatalities during its tour.
However life was not all work and time was found o participate in sporting and Military Competitions with the Battalion enjoying success at,
TENNIS (Army Champions)
BOXING (U.K.L.F. Finalists)
CROSS COUNTRY (Northern Ireland Champions)
ORIENTEERING (Northern Ireland Champions)
NISAAM (Northern Ireland Champions)
To name but a few. The Battalion having been warned off for posting to Shoeburyness in 1975 looked forward to a period of peace and stability.
THE BALLYKINLER TIMELINE | |
| EVENT | TIME/DATE |
| Battalion to Ballykinler | July 1973 |
| Bn assumes responsibility as Province reserve | 12.00 hours, Tuesday 3rd July 1973 |
| B Coy to Portadown | July 1973 |
| C Coy 3 locations, 3 Brigade area | July 1973 |
| Tac HQ & 2 Coys to Derry | 10th August 1973 |
| Capt SUTTON killed | 14th August 1973 |
| Bn assumes command for operations in County Tyrone | 1st September 1973 |
| Bn won N.I. Orienteering Compitition | 30th September 1973 |
| Bn covers for Duke of Wellingtons Regt | Mid October |
| Bn deployed for 8th Inf Brigade | 11th - 14th November 1973 |
| Ferozeshah Parade (1 Coy) | December 1973 |
| Bn Block leave | December 1973 |
| Quarter final Army unit Boxing championships (Beat 2 RGJ, 9 bouts to 2) | 18th December 1973 |
| Bn back from leave | 31st December 1973 |
| A Coy to Londonderry | January 1974 |
| B Coy to Fermanagh | January 1974 |
| Bn beat Royal Scots in Boxing match | 18th January 1974 |
| Bn relieve 1st Bn R.R.W. for block leave | 30th January 1974 |
| D Coy to Strabane | January 1974 |
| C Coy to Londonderry | January 1974 |
| Bn boxers beaten in away match to R.W.F. (4 bouts to 7) | January 1974 |
| Bn Cross country team win NI championships | January 1974 |
| Battle of the 'Hump' | 06.55 hours, 22nd February 1974 |
| Operation 'Averse' | February 1974 |
| D Coy under command Emergency tour Bn | 9th March 1974 onwards |
| Attack on Auchnacloy V.C.P. | March 1974 |
| Coy deployments throughout province | Aprilo/May 1974 |
| Ulster Workers Strike | May 1974 |
| B & D Coys to Belfast | May 1974 |
| C Coy to Newtonards/Bangor | May 1974 |
| Small bore team win N.I. Championship | MAy 1974 |
| Expedition to Iceland | June 1974 |
| Band/Drums beat retreat, Ballykinler | 8th June 1974 |
| D Coy to Newtown Hamilton | Mid June |
| Band/Drums on Operation Friendship | June 1974 |
| Bn tennis team win both N.I. and U.K. championships | June 1974 |
| B Coy reserve for 8 Brigade Londonderry | July 1974 |
| Ptes Missenden of D Coy and Pte Wallis of A Coy wounded by riflefire | July 1974 |
| C Coy eliminate gunman | July 1974 |
| Standby H.M.P. the Maze | 15th September 1974 |
| N. I. skill at arms meeting | 20th -22nd September 1974 |
| Bn Win Major unit Championship | 20th - 22nd September 1974 |
| Riot H.M.P. the Maze | 15th October 1974 |
| Bombing of Sandes Soldiers home (2 Killed, 33 wounded) | 28th October 1974 |
| Bn take responsibility for South Armagh | 4th November 1974 |
| Patrol ambushed in Crossmaglen (2 killed Cpl WINDSOR, Pte ALLEN, Pte WALTERS wounded) | 6th November 1974 |
| Hand over to 1st Bn R.G.J. | Mid December 1974 |
| B Coy to Auchnacloy | Late December 1974 |
| A Coy to Portadown | Late December 1974 |
| Ferozeshah Parade | December 1974 |
| Bn hands over to Queens Lancashire Regt | 8th January 1975 |
| Bn to Shoeburyness | January 1975 |
WO1(RSM) G.J. PINCHEN
