1st Battalion
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Northern Ireland Tours
OP CARA CARA 1986
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1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Northern Ireland Tours OP CARA CARA 1986 |
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All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.
The Jonahs amongst the battalion were delighted to be proved wrong when on the 30th June, 1986, when the last flight bearing Argylls returning from Operation CARA CARA lifted off from Aldergrove and returned the battalion to Colchester; the Protestant Marching Season was to go on without the Argylls.
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Operation CARA CARA began at the turn of the year when the SPEARHEAD battalion, 2 R ANGLIAN, was despatched to Northern Ireland to provide close protection to RUC Police Stations assessed as being particularly vulnerable following a series of Provisional IRA car bomb and mortar attacks. 2 R ANGLIAN were relieved by 1 KOSB and a short time before the battalion took over from 1 KOSB a second re-inforcement battalion, 1 RGJ, deployed to 39 Bde area and 1 KOSB concentrated in 8 Bde area. This was a much tidier arrangement operationally and administratively and also, naturally, reduced the overstretch. Nevertheless, the Battalion was scattered over a large part of Northern Ireland; and to visit company locations involved a round trip of some 150 miles.
Battalion Headquarters were based at Lisanelly Barracks, Omagh, the home for a 2 year tour of 3LI, A Company was split between Magharafelt and Ballykelly and under operational control of 5 UDR. B Company, including the Reconnaissance Platoon and Pipes and Drums, was based at Saint Lucia Barracks, Omagh, under operational control of 6 UDR. D Company was under operational control of 4 UDR with Company Headquarters and one platoon at Saint Angelo, North of Enniskillen, and a platoon each at RUC Kesh and RUC Irvinestown although the latter re-deployed to Saint Angelo two thirds of the way through the tour. Support Company was split with Company Headquarters, Anti Tank Platoon and Mortar Platoon 11 at Clogher under operational control of 3LI and Mortar Platoon 1 based at Fort George in Londonderry under operational control of 1 R ANGLIAN.
From the above, it will be seen that having got all constituent parts of the Battalion to Northern Ireland to the right place at the right time with the right equipment and as well prepared as time and facilities had allowed, Battalion Headquarters found itself without an operational role. Like the 7th US Cavalry it sat on its hill primed, prepared and just waiting the call should circumstances change and the battalion re-deploy as a homogeneous unit.
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The Commanding Officer briefly held the reins of 6 UDR whilst elements of that battalion were in England on their annual camp. Within less than 24 hours of taking the chair, a body was discovered straddling a Border crossing .point, however, a posse of priests from the Irish Republic arranged its removal, so removing the need for a major and complex clearance operation.
The Churchillian state of being "with them but not of them" enabled Battalion Headquarters to undertake some longer term planning than has frequently been possible in the more usual "crisis management" that seems to be the norm. One particularly positive aspect of the companies working for so many diverse masters was that the sheer hard work and professionalism which has been a characteristic of all our Northern Ireland tours was, for' perhaps the first time, universally recognised and commented on at all levels. This recognition was in stark contrast to the ignorant prejudice so often expressed by those who should know better.
The tour, which lasted from 12 April to 30th June 1986, drove a horse and cart through the battalion’s plans to prepare for its Priority One role of re-inforcing BAOR. However in virtually every other aspect it has provided benefits of a most positive nature, the main being that of exercising junior commanders in an operational environment. There is no doubt that the Battalion has returned from Northern Ireland with basic infantry skills at a high level of excellence; commanders matured, competent and confident. It enjoyed excellent relationships with all with whom it worked, even earning praise from some senior Roman Catholic churchmen! The coverage given us by our local papers was nothing short of outstanding and the resurrected "Glengarry Tales" not only had everyone chortling with laughter but was considered by independent sources to be the best regimental 'Rag' seen in the Province for a long time.
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Visitors to the Battalion were many and included the Armed Forces Minister, Mr John Stanley, Lt Gen Sir Robert Pascoe, the GOC Northern Ireland Maj Gen Jeapes, CLF, was almost a regular, paying us 3 visits and Brig Scott and Col Benjamin, Commander and Deputy Commander 8 Inf Bde respectively, dropped in so often they were almost included in the platoon orbats! The genuine interest shown by our visitors was greatly appreciated by all ranks. We were particularly pleased that Maj Gen Ramsay, GOC Eastern District and Brig Toyne-Sewell from 19 Inf Bde were able to get across to Northern Ireland from Colchester and visit us on operations. Lt Col Timber' Wood, Regimental Secretary, spent several days with us and we were also honoured by a visit from the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Professor Robert Craig.
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If anyone can put names to faces with rank, company, date and location. Please e-mail with page name, row number and picture letter to ayoung287@msn.com
Glengarry Tales
Updated: 11 October 2014