26th DECEMBER 1975

INTRODUCTION

On this the Regiments 6th tour of duty in Northern Ireland we have had our first fatalities on the 18th of December a day on which the prime minister visted the regiment a terrorist bomb exploded on or beside the sanger manned by two soldiers checking commercial vehicles before they are allowed to deliver within the walled city.

Craftsman Colin McInnes was killed instantly and Gunner Cyril MacDonald died in the Altnagelvin Hospital an hour later without regaining consciousness.
we all send our sympathies to the families and friends they leave behind, a tribute to these two soldiers appears elsewhere in this newsletter.

Gunner Cyril MacDonald :-
Gunner MacDonald joined the Gunners in 1953 and had served in UK, Germany, Singapore, Borneo and Northern Ireland.
In the two years he had been with the regiment he had given many soldiers the benefit of his years of experiance in the Gunners. He was usually seen at the wheel of a heavy goods vehicle and was an extremely competent and careful driver. his easy going nature and dry Humour won him many friends throughout the Regiment.

Craftsman Colin McInnes :-
Colin Joined the army in 1972 and had served in the regiment since 1973.
Colin was a vehicle mechanic with the regiments workshop and was well known and liked throughout the regiment. his ability to get on with other people helped him in his
approuch to dealing with the public in Northern Ireland, this and his keen sense of humour made him an ideal person to serve on a chack point.

War produces poets where one least expects. here are two written as a result of the bombing and subsequent deaths on Thursday 18th December.

Why ?
they died in the rain
it mixed with their blood
they suffered no pain
only those that they loved

their mothers and wives
will not see them again
for the rest of their lives
they will only feel pain

their grief is not shared
by those men in power
those men who declared
that the gunmen will cower

we gave them their freedom
they gave us bombs back
our leaders in wisdom
said soldiers hang slack

here then we stand
our hands they are tied
to serve in this land
where our comrades died.

Politicians war
why must men die
for a cause that is lost
no one asks why
when were counting the loss

we are but pawns
on the chessboard of fate
a new era dawns
more deaths more hate

we let killers go free
they murder and maim
harassment they plea
but who takes the blame

our blood on ground
our pride we must swallow
an excuse will be found
but God what will follow

an end is in sight
the politicians cry
but on this cold night
how many will die ?

"A Troop" ride on and on
since our last letter we have kept busy with our duties and preparing for the xmas festivities a feeling of anger and grief has been with the troop since tha callous murder of the two members of J troop on the 18th december. however for the rest of us life must go on and there is still a lot of soldiering to do before the 12th March.

Lbdr Dan Archer, Gnrs Jim Cox and dave Levy saw two men climbing into the boot of a bus while operating one of our check points. unable to apprehend the two men them selves they radioed the ops room who in turn phoned our neighbousing regiment, they stopped the bus on the outskirts of the city and pulled two very surprised paddys out from the rear of the bus, the two men are now trying to think up a handy explanation (anything to save paying a busfare)

Another good example of good co-operation was when Lbdr Taffy Evans was with his section on foot patrol and reported a broken shop window where it was obvious some of the display goods had been removed Literly two minutes later Lbdr Steve Shaw with two gunners Stewart Norman and Tony Bullock having heard the call on the radio detained two men walking past their checkpoint with electrical goods stuffed down the front of their jackets.
the mens explanation that they were "just doing a bit xmas shopping" did not satisfy the checkpoint commander, especially as it was 1 oclock in the morning.
Two men are now assisting the police with their enquiries.

By the time this letter goes to print the Christmas festivities will be over, so from all of us, we wish you a "Very Happy New Year.

A Soldiers Prayer
come all you bogside baddies
who fight with bombs and guns
come out into the open
you downtrodden Irish sons

come out where we can see you
come stand and fight like men
fight the way war should be fought
we,ll see who,s winning then

dont hide behind the children
or behind the womans skirts
come out from where you are hiding
and we,ll put blood upon your shirts

we,ll even dig mass graves for you
if you show us where you hide
and when were sure your really dead
we,ll lay you side by side.

