1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
Belfast 2001 to 2003
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Belfast 2001 to 2003 |
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All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.
By the end of March 2001, the battalion were all but installed in Palace Barracks, Holywood just outside Belfast. Palace Barracks is a without doubt the best resident battalion location in Northern Ireland, it has all the advantages of proximity to airports and the ferry terminal as well as being in a pleasant cultural and social area of the Province. In the main, the accommodation is excellent and with all the families living on camp there is a greater sense of belonging to a single entity than existed in Edinburgh. Thirty couples in the Battalion married to come with the battalion to Northern Ireland and so the married quarters area was once again full of young married couples. Another great advantage for Palace Barracks is that whilst it is away from the troubles of Belfast, it is not far away from the Belfast hot-spots.
Operationally the Battalion was engaged in a busy cycle with a company deployed to Girdwood Security Force base in North Belfast, a company guarding Palace Barracks, a company able to operate anywhere in Province and called Expeditionary Company (but quite often used for operations in Belfast and/or training) and the last company on leave and training. Each cycle lasts on average about four weeks. During the period from June to November 2001, the battalion held the ring in North Belfast during some of the worst inter-sectarian violence ever seen in the long history of the Troubles. At the heart of this violence was the Holy Cross School in the Ardoyne. Readers will recall the enduring television and press images of soldiers and policemen lining the route to ensure access to the school for its young Roman Catholic pupils. Many observers were shocked by the veracity of the hatred displayed by the local Protestant community to the small children who are the pupils of this primary school. Of course, there are two sides to the story and many in the Loyalist community felt that the access issue was being manipulated by Republicans to further encroach on the Protestant Glenbryn estate. The dispute became the touchstone that was to ignite prolonged and lethal inter-sectarian rioting across much of the Battalion's Area of Responsibility (AOR).
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1. a b c d e f g h i
In order to summarise the events of the first nine months of the Battalion's tour, it is worth recording some statistics. During the six-month period up to the end of November 2001 there were 75 shootings, 162 pipe bombs, and over 400 public disorder incidents in the battalion's AOR. The battalion was to be heavily reinforced with 27 rifle companies passing through the 1 A and SH battalion group. Whilst the police were to sustain scores of injuries, the battalion group was to escape with only one serious injury. Fusilier Edwards of 1 Royal Welch Fusiliers was to narrowly escape death when a blast bomb severed his femoral artery. It was only the skill and training of his Company Sergeant Major that was to save his life. A number of soldiers were to sustain minor injuries and to have narrow escapes. Perhaps the best example of a close shave is that of Lieutenant Calum Barclay whose rifle and body armour plate were to take the full force of a blast bomb that would otherwise have had lethal effect. As the violence continued through the Autumn and well after the traditional marching season, the rifle companies were averaging over 70% nights out of bed. By example, A Company were called forward to Girdwood for 48 hours only to remain for several weeks. This was to have a major unsettling impact on the families who were unsure as to when their husbands would be at home. In early November, command of the AOR was switched to the reinforcement battalion, 1 Grenadier Guards, in order to allow the battalion a more sustainable operational cycle.
During the winter months each company completed a successful rural training package in Galloway. These winter training packages highlighted that the battalion had a steep learning curve ahead, before it re-rolled to be air assault infantry.
2002
Battalion Headquarters reassumed command of the North Belfast AO in March. As the Easter Marching Season approached the situation deteriorated rapidly. With nightly rioting at multiple locations the Battalion Group swelled to upwards of seven companies and Bn tactical headquarters was forward on the ground every evening. Around this time the Royal Ulster Constabulary hung up their hats and emerged overnight as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). In the two weeks either side of Easter the battalion group were attacked with lethal force on 27 separate occasions, including 4 separate shooting contacts — one of which involved the CO’s rover group. The battalion group was heavily reinforced during this period and enjoyed excellent support from all the companies of 1 Grenadier Guards and 2 Royal Irish, plus occasional reinforcement from 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and 1 Royal Scots.
