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Narrow Waters, What events took place there?

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Irelands_Son	Feb 6 2004, 09:45 PM Post #1
Soldier of Ireland Group: Celtic Lyrics Cairde Posts: 92 Joined: 22-December 03 From: Canada Member No.: 141	I had a message from a friend asking me to put the events of Narrow Waters on my site. So I researched as much as I could but I found very little. But what I do know is 18 SAS where killed by the Provo's. What happened there this was the first I heard of this? :ph34r: Up The 'RA

Werewolf

Feb 7 2004, 03:35 AM

Post #2

Finnish Fenian

Group: Celtic Lyrics Cairde
Posts: 88
Joined: 26-July 03
From: Finland
Member No.: 74

Hmm... a friend by the name of Werewolf perhaps? :)

The CAIN website has this to say:

QUOTE

Monday 27 August 1979
Warrenpoint Attack and Mountbatten Killing
18 British soldiers were killed in an Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack at Warrenpoint, County Down. This represented the British Army's greatest loss of life in a single attack in Northern Ireland. The attack began when the IRA exploded a 500 pound bomb at Narrow Water, near Warrenpoint, as an army convoy was passing. Six members of the Parachute Regiment were killed in this initial bomb. As other troops moved into the area a second bomb was detonated in a nearby Gate Lodge killing 12 soldiers - 10 members of the Parachute Regiment and 2 members of the Queen's Own Highlanders (one of whom was the Commanding Officer). The explosion also damaged an army helicopter. A gun battle then broke out between the IRA who were positioned in the Irish Republic and British Army soldiers in Northern Ireland. An innocent civilian was killed on the Republic side of the border by soldiers firing from the north.

Please note, this is the only source I've ever encountered that mentions a cross-border gun battle. The BA did shoot an innocent civilian who was fishing by the water, but to my knowledge no-one shot back at them. A BA source later said that the Narrow Water operation was a stunning display of military genious. The location was ideal for an attack like this, the method of execution both highly professional and appropriate for the attack and the way the attackers took advantage of their knowledge of BA tactics and SOPs was excellent. This was later thought to have been the culmination of IRAs "secondary device" tactic.

You see, after the initial explosion (500 pounds of "Black Stuff" with Semtex boosters) the BA unit collapsed on the nearby gatehouse, set up a perimeter defence there and started to evacuate the wounded. When reinforcements arrived, they rushed to this makeshift field headquarters to get an update on the situation, and it was then that the second explosive, placed inside the very gatehouse, exploded obliterating the gatehouse and burying the troops inside. The IRA had known the BA would use the gatehouse for shelter, and had acted on this information.

An interesting anecdote related to this, the epaulettes of Lt. Col. David Blair (the aforementioned Commanding Officer) were later handed to Margaret Thatcher with the comment "This is all that is left of my commanding officer". Observers stated that she was visibly shocked.

Irelands_Son	Feb 7 2004, 09:33 AM Post #3
Soldier of Ireland Group: Celtic Lyrics Cairde Posts: 92 Joined: 22-December 03 From: Canada Member No.: 141	B) yes Werewolf, but I don't like to use peoples names unless they say so. Just keeping with the unknown. Thanks for all the help guys, oh ya and girls! :ph34r: Im going to cut and paste this into my site.

Christophe

Feb 17 2004, 09:27 AM

Post #4

C

Group: Celtic Lyrics Cairde
Posts: 314
Joined: 13-April 03
From: Ghent - Ronse
Member No.: 21

Last quote from Lancashire: Why is it that in the few times I'm on the net and thereby few times I'm on this site, there's always an annoying twat complaining about everything. If you don't like the people on this site: no problem. But constantly posting irrevelant and irritating ridiculous posts, I'd say: Sod off, go to pub with your mates -if you have any- and have a NICE chat...

QUOTE

And stop complaining about British soldiers killing innocent civilians. The Irish kill innocent civilans all the time, and it is still illegal when you do it. You aren't above the law.

Stop talking gibberish man! You're not only talking absolute nonsense with this, you're also making a complete fool out of yourself...

That is the only thing I have to say, I won't compete with you to see who can use the most foul words...

Charlotte	Feb 17 2004, 10:47 AM Post #5
Unity, Freedom and Peace supporter Group: Celtic Lyrics Moderator Posts: 630 Joined: 29-March 03 From: Paris, France Member No.: 6	Lancashire, I had you warned.

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