‘I remember being too young to be afraid and too immature
to realise the gravity of the situation.’
Learn what was it like to be in the RUC during the Northern Ireland Troubles. Delve into the harrowing experiences of police officers stationed at Springfield Road Station, which was situated in the heartland of Republican terrorists in Belfast. This compelling narrative exposes the daily dangers faced by those who served there, where the threat of violence was so pervasive that a sign was erected inside the main entrance gates to remind officers not to stand behind them, as terrorists often fired ‘blindly’ at the gate area.
What was it like to be under threat 24/7? How did officers cope with coded callsigns, ambushes, sniper fire, mortar bombs, and murder? This book reveals the gritty reality of their existence, including the time when one officer was inadvertently stranded on the Falls Road, and the heroic story of a soldier who gave his life to save a local family from death.
Through private accounts and personal stories, this book offers a raw and unfiltered look at the lives of the brave men and women who worked out of this besieged base. From the constant threat of death to the psychological toll of serving in such a volatile environment, this book provides a poignant and powerful testament to their resilience and courage.
Discover the untold stories where every day was a battle for survival and every officer was a hero in Without Fear or Favour.
Table des matières
Foreword
Section One
Introduction
A Personal Testimony
The Royal Ulster Constabulary
Springfield Road RUC Station
The Hotspur Land Rovers
Section Two
Preface
Chapters
1- 1st Radio Controlled Terrorist Booby Trap Bomb
2- Members 1st Day of Duty in Bravo Delta Eight Zero
3- Attempt to Roll Bravo Delta Eight Zero
4- Sniper Ambush at the Royal Victoria Hospital
5- M60 Double Murder at Springfield Road Station
6- Member Isolated on Foot in Hostile Area
7- House Fire in Andersonstown
8- An Encounter with and Assassin
9- Watch The Person Beside You, He Could Be a Brit
10- Bravo Delta Eight Zero High and Dry
11- Bravo Delta Eight Zero Stranded in Divis Complex
12- IRA Terrorist Shot Dead While on Active Service
13- Attempted Murder at RPG Avenue
14- The Ultimate Sacrifice
15- Plastics or Live Rounds
16- Contact, Contact at the ‘Colins!’
17- Member Caught in Terrorist Blast Bomb Attack
18- First IRA Hunger Striker to Break the Fast
19- Never, Ever, Forget Their Sacrifice
20- The Murder of an Artist
21- Heavy Gun Battle New Barnsley
22- Horizontal Mortar Bomb Attack, Falls Road
23- Attempt to Target Off-Duty Member
24- City Centre Ambush of Gerry Adams
25- No Creed in Duty, Paratrooper Sgt. Michael Willets