2. a b c d e f g
This level of activity abated only slightly after the end of the Easter period with regular and unpredictable upsurges of violence. For example, on the Saturday of the Officers' Mess Summer Ball in May (deliberately early this year so as to avoid clashing with the summer marching season) at 5pm seven separate riots broke out across the City on a glorious early-summer's evening. From the Suffolks to Greencastle the whole North and West of the City erupted into violence at the end of an old firm game. This severely stretched the security forces and was to be the catalyst for a step change in security force levels in Belfast. In late May 1 Royal Green Jackets was called forward complete and assumed command of the North Belfast AO. In late June 2 Royal Anglian also joined. Belfast in July was split at times between 4 battlegroups thus: 1 A and SH: West; 1 Royal Green Jackets: North; 2 Royal Irish: East; and, 2 Royal Anglian part of South around the Ormeau Bridge. In addition, companies from other units reinforced battlegroups. For example, two companies of 2 RRF came under command on the 12th. By now tactics had developed, in part due to an excellent Public Order training package run for all the above units by B Company. The relatively benign summer marching season was, in large part, due to this new Brigade concept and associated force levels. Indeed the only serious violence across the Province occurred in the 1 A and SH AO on the Springfield Road and saw the exhilarating sight of the whole of B Company charging 300m down the road on foot in full riot kit. Throughout this period the battalion has been worked extremely hard. All the companies saw action, Support Company have perhaps had the lion's share culminating in an adrenaline fuelled evening in Sandy Row in late July when they faced prolonged and orchestrated lethal rioting following a PSNI arrest operation. They fired 33 baton rounds that evening.
September started with the deployment of the battalion, minus the COP, to Standford Training Area (STANTA) for a two-week battalion exercise called KESTRELS FINN. The format of the exercise followed (very) closely the battalion exercise in STANTA in the Autumn of 1984 - there being no such thing as original thought in the Army! For example, the companies arrived from Northern Ireland and deployed straight out into the field, albeit without the 1984 approach march! However the high point was the demanding inter-platoon competition on the middle Saturday. All platoons displayed significant determination, stamina and
resourcefulness and confirmed to all that they could rise to the occasion when required. Congratulations went to 6 (Champion) Platoon for winning the competition and also to the Pipes and Drums for coming a creditable sixth, again exploding the myth that they cannot hold their own as a rifle platoon. Finally, the exercise finished with two days of battalion air assault operations using two Chinook helicopters. These culminated with a Battalion dawn noisy attack onto Tottington, pipers playing on the axis. As said previously - shades of 84!
On return to Belfast, the battalion quickly reorganised for operations. It was clear that the focus was shifting away from Public Order operations onto interdiction operations against both dissident republicans and also feuding loyalists. The latter group became embroiled in a spiral of tit for tat violence, including several murders, which only finished with the expulsion to Scotland of a group of renegade loyalists. In the Autumn, a very successful Potential Junior NCO cadre was held with the help of Lieutenant Colonel Donald Ross in Garelochhead. In fact, that was the last internal P/JNCO for the foreseeable future as in Spring 2003 the battalion joined the Household Division and Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses (HDPRCC) school at Pirbright. HDPRCC will run all P/JNCO, pre-Brecon, pre-SF navigation training, sniper cadres and Pre-'P' company training on behalf of the battalion. This was a very exciting development and are very grateful to the Household Division and the Parachute Regiment for allowing the battalion to join in their very successful enterprise.
3. a b c d e f g h i
The winter battalion sport continued to flourish. Under Captain Haughie, the football squad had its best season for many years. Boxing was elevated to a major battalion sport. Out of hours, Corporal Lafferty ran an excellent boxing club, which increased the profile of the sport in the battalion. In the Infantry Cup, the battalion boxed the former Infantry Champions, 1 Green Howards, coming a close second! Downhill skiing was resurrected and during the season entered two complete teams (with ranks ranging from Private to Lieutenant Colonel) for the Infantry Championships in Val d’ Isere. One team then went on to the Army Divisional Championships, in which the battalion came second in it’s category. Two members of the battalion were selected for the Army individual competition, but had to cancel due to unforeseen operational commitments.
