 |
| Terry Scriven |
In newspaper terms, the summer holiday period, is a slow news time and the press are normally prepared to make as much as they can of anything that does happen. You would think, then, that pulling British troops out of Northern Ireland would constitute big headlines and many newspaper pages devoted to the announcement. However, the issue was not given anything like the coverage it deserves.
The troops were sent into Northern Ireland way back in 1969, under Operation Banner following disturbances between Protestants and Catholics. Back then, it was expected they would only be deployed for a few weeks. This has a familiar ring to it, in the context of the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The Troubles”, as they became known, lasted some 38 years. I found myself on the frontline, commanding a 200 strong Company of Military Police in Ballymacarat an area of East Belfast about the size of the City of London. Part of my area was staunch Loyalist and housed the offices of Ian Paisley, the other part known as the ‘Short Strand’ was a staunch Catholic area with many known IRA members living or visiting there. Although housing a large fortified police station the ‘Short Strand’ was deemed too dangerous for the RUC to patrol so my Unit was responsible for maintaining both security and policing. I saw at first hand the division between Protestants and Catholics. The Catholics, in particular, resented our presence and protested in many ways.
The political and religious division in the Province always meant it was going to be an uphill struggle. But like British soldiers who have been deployed in so many parts of the world, those on the streets of Northern Ireland performed a difficult role in an impartial manner. Despite the daily abuse, riots, petrol bombs and sniper’s bullets, they set about winning hearts and minds and producing the fertile ground for successful political settlements to succeed.
Even during the worst of the troubles there were things that happened that could raise a smile. On one occasion, I sent my Military Police women dressed as Easter Bunnies to distribute chocolate eggs to the children in the streets. Normally, the kids would be looking around for stones or anything suitable to throw in our direction. Indeed, some of my troops suggested they would merely throw the eggs back at us. Not a bit of it. Not only did they eat the eggs, it stopped them from looking around for stones and bricks that day. I wish we could have done that more often!
Thankfully, politicians who could not work together for some 38 years have now got together. The two biggest political parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, are involved in a power sharing assembly. The role that was undertaken by thousands of troops has now passed back to the police force. There is still a lot to be done in Northern Ireland, but the recent news represents a giant leap forward for all of us. I was proud to have played a part in this success story but remember all those who died or where injured both mentally and physically. We owe these men and women who do a dangerous and difficult job and put their lives on the line for our safety our gratitude and must always be prepared to look after them and their families when their need arises as it is now for those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Terry Scriven is a former Colonel in the British Army is a member of the Royal British Legion and a member of the Soldiers Sailor and Air Force and Families Association (SSAFA ) Forest Help in the New Forest. |
| |
