Wasted Years, Wasted Lives, Volume 2

The British Army in Northern Ireland 1978–79

Ken Wharton

• Publisher: Helion & Company
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781912174157
• eBook ISBN: 9781910294918
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Volume 2 does what it says on the can - it continues from where the first volume left off. It looks at the bloody years of 1978 and 1979. It covers eyewitness accounts from soldiers on the ground and there is the occasional comment from civilians who were living in the troubled province at the time. There are accounts from the IRA atrocity at the la Mon Restaurant when the terrorists used a napalm-like device to incinerate 12 innocent civilians; it includes the murder of Lord Mountbatten, hero of Burma, and some of his family and staff on his yacht in Co Sligo. It also covers the worst tragedy for the Army in Ulster, the murder of 18 soldiers at Warrenpoint. Every single troubles-related death and every major incident is covered and includes those soldiers who died in 'non-battle' incidents, the ones who are not included in the 'official' figures. The book pulls no punches and the author is outspoken in his criticism of the Irish-American community and their incredibly naïve support of the Republican terrorists who almost destroyed an entire country. The author condemns in equal measure the paramilitaries of both sides and considers the evil activities of Lenny Murphy and the 'Shankill Butchers' as bad as anything which the Provisional IRA or INLA did. The book looks at individual incidents and tries to examine the terrorist mindset and their motives for the atrocities which they carried out in the name of their communities. It supports the security forces unequivocally but renders criticism where appropriate. The book examines the role of the young soldiers from Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, indeed from every part of the UK from which these young men came. It looks at foot patrols, riot control and the daily fear and threat under which they operated for their four month or two year tours. Read carefully the words of an Irish-American who clearly is contemptuous of the way her fellow Americans almost sleepwalked into supporting the IRA from afar with the dollars which they placed so willingly into the NORAID collection jars. The level of detail and research the author goes into is phenomenal and demonstrates his commitment to continue telling the story of one of Britain's forgotten wars.

Appendix I

Poetry of the Troubles

I did my duty

I did my best

I hid behind my bulletproof vest

I walked the streets with gun in hand

I held the peace in a foreign land

People didn’t want me there

They would often stand and stare

But my duty was to keep the peace

I tried to save a life, at least

I saw men die

I saw men suffer

Life couldn’t get too much tougher

Bombs and bullets played their tune

And forced me deep into the gloom

My duty there was never done

I worked until the passing sun

Then one day the years have passed

My memories would last and last

No corner of my mind is safe

I am haunted by that foreign place

I try to run

I try to hide

My demons always by my side

Did I serve my country true

Would I really die for you

Did I do my very best

Did I need my bomb-proof vest

Did I see my colleagues die

Or is it just a wicked lie

All I know is this you see

I can never be set free

The Troubles – they have left their mark

They keep me trembling in the dark

So enjoy your freedom that I won

For this soldier’s work is done

Steve Carr

Appendix II

Northern Ireland Roll of Honour 1969–98

1,336 Military Names

NB: Where the soldier was a member of the TA, they are included in the roll for their parent regiment with the TA initials annotated next to them (where known).

RTA: Road Traffic accident

DoW: Died of Wounds

9/12 Lancers
LT JOHN GARNER-RICHARDS	4/04/75:	RTA in Co Armagh in suspicious circumstances
TPR SEAN PRENDERGAST	5/04/77:	IRA landmine in Belleek, Co Fermanagh
SGT ROBERT MAUGHAN	8/05/79:	Shot on undercover duties by IRA, Lisnaskea
SGT PAUL ORAM, MM	21/02/84:	Shot dead on und...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Maps and Illustrations
• Foreword
• Preface
• Note to the Reader
• The Author: a Personal Statement
• Abbreviations
• My Dad, the Soldier
• Maps
• Introduction
• Part Four: 1978
• Part Five: 1979
• Postscript
• Appendices
• Select Bibliography
• eBooks Published by Helion & Company