However events in the Gulf gathered momentum, it became clear that these, and the Fire Brigade's Union strike, were about to have significant impact on the Army. After a period of intense speculation, it was confirmed that the Battalion was to be extended in Belfast for a further six months to a revised end of tour date of September 2003. However, the battalion responded stoically to the news and focused its training and planning for it’s 7th consecutive summer committed to the Marching Season. In part, this change of plan was ameliorated by the excellent financial and welfare package in Northern Ireland, which all ranks will now enjoy for a little longer than anticipated. Furthermore many younger Officers and Jocks qualified for their Accumulated Campaign Service Medals, a welcome addition to the somewhat sparse Argyll chests.
2003
The year began with the battalion returning to conditions operationally that it enjoyed when it first arrived in Belfast. In April 2001 the situation was relatively benign. There was little or no routine patrolling and the Ops 1 company's task was to secure Girdwood Park base and provide a QRF, life more or less returned to that situation. Of course, in between there was the major public disorder surrounding the Holy Cross Girls school dispute and the inter-sectarian violence of 2002. However 2003 was comparatively quiet. The Marching Season was peaceful, although it still required the battalion to mount significant battlegroup operations to underpin the greatly improved security situation. 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, as the Belfast NIBAT (akin to the old BRB), were rear based at the end of July leaving 1 A and SH and 2 Royal Irish as the only two battalions forward based in the Brigade.
There is no doubt of the significant role the Battalion has played in creating this improved security environment. This was very satisfying and rewarding for all ranks. Indeed, this achievement was widely recognised by others. The Battalion was nominated for the Wilkinson Sword of Peace 2002, supported by numerous citations from a diverse cross-section of society in Belfast.
Away from operations, the Battalion continued to excel. The participation in the Household Division and Parachute Courses Centre (HDPRCC) at Pirbright was extremely successful, HDPRCC was described by an Argyll field officer as 'old school military professionalism at its best'. Along with other incentives, we routinely saw NCOs achieving very high standards at Brecon and young officers achieving Distinctions at PCD. Indeed 2nd Lieutenant Mackley deserves congratulations for winning the Director of Infantry's prized binoculars on his PCD. In the sporting arena the battalion had young officers and soldiers representing the Army at no less than three major sports: rugby, cricket and boxing. The football squad had a very good season with a number going on to play for the Infantry. Finally, concluded the boxing year with a match against the Police. This well attended and unusual fixture saw the Battalion win by 5 bouts to 4; a close run thing!
During September the battalion moved to Howe Barracks, Canterbury to begin it’s new role as air assault infantry.
Following the 1st Battalion's extended tour in Belfast the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J D Gray received several letters from his superiors. Extracts are quoted here, and they bear witness to the professionalism of the 1st Battalion, and the extremely high regard in which the Battalion is held.
The Commander 39 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier James Bucknall MBE, wrote:
"A great deal has been asked of the Jocks in some very demanding situations and whether it has been in the Ardoyne or on the Springfield Road, in the Short Strand or Sandy Row, they have delivered with courage, professionalism and determination. The Battalion departs the Province with a hard-earned reputation for urban counter-terrorist expertise. The contribution it has made in a challenging phase of the campaign is widely recognised, not only amongst the military but also across the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Urban Region by whom it is held in the highest regard. The Battalion can be very proud of its record over this extended tour. I would be grateful if you would pass on my personal thanks to your officers and soldiers for a job exceptionally well done."
The General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, Lieutenant General Philip Trousdell CB wrote:
"...what an extraordinary tour you have had, particularly in view of the fact that you have seen Belfast at its most ferocious and at its most peaceful. Across this broad spectrum, the conduct of the Battalion has been nothing short of outstanding. I have been hugely impressed by the attitude and approach of your soldiers
they have bourne extreme tests of the most violent rioting with absolute courage and assured professionalism. You have re-written the book on public order, a point I made to your gathered officers and SNCOs, and have made a huge contribution to achieving peace in Northern Ireland."
The Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Division, and the previous General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE wrote:
"I am delighted to be able to pass on the good news that 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment have been jointly awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for the Army for 2002. The terms of the award include the words '...establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home and overseas, over and above the unit's normal role and duty'. The Committee could not distinguish between your Battalion's efforts in Northern Ireland during the Holy Cross School dispute and those efforts of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime. Further, the judges noted exceptionally that both battalions contributed significantly to a large number of less publicised charities both at home and overseas."
Updated: 11 October 2014