The First Soldier, by Philip

Story Title: The First Soldier

Collection: Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles (collection)
Organisation: An Crann / The Tree (organisation)

One of 69 contributors who gave personal accounts about the Northern Ireland conflict that were published in the book: 'Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles' (2000).

This account by Philip consists of an extract from 'Night Rider', a "sixty-minute documentary recording a Belfast taxi driver's memories of the troubles". In this extract Philip recounts an incident in the New Lodge Road when a British Army tank was used to break through a number of barricades in the area. [Although no date is given, this incident is likely to have occurred during 'Operation Motorman' on 31 July 1972 when the British Army entered the 'No Go' areas in Derry and Belfast.]

Story DetailsShowHide

Title
 The First Soldier, by Philip
Description
 One of 69 contributors who gave personal accounts about the Northern Ireland conflict that were published in the book: 'Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles' (2000).
Creator
 An Crann / The Tree
Publisher
 Lagan Press, and An Crann / The Tree
Date
 2000
Format
 Text; pages 52-53 in the book.
Language
 English
CAIN: Chronology: 31 July 1972 - 'Operation Motorman'
CAIN: Sutton's Index of Deaths: Robert Curtis
CAIN: Events: Violence: Internment
Story Title
 The First Soldier
Story Available
 Yes
Story Format
 Text
Story Source
 Story contained in the book:
An Crann / The Tree. (2000). Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles. Belfast: Lagan Press, and An Crann / The Tree.
Interviewee Surname
 Curley
Interviewee Forename(s)
 Philip
Interviewee Gender
 Male
Religion
 Catholic
Birth Country
 Northern Ireland
Status
 Civilian
Story Abstract
 This account by Philip consists of an extract from 'Night Rider', a "sixty-minute documentary recording a Belfast taxi driver's memories of the troubles". In this extract Philip recounts an incident in the New Lodge Road when a British Army tank was used to break through a number of barricades in the area. [Although no date is given, this incident is likely to have occurred during 'Operation Motorman' on 31 July 1972 when the British Army entered the 'No Go' areas in Derry and Belfast.]
Themes/Topics Mentioned
 No Go Area, Internment
Dates Mentioned
 30 July 1972 [1970s]
Events Mentioned
 'Operation Motorman' (30 July 1972)
Places Mentioned
 New Lodge Road [north Belfast, Northern Ireland]
Organisations Mentioned
 British Army (BA)
Specific Deaths Mentioned
 Gunner Robert Curtis (6 February 1971)
The first British soldier to be killed during the current conflict.

Additonal related information on the CAIN Web site ShowHide

CAIN: Chronology: 31 July 1972 - 'Operation Motorman'
CAIN: Sutton's Index of Deaths: Robert Curtis
CAIN: Events: Violence: Internment

Collection InformationShowHide

Title
 Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles (collection)
Description
 'Bear in Mind' is a book containing 84 stories related to 'the Troubles'
Creator
 An Crann / The Tree
Subject
 Stories of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Publisher
 An Crann / The Tree
Date
 2000
Rights
 Stories are copyright of the individual contributors (2000).
Format
 Book
Language
 English
Identifier
 An Crann. (2000). Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles. Belfast: Lagan Press / An Crann The Tree.
ISBN 1 873687 13 3
Stories Collected
 84

Organisation InformationShowHide

Title
 An Crann / The Tree (organisation)
Description
 "Founded in 1994, An Crann / The Tree was an arts-based, charitable organisation ‘dedicated to providing a space in which people can tell - and hear - the splintered, complex, often contradictory stories of the ‘Troubles’ as part of a process which contributes not only to the ethos of peace, healing and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, but also to building a more inclusive, rounded story of the conflict.’ [from organisational literature]." Kelly, G. (2005).
Creator
 An Crann / The Tree
Subject
 Personal Accounts / Story-Telling related to the Northern Ireland conflict.
Relation
 CAIN Bibliography: List of An Crann publications
Date Formed
 1994
Status
 No longer exists (project ended in 2004?).
Work
 Recording and Exhibiting Stories; story-telling.

Citation

An Crann / The Tree. (2000). The First Soldier. Lagan Press, and An Crann / The Tree.
Accounts of the Conflict; Accessed: 26 April 2024 <http://accounts.ulster.ac.uk/repo24/index.php/items/show/2194>
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