Northern Ireland
In 1972, after an absence from Ireland of 93 years, and at the end of the first year the Queen’s Own Hussars had spent together since 1964, ‘RHQ’ and ‘A’ Squadron were sent to County Armagh.
This was the first of four tours that the Queen’s Own Hussars was to undertake from BAOR in the 1970s.
1972
Northern Ireland, 1972-79
The Queen’s Own Hussars had converted to an Armoured Regiment at Hohne in 1970 and were back in the 7th Armoured Brigade, but in February 1972 the headquarters of the regiment, with Major Venner in command, and ‘A’ Squadron were sent to South Armagh, deployed in the light reconnaissance role mounted in Ferret scout cars.
‘RHQ’ did not command ‘A’ Squadron but was in charge of sub-units of the Scots Greys, 7th RHA and 1st Devon and Dorsets.
The tour of duty was quiet but successful. They undoubtedly did much to reassure local communities. ‘RHQ’s particular experience in Newry led to the comment “Crater (Aden) and Newry are remarkably similar at times, both in their scruffy appearance and the behaviour of some of their inhabitants”.
The Regiment returned to BAOR in May 1972.
1973
Northern Ireland, 1972-79
Little over a year later, Lt Col JB Venner MC, returned to Ulster for his second tour as Commanding Officer, but this took with him the whole Regiment; the first cavalry Regiment to go to Northern Ireland complete in the infantry role.
The Queen’s Own Hussars were deployed in Belfast, with ‘A’ Squadron, commanded by Maj RDHH Greenwood, in south-west Belfast, who experienced what was probably the most interesting and action-packed tour of any Queen’s Own Hussar Squadron in Ulster’s current troubled times:
“In June 1973, after two hectic months of learning the rigours and skills of the infantry soldier, ‘A’ Squadron relieved two companies of the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment and set up their operational base in the bombed-out/burned-out ruins of the Woodburn Hotel, Suffolk, Belfast.
The squadron’s peace-keeping tasks included policing an ultra-sensitive Protestant/Catholic interface, to which the RUC could not, at that time, be effective (or indeed present), patrolling in an endeavour to reassure, and generally getting to know the people. The area was relatively small resulting that the soldiers quickly learning who was who, who could be trusted and who could not.
The intimidation aspect was very serious, for at this time the Catholic community were endeavouring to set up homes in the area, whilst the Protestants sought to keep them out. Both sides deployed much the same tactics, ie they used their thug elements to scare the wits out of the minority groups, particularly in the mixed areas of the local housing estates, (not a difficult task if blind shooting through doors and setting the house on fire are the tools of persuasion).
This was normally done as a prelude to illegal squatting, which in Belfast at that time followed the right to the legal occupancy of the houses concerned. It presented a difficult problem, nonetheless ‘A’ Squadron found an answer. This was to move the men of the squadron into the vacant houses as they became empty and before the illegals could get there.
Such occupation by the soldiers lasted until the housing executive could move legal occupiers into the houses in question. It stretched manpower resources at times but it worked most successfully.”
Maj RDHH Greenwood, ‘A’ Squadron Leader
Maj Greenwood was awarded a mention in dispatches for his tour as ‘A’ Squadron Leader.
1977
The Queen’s Own Hussars were in Bovington in September 1974 although ‘B’ Squadron was at Warminster School of Infantry.
In 1976 the Queen’s Own Hussars went to Detmold, BAOR, but a year later returned to Northern Ireland, again in the infantry role but in County Armagh.
This tour of duty lasted from May to September and involved foot patrols, helicopter operations, and escorting close observation tasks which required discretion and patience.
Intelligence work was part and parcel of the soldiering in the 550 square mile area where insurgents from the Republic had to be prevented from moving freely in Armagh.
1979
The Queen’s Own Hussars completed a fourth 4-month tour of duty in Ulster from June to October 1979, with LT Col HM Sandars as the Commanding Officer. They were deployed in Belfast with ‘A’ Squadron at the Woodburn Hotel, ‘B’ Squadron at Glasmullen and ‘HQ’ Squadron Echelon at Musgrave Park.
Campaign Medal
The General Service Medal (GSM) 1962-2007 is awarded to army, RAF, Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel who meet the qualifying criteria for service in any of the following geographical areas:
Borneo, Cyprus, Radfan, South Arabia, Malay Peninsula, Northern Ireland, Dhofar, Lebanon, Gulf, Kuwait and North Iraq/South Turkey.
Medal Clasps:
- Borneo
- Cyprus 1963-64
- Radfan
- South Arabia
- Malay Peninsula
- Northern Ireland
- Dhofar
- Lebanon
- Gulf
- Kuwait
- North Iraq and South Turkey
