Stuart Griffiths ✏ writing in Byline Investigations Jun 16, 2022. Recommended by Brandon Sullivan.
My name is Stuart Griffiths. I am an armed forces’ veteran who served in the elite Parachute Regiment on violent tours of Northern Ireland during the troubles.
Having joined the British army aged 16, I was sent to the Province aged 17 to 3 Para who were on a residential tour from 1989 to 1991 based in Belfast. When I arrived, there had been a mutiny by the “Toms Liberation Front” during which Private soldiers or “Toms” had tried to blow up the Commanding Officer after blaming him for the deaths of three paratroopers in Mayobridge.
I was deployed onto the streets of Belfast, aged 18. My second deployment was in 1992, in County Tyrone on an “emergency tour” where it got so disorderly, even the area Brigadier had to be removed from his post. I witnessed bomb attacks, brutal riots, life changing injuries and the joy rider killings.
It was the main reason why I never stayed in the Paras for a long, illustrious career. Northern Ireland f****d my head up.
It was the main reason why I never stayed in the Paras for a long, illustrious career. Northern Ireland f****d my head up.
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@ AM
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting.
I'm looking into the 1992 Coalisland incidents. If anyone was there, knows anyone involved, or has any information at all, please leave a message here and I'll get back to you.
I have a copy of Stuart Griffith's photobook here. It's an interesting piece of art, and I'm recommend it to anyone wanting an insight into being a young squaddie in the North.
Soldiering isn't for everyone.
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