27 th August 1979 Warren Point, Narrow Water Northern Ireland

August the 27th 1979 was the day when the IRA planted 2 huge bombs and killed 18 members of the British Army close to the border of the Irish Republic at South Down. This massacre was the largest death toll suffered by the British Army to date, the ambush was carefully planned and the first explosion thought to be a bomb weighing half a ton was planted under some hay on a flay bed lorry, when it exploded it killed 6 soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment as they traveled past in a four ton Army vehicle which was at the back of a 3 vehicle convoy, the surviving soldiers were deployed to cordon off the area and called for reinforcements, members of the Queens Own Highlanders flew to the scene in Army helicopters from Bessbrook base in County Armagh, shortly after the first explosion and the dead were being airlifted away from the scene a second explosion was carried out killing a further 12 soldiers, 2 from the Highlanders and 10 from the Parachute Regiment, at least one eye witness heard heavy automatic fire from across the canal which formed the border, after the 2nd explosion the British soldiers returned fire and a civilian was later found dead he was called Michael Hudson from the Queens coachmen. This murderous act was carried out by the Provisional Irish Repubulican Army (PIRA).

The dead at Warrenpoint included the most senior Army Offiicer, the commanding officer of the Queens Own Highlanders Lieutenant Colonel David Blair, below are the names of the 18 British Soldiers that were murdered on that day in August 1979. May their names live for evermore. R.I.P

Roll of Honour

MacLEOD – Lance Corporal Victor – 27th August 1979 – Aged 24 – Queen’s own Highlanders

BLAIR – Lieutenant Colonel David – 27th August 1979 – Aged 40 – Queen’s own Highlanders – Married with two children

ANDREWS – Corporal Nicholas J. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 24 (2 Para) Married

BARNES – Private Gary I. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 18 (2 Para) Single

DUNN – Private Raymond – 27th August 1979 – Aged 20 (2 Para) Single

WOOD – Private Anthony G. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 19 (2 Para) Single

WOODS – Private Michael – 27th August 1979 – Aged 18 (2 Para) Single

GILES – Corporal John C. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 22 (2 Para) Married

ROGERS – Sergeant Ian A. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 31 (2 Para) Married

BEARD – Warrant Officer Walter – 27th August 1979 – Aged 31 (2 Para)

VANCE – Private Thomas R. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 23 (2 Para)

ENGLAND – Private Robert N. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 23 (2 Para) Married with one child

JONES – Private Jeffrey A. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 18 (2 Para)

JONES – Corporal Leonard – 27th August 1979 – Aged 26 (2 Para) Married with one child 18 month old daughter

JONES – Private Robert D.V. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 18 (Para) Single

IRELAND – Lance Corporal Chris G. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 25 (2 Para) Married with one child

FURSMAN – Major Peter – 27th August 1979 – Aged 35 (Para)

BLAIR – Private Donald F. – 27th August 1979 – Aged 23 (2 Para)