C Troop 4 Section
Mr Pyper is so busy studing the art of writing that he has detailed section commanders to write about their section for the newslatter. we do need the practice for filling out
damage claim forms and writing down car numbers.

we look forward to Christmas and Gnr Trigger Rogers going away on his R&R leave it will bring the rest of us closer to our own. our Christmas time off is on Sunday
with the UDR standing in for us and manning all our check points for eight hours, while we have our Christmas dinner
Lbdr Chippy Wood has joined the section as 2i/c setteled in well and is enjoying his time off we are beginning to wonder how Gnr Micky Stanton looks so refreshed on duty, he does not seem to sleep on his six hours off. Gnr Barnaby is still chain smoking and rolling his own the section commander is to be awarded the Order of the Illustrious Nose in the battery New Year Honours list for not managing to find anything to write about.

we were first equal in the best Christam decorated room competition! well done lads good effort before I end I must give you the little poem Mr Pyper wrote as part of his study

Hey diddle diddle the BK,s on the fiddle
Sgt Neighbour jumped over the moon
the BSM,s frantic because he,s romantic
and Mr Moore cant wait until june * he is posted.

Irish joke
an irishman entered the automatic lift in the london hilton
lets see he said I want room 1126
so he proceeded to press buttons 11, 2 and 6

A Knee Troop Caper
after a tragic incident a week ago it is hard to write an article which can depict the genuine feeling of grief and anger felt by the boys. I am glad to say theeir training and determination has helped curb these feelings and they
continue their tasks abmirably and even under extreme provocation one can be assured they will give their best.

in relative terms it has been a quiet week in the bogside, this includes the knee capping of a young man which we had the misfortune to witness, or at least see the end result. The festive sprits of the bogsiders provide an ironic twist in the events over her that we could do without. it is however nice to see some of the boys get away for xmas and we hope they throughly enjoy themselves.

a competitor to the Regimental magazine has suruptitiously appeared within the battery,
entitled the "Informer" it gives news and views of certain battery members. the authors anonymity adds to its mystical publication. we have our suspects and if your a member of my troop - well done !!

I am glad to see the wives are spending so much time writing to their husbands, but if you could have a sympathetic ear for the troop commander who has to deliver the mail whilst the troop is on observation post duty, i reckon i must have lost a stone carrying that lot on the delivery round,Ive seen some xmas cards but Mrs Austin you must have hired an aircraft for that one.

well for 1976 we hope you all have a pleasant and peaceful year and with the promise that all the lads in the troop will have completed knitting their eighth pair of socks by the time they return, we say Merry Xmas and Poof they had gone.....

Patter
gossip is letting the cat out of the bag a claw at a time

Cause for thought
free country, free speech, free love what do we need money for

Reports
Gunner to his troop commander on reading his annual report
"Sir, I am not an under-achiever
you are an over-expecter !

Stevensons Rocket
1 troop consiste of three fighting sections part of which
are;

7 section commanded by Sgt Ned "Stinky" Williams and his able deputy Bdr "Ena" Sturgess
8 section commanded by Bdr "Whippy" Wilde and Lbdr "Ben the Gum" Hill
9 section commanded by Sgt "Wee Tam" Leitch and Lbdr "Finga Larve" Fitton

our search team are Whippys section who usually end up working with "SS" Captain Deakin or so he like to think.

we have had many hilarious experiances on our early morning soujourns. One that springs to mind immediately was when "SS" and 8 section went to search a
particular house and were greeted by a few choice Irish words which insiuated that they should get lost. "SS" on hearing this was rendered speechless and left forthwith leaving a slightly bemused search team behind to continue the search.

another interesting piece of news from the troop is if ned the nightowl pays anymore visits to Altnegelvin hospital, 1 troop will become the first troop in history of the British army to have a bionic man serving in their ranks.

all the trrops wish the BSM (slug to his friends) a speedy recovery from the back injury he sustained while trying to get back into the swing of hockey (pun) by the way this
injury occured on his only moment away from Masonic Ops: watch out Paddy....

one of the special treats the troop get is a 3 days holiday in the observation posts, which occurs every 9 days and the members of the troop look foreward to it immensley;
it gets them away from the Masonic.

