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. |