Wharton - Another Bloody Chapter In an Endless Civil War, Volume 1

The period under review covers the years of 1984-87 - nearing the end of the third decade of the Troubles. It uses research and oral contributions from the mid- to late 1980s and shows not only how the Provisional IRA (PIRA) grew in financial and logistical strength, but also how the Security Forces (SF) worked hard to contain them. It was also a period where the Republican terror group fully embraced Danny Morrisons mantra, The Armalite and the ballot box, as they moved toward a realisation that the British military could not be beaten, but that they (PIRA) could at least sit down with them from a position of strength. Thereafter, their intention was not only political agitation, but also to keep up the terror campaign and force the British Government to talk; further to ensure that they the British - accepted that there could only be an impasse (albeit one of continued violence). However, whilst they fought, talked and then fought again, a further 356 people died. This book will cover every major incident of the period - commencing with the ambush of an off-duty UDR soldier, Robert Elliott, through to the shameless bombing of Enniskillen. Significantly, both incidents were at the hands of the Provisional IRA. It will also look at the continued negative interference of the United States and the vast contribution of the Brit-hating Irish-Americans through NORAID, which ensured the killing and the violence would continue.

Ken Wharton is now in his mid-60s. He is a former soldier turned writer who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland. A former football referee and a veteran of 500 skydives, he is chronicling the Troubles and takes as his standpoint the position of the Security Forces and the innocent civilians - and refuses to allow Sinn Fin/IRA to rewrite history.

ROB, DUKE OF WELLINGTONS REGIMENT

I have stood on the hate-filled streets of Ireland

Faced bullets, stones and bombs.

I have seen things that one should never see being

A soldier on the streets of Ulster.

Over the years, yes, the troubles have left their mark on me

And many others, not visible, but deep in my mind.

Each time I wear my medal of purple and green

It brings back all the memories of what I did and have seen,

Of young men standing together all dressed in combat green,

Brothers forever, united we did stand for what were called the troubles

Across the Ulster land.

Dedicated to all who served and fell during Op Banner, 1969/2007

Doug Hook

FRIENDS ARE FOREVER

(written by Billy Little) 10th January 2009

My mind is wandering back

To when we were boys

All through our childhood

We shared our toys

We grew up together

Never were we apart

We were like twins

Sharing the same heart

When we left school

We shared the same job

We enlisted in the army

We joined the same mob

We trained side by side

We went through the pain

We grew from boys to men

We would never be the same

Then off to Northern Ireland

Like the three tours before

To protect the vulnerable people

From this mindless civil war

Patrolling the streets of Belfast

Or the countryside of Armagh

We were protecting each other

Never ever straying too far

I still remember that morning

It`s implanted in my mind

How did I miss that wire?

Why, oh why was I blind?

Now after all these years

Each one comes and goes

Never will I forget you

As on your grave I place a rose

The right of Billy Little to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of these poems may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

Volume 1: Northern Ireland and the Troubles 1984-87

Ken M. Wharton

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Published by Helion & Company 2016

Designed and typeset by Battlefield Design, Gloucester ( www.battlefield-design.co.uk )

Cover designed by Paul Hewitt, Battlefield Design ( www.battlefield-design.co.uk )

Text Ken M. Wharton 2016

Photographs from authors collection unless otherwise noted.

Every reasonable effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The author and publisher apologise for any errors or omissions in this work, and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

ISBN 978-1-911096-27-6

eISBN 978-1-912174-27-0

Mobi ISBN 978-1-912174-27-0

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written consent of Helion & Company Limited.

For details of other military history titles published by Helion & Company Limited, contact the above address, or visit our website: http://www.helion.co.uk .

We always welcome receiving book proposals from prospective authors.

To Anita Bailkoski and her brother Martin John Haughey and the late Andrew Haughey whose daddy, Sergeant John Haughey (23710622) Royal Artillery was murdered by an IRA IED on Lonemoor Road, Londonderry: your family paid the price of Britains war against terrorism. God bless your daddys memory

To the eternal memory of UDR soldier, Alfie Johnston, murdered by the IRA in 1972. To the Johnston family who lost their mum, Irene, in one of the years under review in this book. God bless their memories

To the lasting memory of Jeffrey Fentoni (Royal Artillery); Rab McGough (Royal Corps of Transport) and Duncan Campbell (Royal Green Jackets) who all, sadly passed away during the writing of this book. Rest easy, soldiers

DEDICATIONS

To every man and woman who served in Northern Ireland, irrespective of your Corps or Regiment, irrespective of your roles; you are my comrades and the honour of knowing you is all mine.

To the innocent civilians on both sides of the sectarian divide who only wanted to lead a peaceful life, my empathy and my respect

To the late Ken B and Colour Sergeant Ken Ambrose, your passing has left a void in all our lives.

To the 1,300+ who never returned to their loved ones.

To Steven McLaughlin, Darren Ware, Dave Hallam, Ken Pettengale, Gren Wilson, Dave Judge, Dave Pomfret, John Corr, Len Chappell and Tim Marsh; to the Royal Green Jackets, Celer et Audax

To Mike Sangster, John & Bernie Swaine, Mick Potter, Royal Artillery, Ubique

To Mike Day; for your inspiration and tireless help.

To Mick Benny Hill Steve Foxy Norman, Andy Thomas, Royal Anglians

To Mark C, James Henderson, B.R., Haydn Williams, Glen Espie and the men and Greenfinches of the Ulster Defence Regiment

To Mark and Allison Overson who started me on a long road.

To Dave Parkinson, RTR + To JB, ATO