Patch Trader Andy

Explosive Ordnance Disposal throughout Northern Ireland is the responsibility of 321 E.O.D. Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps. This is a military Unit as Police have no E.O.D. capability due to the terrorist threat which has prevailed since 1969 and continues to this day.

There is an opinion that being a Police Officer in Northern Ireland was a very dangerous job because, rather than an officer being killed or injured by persons involved in the commission of a crime, the terrorists are deliberately intending to murder Police Officers simply BECAUSE they are Police Officers.

The skills required of an E.O.D. Technician was already available within the British Army with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps who had been dealing with unexploded bombs since the blitz in 1940 and subsequent counter-insurgency campaigns around the world in places such as Malaya, Aden and Borneo.

The first bombs used in Northern Ireland contained commercial gelignite or homemade explosive mixes of sodium-chlorate and nitro-benzene and later A.N.F.O. which was Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil. As time passed and the Bomb Disposal operations continued the terrorists began fitting anti-handling devices.

Incendiary devices were used in big numbers as part of a campaign to destroy the financial heart of cities and towns and the simple construction of these devices in something as small as a cigarette packet could result in death and thousands of pounds of damage to property. Other grenade type devices were used with nails taped around the body of the device and these were replaced in recent years by pipe bombs.

Large bombs of up to and over 1000 lbs were placed in vehicles and then used to devastate cities and towns around the country as well as consistent attacks against Police Stations and Security Force patrols. The A.T.O. Operators were in considerable danger approaching numerous bombs and 1972 saw the introduction of the "Wheelbarrow" remote control vehicle. Such large bombs contained huge ammounts of homemade explosive with commercial explosive "Booster Charges" to ensure that the device functioned properly. The picture at the top of this page shows when a bomb in the van has exploded while a "Wheelbarrow" is being used by an Operator to attempt to defuse the device.

As the years passed the terrorist continued to introduce various forms of initiation for bombs including microswitches, command wire, light, timer and digital transmission. Large landmine type devices were placed inside milk churns, gas cylinders and beer kegs before being secreted under or beside a road and the terrorists lay in wait for a passing Security Force patrol before detonating the bomb. In some parts of Northern Ireland the threat of attack was considered so serious that Police Officers were required to perform patrols on foot accompanied by dogs trained to sniff for explosive devices which may have been concealed. Other weapons were introduced into the terrorist armoury such as R.P.G. rocket launchers, both military and home-made versions as well as various mortar systems from the small hand portable to the largest which were known as "Barrack Buster" and used to attack Police Stations and Military barracks.

 

Following a dramatic increase in the use of bombs throughout Northern Ireland by terrorists the Royal Army Ordnance Corps was deployed and 321 E.O.D. was formed in 1971. Within a 4 month period of that year there were around 1000 taskings however the average number of requirements for an E.O.D. Team through what became known as "The Troubles" totalled around 40. To date there have been around 54000 bomb calls requiring the attendance of "Felix"

As terrorists improved their devices it was necessary for the E.O.D. Unit to continually assess their tactics and update equipment.

Due to the electronic threat E.C.M. countermeasures have been the norm for many years whilst the "Pigstick" disruptor device is invaluable for making a device safe and at the same time taking steps to ensure that the components are available for forensic examination.

This small group of highly qualified and motivated individuals, both male and female, are the most decorated Unit within the Army with the gallantry Awards including 2 George Cross's and an amazing 29 George Medals.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Garden Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.  

 

The Felix Memorial Garden at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn has been created in memory of all Officers and Soldiers who have lost

their lives whilst serving with 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

The Garden was dedicated and Blessed on Saturday 26th January 2002.

Captain David Stewardson. 9th September 1971.

The officer was killed when an I.R.A. bomb, which he was attempting to defuse, exploded outside Castlerobin Orange Hall near West Belfast.

The first Bomb Disposal Officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland.

Warrant Officer Colin Davies. 24th September 1971.

Was killed when an I.R.A. bomb exploded in a car showroom in Lurgan, County Armagh.

Private Thomas McCann. 13th February 1972.

