ARmy Rumour SErvice

Turf Lodge was my patch in 1977 and was as nasty a spot as I ever found. The shops at the bottom end of the Turf, which faced Fort Monagh, were a favourite spot for the players to fire from. You could hear the firing at night on the estate to zero the weapons (we would find cars on nearby waste ground with targets painted on them and full of fresh bullet holes). Unfortunately some of the opposition understood the marksmanship principles and could actually shoot straight. They had quite a collection of weapons in the area IIRC.

I always remember seeing the grave of fusiler Paul Crocker in Milltown cemetary, another victim of the Turf.

Rodney2q

I remember that miserable day very well and still remember the young Gunner's death at various times during the year as well as the many others who were KIA and WIA during the 70's and 80's when I served in NI.

Gunner Timothy Utteridge was killed by a GSW to the head. A Catholic priest attended his body and he was covered with a quilt. Those were the days of the beret and I've wondered if the new hemets could have saved him?

I believe the other soldier hit that day was Rifleman Mannion of 3 RGJ. He was struck in the arm and chest as I recall and his INIBA thankfully saved him from the chest wound.

The firing point was the upstairs window of a house at the rear of those bricked up shops and they were fired upon as they crossed the intersection.

As you say exXIX, RIP... None of them are forgotten... From any conflict... Then or now...

I was in Lisburn at the time and remember it well. Two years later I was operating out of Fort Whiterock and got to know Turf Lodge very well indeed -we always called it 'Gunner Utteridge roundabout'. RiP.

Rest in Peace Gunner Utteridge. Never forgotten.

Originally Posted by OPPO

and his INIBA thankfully saved him

I recall an RHF Cpl getting a similar piece of luck in the Beechmounts in May/June of the same year. He had the presence of mind to apply a FFD with one hand & light a fag with the other as he waited for the ambulance to arrive...

RIP to the Gunner to which this thread relates.

UBIQUE Gnr Utteridge RIP...As inadequate as the INIBA Jkt was, it was better than the old FLAK Jackets, and it appears to have done it's job on a few occasions thankfully! One of the boys from Eagles was hit in the back near Girdwood, having finished a patrol on the long streets. My memory is probably playing tricks, but I think the round may have deflected off the ECM equipment he was carrying and into the rear INIBA plate...Very lucky Eagle indeed! There is a funny end to the tale, but it isn't apposite for this thread.

Blimey that takes me back, Utteridge had joined the Battalion for the tour, I was CO's rover group at the time, Rfn Mannion was the other one shot (Femur) I think. I believe he returned to full duties.
As to the other question did any one pay? it was believed that a garand was the weapon used, toward the end of the tour after another attempted shooting a terrorist (now freedom fighter) was shot and died later and his body and weapon were recovered, who know's!

Hi all, just joined - I was his sisters (Tracey) best friend ..Tim was great, jovial and his dad (Captain Utteridge),was so proud that his son had followed him into the army. What I do know, (while our parents were stationed in Menden, Germany), was that all aspects of our lives were totally destoyed by this. A soldier, not only losing a soldier, but his son too. We were gutted...Just had to share that...but from a ''pads brats point of view, we did think and it did make us stonger ) XX