7 section and Ned go to their palace in the sky at the top of the embassy building

8 section go to the slum on top of rossville flats called tango 2. one might add everything is done flat on ones stomach.
9 section do their thing on the city wall with a fine view of roaring a cannon (relic of the siege of Derry) and one house in the meenan complex which we are told holds everyones attention

the troop have supplied two junior ranks to join the many officers in the Regimental Rugby team who think that passing to a junior rank whilst Captain RAM,s girlfriend
is watching is unheard of.

we in the troop would like to apologise to all relatives and wives who feel they do not get enough letters from their loved ones, the guilty party is undoubtably Gnr Ken Crutchley who manages to appropiate any supply of issued air mail letters. He maintaines he must have them as he has to send his wife a day to day sitrep.
a well known troop wit was heard to to comment, if kenny used soap as much as his pen, the world would be a sweeter place.

finally we would like to mention the visit of the prime minister or was it Mike Yarwood ? Harold/Mike spoke to members of the troop as well as the BC.
No there is no truth in the rumour that the BC asked Harold/Mike about delaying the Golden Bowler for a few years.

J Troop Jotting
since our last newsletter we have seen the tragic death of two members of the troop, however the troop have collected themselves well and now soldier on.
looking on the brighter side of things our troop commander SSgt Jim McGowan has left for his R&R. he flew home to Germany today saying as he left "I think I will bed down the wife for 4 days"
I cant imagine what he meant by that but he had a big smile all over his face....
which is more than can be said for the lads who have recently returned Gnrs Sherrington & Merrett.

our task this week is the manning of the Craigavon Bridga check points and what a task that is. the wind blows directly off the North Pole and right through you.
the lads and I are now sure that the troop commander had a hand in the duty roster once he had arranged his R & R.however there are compensations and we are busy collecting things for our troop party on xmas day.
Sgt Les Charlton and Cpl Phil Silk are in charge of the goodies. so far we have 22 cans of lager 2 bottles of brandy, a bottle of whisky and 120 cigarettes
(a great prize in this day of roll your own)
they have also got hold of a box of tangerines and a xmas cake.
We should have a good party; just like Dads army.

Lbdr Robert McPherson had his photograph taken for the Chester Observer, giving one of the Regiments Christam hampers to an old age pensioner. Perhaps he will stop telling everyone now we have out it in black and white.

well from me and Sam and him Jim also all the lads of J troop, a Happy New Year.

our song this week is "Bridge over troubled waters"

quote of the week " SSgt Joe Evans !!!! YES I sometimes THINK"

????? Humour is a hole in a stuffed shirt which lets out the sawdust.

McILWAINE cup first round
42nd versus 39 Regiment

the first round of the cup is always important in that it gives one a chance to asses prospects for the rest of the competition. we were at a disadvantage as 39 only arrived a week prior to the match so there was no one we could ask how good are they. also even with pre ireland
training they were likely to have had more oppertunity to train together than we had.

our team which was eventually picked on the day of the match had not all played together before.

Gnr Nosher Bailey - SSgt John Wislon - Sgt Derek Green - Capt John Deakin - Capt Richard White
Lbdr Benny Hill - 2Lt Steve Cook - Lt Charles Moore - Lt Ian Mitchell - Capt Ian Mitchell
Capt Ray Norton - Bdr Phil Wilde - Lbdr Jessie James - Bdr Alex Alexander - SSgt Brian Bussell
Bdr Mick Scaife

after a warm up in the changing room under the direction of Ray Norton our team captain we took to the field and allowed 39 to kick off. almost immediately the spirit of our team was shown as we had forced 39 back to their own 25 yard line where they were forced to concede a penalty.Mick Scaife took the kick and put us three points up. we attacked from the kick and ray Norton took the ball over the line to score a try in the right hand corner. Mick safely converted; score 9-0

due to excellent forward play by the pack who were winning practially every set piece and most of the line outs, we retained possesion of the ball. during one of the many foreward rushes by the pack Richard White took the ball over the try line to make the score 13-0

Micks right boot let him down and the half time whistle went with no more points being added to the score.

during the interval 39 made several position changes hoping to build up their pack, but for most of the second half our pack continued to dominate the game. Phil Wilde and Jessie James scored excellent tries to make the score at the final whistle 21 - 0

in the next round we play 3RHA, at present in Devizes but move to Belfast next month. With four batteries they will have a greater choice of players so it should be a hard match.

thanks go to John Wilson who undertook not only the arrangements for this game but also the five practice matches we have played since arriving in Derry.