The Private was born in Dublin and had gone to visit his mother. He was kidnapped and murdered. His body was found at Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh.

He had been hooded and gagged and shot in the head.

Staff Sergeant Christopher Cracknell and Staff Sergeant Anthony Butcher 15th March 1972.

Both soldiers were killed while attempting to defuse an I.R.A. bomb which had been hidden in a car left in West Belfast. -

They had examined the car and carried out an controlled explosion to open the car boot. Following this they were returning to the car when the bomb exploded killing them.

Major Bernard Calladene. 29th March 1972.

Major Calladene was killed in a narrow street near Belfast City Hall. A suspicious vehicle had been examined by a Bomb Squad and when Calladene approached it the bomb exploded.

Captain John Young. 15th July 1972.

Captain Young was killed while attempting to defuse an I.R.A. bomb which was inside a milk churn at Silverbridge near Forkhill in South Armagh.

Warrant Officer William Clark. 3rd August 1972.

A 10 Gallon oil drum had been found in a laneway on the main Sion Mills to Clady road in County Tyrone. Warrant Officer Clark had blown the top off the drum however when he went towards it to examin the device it exploded.

Sergeant Roy Hills 5th December 1972.

During a terrorist mortar attack on a military barracks in Armagh it was found that 2 devices had exploded however a third had failed to detonate. Sergeant Hills attended the scene to try and render this safe and as he was attempting to remove it from the launch tube the mortar exploded killing him.

Sergeant Barry Griffen. 20th June 1973.

A large quantity of explosives and related material had been found in a hut in the Bogside area of Londonderry. Captain Griffen attended the scene and was examining the material when it exploded.

Staff Sergeant Ronald Beckett. 30th August 1973.

An I.R.A. bomb had been placed in the Post Office at Tullyhommon in County Fermanagh. Staff Sergeant Beckett was dragging it from the building when it exploded.

Captain Ronald Wilkinson. 23rd September 1973.

Captain Wilkinson died in hospital 6 days after an I.R.A. bomb exploded as he was attempting to defuse it. The bomb had been found at an office block in Birmingham.

Second Lieutenant Lindsay Dobbie. 3rd October 1973.

The first Jewish soldier to be murdered in Northern Ireland, he was killed when he opened a letter bomb that had been delivered to an army barracks in the Bogside area of Londonderry.

Staff Sergeant Alan Brammah. 18th February 1974.

This soldier died when a booby trap bomb exploded at the side of the road near Crossmaglen.

Staff Sergeant Vernon Rose. 7th November 1974.

Was killed with another soldier by an I.R.A. landmine outside Stewartstown in County Tyrone. Seven other soldiers were seriously injured and a Royal Ulster Constabulary Constable blinded as well as 3 civilians injured in the explosion which left a crater 4 feet wide and 10 feet deep.

Warrant Officer John Maddocks. 2nd December 1974.

Was killed instantly when an I.R.A. bomb hidden in a milk churn exploded as he tried to defuse it at Derrylin in County Fermanagh.

Warrant Officer Edward Garside and Corporal Calvert Brown. 17th July 1975.

Both soldiers were killed by an I.R.A. booby-trap bomb near Forkhill in South Armagh.

Sergeant Martin Walsh. 9th January 1977.

Sergeant Walsh was killed while trying to dismantle an I.R.A. bomb at Newtownbutler in County Fermanagh.

Signaller Paul Reece and Gunner Richard Furminger. 2nd August 1979.

Both soldiers were in the middle vehicle of a convoy of three which was travelling along the Armagh to Moy road. A 400lbs bomb was detonated by terrorists killing them.

Warrant Officer Michael O'Neill. 31st May 1981.

Was killed when an I.R.A. bomb exploded in a car he was examining near Newry.

Lance Corporal Derek Green. 15th June 1988.

Was one of 6 soldiers murdered by I.R.A. terrorists who had attached a booby-trap bomb under the unmarked van they had been using to attend a fun run in Lisburn.

Warrant Officer John Howard. 8th July 1988.

Was killed by an I.R.A. booby-trap when he stepped on a pressure plate connected to a bomb.

 

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them.