4th Guns I know them well, or did just prior to their NI tour in 89 as I recall.

All their Team Medics training was down to a dedicated bunch of lads from others units in Roberts Bks and I would like to hope they enjoyed it and learnt something.

Way Aye Geordie Gunners, where are they now?

Originally Posted by AbbotAle

Yes I was in Armagh city with you. I remember your brick well although names are failing me.
Thought there were 5 geordies from 4th attached to the troop the 5th being from a different battery than yourself and if memory serves me right he had a taste for greenfinches!!
Ill pm you with my details

I had almost forgotten about Shergar.

Originally Posted by CharlieBubbles

4th Guns I know them well, or did just prior to their NI tour in 89 as I recall.

All their Team Medics training was down to a dedicated bunch of lads from others units in Roberts Bks and I would like to hope they enjoyed it and learnt something.

Way Aye Geordie Gunners, where are they now?

Yes, the medics training was good, although 'Medics in Vietnam' was a bit much after Naafi break pasties! I was also mad enough to volunteer to have a nasal gastric tube done on me in front of the entire class for our course. Donuts and coke dont look anywhere near as tasty when theyre sucked back up a tube half an hour after youve eaten them!!

Another highlight was the medics giving us needles to practice knocking an IV in and giving us '12 guage' needles. They were closer in calibre to 12 guage shotguns than anything I wanted to stick in my, or anyone elses bodies for that matter!!!

Originally Posted by indigo

Yes, the medics training was good, although 'Medics in Vietnam' was a bit much after Naafi break pasties! I was also mad enough to volunteer to have a nasal gastric tube done on me in front of the entire class for our course.

A VOLUNTEER is better than 12 pressed men and you did enjoy it, so we did OUR job?

I thought the Blind Fold and going in to find the casualty was also a bit for fun but that's the best way to learn. Then the Final Exercise at the back of camp, it was the only way I could get to lob some Thunder flashes around!

Steve Cummins and Miles Amos were both members of the Special Op Troop,later 4/73 Bty.

Cpt. Sparks was the Special OP troop commander for 32Rgt,he later died in a Heli accident.

Maj.Dillon -Lee was HQ Bty commander, 32Rgt to which the SOP Troop was attached.

Maj.Dillon-Lee was an excellent pistol shot.He was gunned down coming back from a Mess function,unarmed.

Originally Posted by M1A1shooter

Steve Cummins and Miles Amos were both members of the Special Op Troop,later 4/73 Bty.

Cpt. Sparks was the Special OP troop commander for 32Rgt,he later died in a Heli accident.

Maj.Dillon -Lee was HQ Bty commander, 32Rgt to which the SOP Troop was attached.

Maj.Dillon-Lee was an excellent pistol shot.He was gunned down coming back from a Mess function,unarmed.

If your memory goes back far enough you will learn that 32 Regr (they had been Hvy, Light and AD in what seemed a short space of time, also took heavy casualties in an ambush in the Ardoyne 1976 or 1977 at least ten casualties from multiple firing points.

Originally Posted by M1A1shooter

Steve Cummins and Miles Amos were both members of the Special Op Troop,later 4/73 Bty.

Cpt. Sparks was the Special OP troop commander for 32Rgt,he later died in a Heli accident.

Maj.Dillon -Lee was HQ Bty commander, 32Rgt to which the SOP Troop was attached.

Maj.Dillon-Lee was an excellent pistol shot.He was gunned down coming back from a Mess function,unarmed.

Capt Sparks was aslo with 4th Regt, he was one of the FOO officers, really nice bloke. I was on the OP for a short while with my Bty, I did my LTMO course with him.

D 07

Between Jun - Dec 76 I was based firstly in Hastings Street and then in Springfield Road Belfast with 2 LI. On one occasion whilst on front gate sanger a L/R knocked me flying when I pulled the gate pin. The vehicle had been involved in a contact and had one, maybe two wounded inside. I am pretty sure they were RA soldiers and a bit of research today points towards the ambush in the Ardoyne where Gnrs Abbot and Murphy were killed. I can't be sure of this and wonder if there is anyone that can confirm whether that patrol on 24 October made its way to Springfield Road?

I write a bit of poetry and verse and having written "Springfield Sanger" I thought the least I could do was try and identify the young soldier that was so tragically taken that day. The memory of that day will always be with me.

Here's the poem, and I apologise to those it does not do justice.

DH

Springfield Road Sanger

Yet another stag on sanger, with a further two to go
A Belfast sky to help it drift away.
The sounds of jeering children as they ambled to and fro
Another uneventful Springfield day.

A sanger's made of breeze blocks that a garrand round would skip
but the windows on each side are made from steel.
There is a tannoy in the corner, by your orders, on a clip
Yes, a fortress in the high street seems surreal.

You man the gate to Springfield, at the same time spotting 'Int',
Counting breeze blocks and the ridges on the gate.
Your partner tells you stories, which helps while away the stint
As you view the street beyond the armour plate.

You get used to hearing gun fire, but you never fail to jump
As your senses come to terms that you're not hit.
It only takes a moment, till your heart regains its thump
But that moment takes a lifetime I submit.

Every rooftop hides a sniper, every letter box the same
Every missing brick a killer lies in wait,
Every pushchair bears a pipe bomb, every movement draws your aim
Everybody's hearts are filled with hate.

We all knew about 'the sniper' that had never missed his mark,
And the rounds that he was using, pierced steel.
There were many other stories, each one equally as dark
That the tellers always swore to be for real.

One morning I remember like it happened yesterday
A spiteful crack rang out and made me start.
I felt my body tremble as the round sped on its way
And drew a breath to sooth an anxious heart.

But the moments turned to seconds so the round was not for me
As I told the tannoy whistling on the wall.
“Keep observing”, said the tannoy, “and report back what you see”
That tannoy didn't seem to care at all.

Then the gate began a drum roll as a landrover turned in
The driver punching wildly on the wheel
Sensing panic in its whining I unlocked the holding pin
The angry horn continued its appeal.

With menace or with madness the rover barged the gate
And flung me like a rag doll to the floor.
I stood up in sheer outrage, to shout “Can't you flipping wait?”
But the words were quickly stemmed by what I saw.

The two top cover sentries were dismounting from the slot
One comrade helped the other to the ground.
From the centre of his jacket rose a tiny crimson spot
and deep within, I knew – that missing round.

He was just a boy of twenty, staring down in disbelief
At the stain of red that spread like cherry wine,
Clutching at his jacket in the hope of some relief.
His weeping comrade lying, “You'll be fine”.

The scene was quickly crowded and the medics tried their best
To stem the flow and calm the panicked youth,
Now crying for his mother while tearing at his chest
I prayed the words they told him were the truth.

Words can tell this story but perhaps should go unsaid,
The memories remain when etched in pain.
I still see that young man, weeping softly as he bled
Watching as his life flowed down a drain.

Every rooftop hides a sniper, every letter box the same
Every missing brick a killer lies in wait.
Every pushchair bears a pipe bomb, every movement draws your aim
May God free us from the burden of such hate.

(C) David Hamilton
2009

you should write a book, that sums it up.

D 07

RIP Sgt Chaz Coleman of N Bty, who transferred into the Gunners from the REME. Felled by a sniper in Anderstown just before OP Motorman.