Fort George Scene (from a distance)
we think the QM has spent too long on the boat as he pressed ganged me into writing this article for that best selling rag the "newsletter" the regiments benefactor RQMS Ray Covell (that well known yes man) has ordered a playtex combat suit for himself, but we suggested that to economise he shoulkd change suits with slimmer of the
day SSgt Trixie Filby.

the RAME head cooks have reached a new low cooking, the latest gimmick is to put enemy activity back one hour to help us forget lunch and give us time to build up confidence it wa rumoured that there was steak on board last week but it turned out to be a scrap that the 3LI kitchen gave the ships dog - SSgt Derek (Jack Niclaus) Cheeseman and his merry men carry a plackard disclaiming any knowledge of the afore said meat, but we still seem to put on weight.

Cpl Les (all right Luv) Livesey and Mitch (keep on smiling) Mitchison would like all SNCO,s SSgt Brian Bussell in particular to know that after midnight they are duty storeman not duty doormen.

SSgt Joe (its not my fault brother) Stevens, said that just because his pay phones are out of order six and a half days a week, it isnt fair to use his name when making private
phone calls.

the Padre has just had a well earned rest, he deserevd it after five weeks of Gnr (stirling Moss) Sliwka,s driving.

down in the LAD the highlights of the week was the presentation of Cpl Geordie Palmers GSM which he won in 1969, but SSgt Alan (arnold palmer) Smith refused to kiss him on both cheeks.
SSgt Bob (the tidy bench) Berry and SSgt Bob (i never took it) Brindle have proved that paraffin heaters dont work better on petrol. Sgt Roger (I,m only 12st 7lb) Wikinson is thought to be alive and moving which is more than can be said for his Rover.

we,d like to finish by wishing our readers a Happy New Year but the QM (Capt Bob Coward) said !if they havnt signed for it they cant have it"

Here in fort George were doing our best
to provide a servive for the rest
we,ve got the QM, Trixie & Ray
if its clothing you want youll have to pay
we sit here all night having a moan
cos Joe the pay wont fix the phone
down in the Workshop something stirred
Rogers Rover dont be absurd
Les and Mitch the duty storeman
says it should be duty doorman
about the food we only mutter
as our best meal is bread and butter
we,d drink your health in xmas spiti
but Captain Logans gone and hid it
all the best from echelon
now its time that we were gone

XMAS GIFTS RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF 94 (NEW ZEALAND) BATTERY

Bdr Bartholomew - sleeping bag with legs built in so that he does not have to get up
Bdr Kitson trip to sally land so that he can play in the sand
Bdr McMenemy wig making outfit to stop him looking like Kojak
Bdr Butler a new job because the one he has got is not his
Bdr Moore new course with SKC
Sgt Torode check sheet for the bingo books
Gnr Rafferty a set of cell doors to make him feel at home
Gnr Haskayne film for his camera
Gnr Berry nothing as he ahs not earned anything
Gnr Mantle Pye radio for the pieman
Gnr Groves a free servicing by CFN Pennells
Cpl Newsome a set of cookery books
Cpl Lackeys ditto
the informers a set of pens each
BSM a new scrabble set as the old one is worn out
BC Para ripcord for his handkerchief
Captain Deakin Int no trace of what he got
Lt Morris wrist stiffener
Cfn Pennells a new plastic ambulance
Gnr Burch a rubber landrover so that he can bounce off things without damage
Gnt Biddle posting to the WRAC
Lbdr Fitton to go with above
Bdr Hill new front teeth
Bdr Baylor door man to shut doors
Gnr Baddeley a pair of stilts so that he can look over the kerb
Gnr Bailey 667 application form to join the Chokeys
TSM fire fighting equipment
Sgt Davies a straight jacket to stop him twitching
Sgt Jones introduction to "Old blue eyes" hairdresser
Lt Mitchell a new bed
Sgt Williams an instant rubber smile
BQMS a complete set of uniform


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