PHOTO No 1

SHOWS THE UPPER TIER OF THE CRAIGAVON BRIDGE TAKEN FROM THE CITY SIDE, THE MEMORIES I HAVE FROM THAT PHOTO REMIND ME THAT I WAS MANNING THE CHECK POINT JUST DOING A VEHICLE CHECK WHEN A BOMB WENT OFF IN THE CITY. I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TO SEE DARK SMOKE ENGULFING THE SKY,s. I COULD HEAR THE OPERATIONS ROOM ON MY Bdr,s RADIO TRYING TO CONTACT THE SANGA THAT I LATER FOUND OUT HAD BEEN BLOWN UP. THE MILITARY AMBULANCE (STARLIGHT) WENT RUSHING BY WITH ITS BLUES AND TWO,s FLASHING.
WE WERE LATER TO FIND OUT WHEN WE RETURNED TO BARRACKS, THAT TWO OF OUR MEN HAD BEEN KILLED.

PHOTO No 1

PHOTO,S 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 and 6

SHOWS THE FOYLE ROAD WHERE THE WATER SIDE BARRACKS ONCE LAY, MEMORIES FROM THE BARRACKS WERE THE DODGY PHONE BOXES, 42p FOR THREE MINUTES TO ENGLAND. ALL YOU NEEDED WAS A TWO PENCE PIECE, YOU HAD TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN THE 2p SLOT AND THEN PULL IT BACK OUT BEFORE IT WENT ALL THE WAY IN. THE OPERATOR AT THE OTHER END SOMETIMES GOT SUSPICIOUS AND WOULD ASK IF YOU HAD PUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF 42p IN, IT WOULD NORMALLY TAKE LONGER TO PUT YOUR MONEY IN THE SLOT THAN THE THREE MINUTES YOU HAD TO TALK.
THE QUEUE FOR THE PHONE BOX WAS NORMALLY LONGER THAN A CONGA AT A PARTY.



THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS SHOW WHERE WE HAD OUR CHECK POINT AT THE BOTTOM OF WAPPING LANE, THIS IS WHERE I MANAGED TO LET AN ARREST ON SITE PERSON DRIVE THROUGH AFTER CHECKING HIS DRIVING LICENCE. AT THE TIME I DIDNT REALISE WHO HE WAS UNTIL I CHECKED THE PHOTO BOOK WE HAD IN THE SANGA WITH ALL THE ARREST ON SITE AND REPORT ON SIGHT MUG SHOTS, THE GUY WAS No 3 ON THE ARREST ON SITE LIST..............................

THE NEXT PHOTO SHOWS THE BOTTOM OF WAPPING LANE LEADING TO ABERCORN ROAD TOWARDS OUR CHECK POINT.