Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0084
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CHAPTER SIX ULSTER Those of the Regiment who returned to Lisanelly Camp, Omagh to relieve the 15 19th The Kings Royal Hussars in May 1976 — and there were not many — found a new camp rebuilt to modern standards with only the stores and hangars left over from the dreadful accommodation 0(1960. W’ith the camp w r 1 modern and comfortable houses for the three hundred families that accompanied them. A few sons, who had been children fifteen years before, were back as soldiers e Lts Arkwright and Bennett, Sergeant Deakin and Trooper \Vestcrman now guarded their former playgrounds and Mrs Christine Fergu» son, herself then a schoolchild, became school ma’am. Down at Castle Archdale, where the out squadron had been billeted, cattle occupied the Officers and Sergeants Messes and a new camp had risen on the old airfield at St Angelo surrounded by modern defences. But the Rev McIMurray Taylor lived on in the Vicarage and Dr Clements still held surgeries at Irvines- town. It was noticeable that despite the violence of the IRA — now renamed the Proves or PIRA , and their antivBritish intimidation ofthe population, the shopkeepers in Omagh were charming whilst the rural people were as friendly as ever except in certain areas, Friendships gained during the Regiment’s recent short tours at Gosford Castle and Armagh were renewed and those who had enjoyed the sporting opportunities around Omagh fifteen years before were able to do so again. In fact, despite the increased intensity of operations, off-duty soldiers and families could live a more or less normal life with only a few restraints. The Regiment was under command of 3 Infantry Brigade with two sabre Squadrons deployed in troop locations to cover 81 |
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