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On this day: 14 August

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Sunday, 14th August 2011

  •1969: British troops are sent to Northern Ireland in a 'limited operation' to restore law and order. 
  Were there no British troops in Northern Ireland before 14 August 1969?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Sunday, 14th August 2011

  
  
  
  Probably as long as British Troops have been formed, trained and stationed in England, Scotland and Wales. (just a guess of course, although I do know of men trained in Ulster during WW2)

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by giraffe47 (U4048491) on Sunday, 14th August 2011

  There were of course British troops in NI before that.
  
  Including those recruited there.
  
  But they were not on the streets, involved in 'law and order' enforcement.
  They were deployed to quell civil disorder, that now seems insignificant compared to the riots in London, where, of course, they were NOT deployed!

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• Message 4

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  Posted by stuart (U1648283) on Monday, 15th August 2011

  Were there no British troops in Northern Ireland before 14 August 1969?Β 
  
  The troops that went in from the 'mainland' in 1969 were supposed to be an 'even-handed' alternative to the sectarian forces that operated in the statelet. Their mission was to stabilise the situation and assist in making slight reforms to an inherently anti-Catholic set-up. Unfortunately, they ended up simply siding with Loyalism against those that challenged the discriminatory practices.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Thomas_II (U14690627) on Tuesday, 16th August 2011

  In reply to stuart:
  
  Unfortunately, they ended up simply siding with Loyalism against those that challenged the discriminatory practicesΒ 
  
  This might went that way because the hijacking of the cause for civil rights by the IRA to turn it into their cause was probably one of various reasons for them to side with Loyalism.
  
  ItΒ΄s not so nice to face shouts like "Brits out" and so on every day on duty which was probably the least problem there. As far as I know, these British troops came from the other parts of the UK and were not familiar with the situation there when they were deployed to NI.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by stuart (U1648283) on Tuesday, 16th August 2011

  This might went that way because the hijacking of the cause for civil rights by the IRA to turn it into their cause was probably one of various reasons for them to side with Loyalism.Β 
  
  I'm afraid the demands of the civil rights campaigners were ignored whilst Catholics faced violence from Protestant gangs- the need for self-defence was paramount and the IRA filled the vacuum.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by stalti (U14278018) on Wednesday, 17th August 2011

  does anyone feel the same sense of despair as i feel when the current public response to the current looting riots is "get the troops in"
  
  although at least this time the population would be on the troops side it is a bridge too far -
  
  

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Thomas_II (U14690627) on Thursday, 18th August 2011

  In reply to stalti:
  
  To send in the Army should be considered as the ultima ratio, because if the government would do so, it would be a sign that the Police canΒ΄t cope with it. ItΒ΄s a very sensitive matter.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Docbrinsley (U6638310) on Friday, 19th August 2011

  Were there no British troops in Northern Ireland before 14 August 1969?Β 
  
  The troops that went in from the 'mainland' in 1969 were supposed to be an 'even-handed' alternative to the sectarian forces that operated in the statelet. Their mission was to stabilise the situation and assist in making slight reforms to an inherently anti-Catholic set-up. Unfortunately, they ended up simply siding with Loyalism against those that challenged the discriminatory practices.Β  I was speaking to a ex soldier who was posted to Belfast in 1969 & he says that he was told by his seniors that "Protestants good, Catholics bad". he was told that evry Catholic was a terrorist & couldn't be trusted. He continued to say that he was totally confused when they brought him out tea when he was on patrol in Ardoyne!

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