Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0094
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Ulster went to the RAC Depot as RQMS. He was commissioBEd in 1961 and returned to regimental duty as Technical Quar« termaster in 1967. Another hot summer was a quiet one operationally. An alert patrol under Corporal Spencer (C Squadron) found a culvert bomb in position near Donagh and in two separate incidents four of the most wanted criminals in Ulster were caught. In one of these, which well illustrates the ruthlessness of the terrorists, a school bus had been ambushed by two masked gunmen who killed the driver and wounded a fifteen-year—old girl. During the follow up C Squadron found the getaway car and in the subsequent search Sergeant Beaumont’s Section saw two men armed with pistols asleep in a bungalow near Carrickmore. Trooper Richards climbed through a window, tiptoed across the kitchen, and let in the patrol through the back door. The gunmen were quickly arrested. The Colonel of the Regiment came out for a two-day visit in August and then again to the Monsi’Moy day parade in October: his last visit before handing over to Major-General Abraham, CB MC in January 1978. Lord Grimthorpe had been a most active Colonels The last pre—war regular officer to hold the appoint- ment, his knowledge and experience were invaluable to the Regiment. Few knew that his maternal grandfather, living at Castle Archdale, had been a 12th Lancer. As autumn came plans were completed {or the hand over to the 13/18th Royal Hussars in November and the subsequent move to Tidworth for a further eighteen month tour before returning to Germany. It had been a long hard slog in Ulster. Every conceivable operational incident had been met and dealt with; these included 44 incendiary attacks, 27 shootings and 9 culvert mine attacks. Most of those in the Regiment had no quarrel with Ireland but did their duty in defence of law and order. The response of the wives, some of whom joined the Ulster Defence Regiment — the Greenfinches as they were called v was admirable. A husband and wife team in the Regi- mental Operations Room was not unusual. Awards were won: to the Commanding Officer and Lt Linnell, Mentions in Despatches, to Sergeant Beaumont, Corporal Hudson, Cor— 91 |
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