From: George Davison
e:mail george@davison8744.freeserve.co.uk
ex: 3 Field Squadron RE, Support Troop Plant Sgt 1969 to 1972
All of those like myself, ex sappers and old comrades who have served in the Corps know just how large it is in respect of looking at a single Field Squadron in size. Yet all of us who have had the privilege to have been a part of the history of 3 Field Squadron RE, in the period 1969 to 1972 should all feel rather proud of our small single squadron and what we and it eventually achieved.
Firstly during that period the Squadron was to mold and produce from within its ranks two future Major Generals in the Corps. In 1969 on the first tour to Northern Ireland the 2IC of the Squadron was Captain Peter Sheppard and on the second tour to Northern Ireland the Squadron OC was Major J.A.M. Evans.
Secondly the two tours to the province was perhaps the most volatile time in the history of the Ulster troubles. This was the era of the huge street riots, petrol bombs, and of course the constant thought that you could come under fire. We were all involved with this every day we went out those gates of that Bridge Camp in Antrim. So it says a great deal for the way we were led not just by our officers but also our SNCOs in as much as that we were fortunate enough not to have suffered any loss of life in regards of a terrorist incident. I can only think of one major incident involving a wounding. That was a young Scot named Sapper J Young a Support Troop plant op, who while operating a LWT clearing a barricade in the upper Falls Road close to the main area Bus Station, came under fire and was seriously wounded, but still managed to return fire. The incident ended with one attacker being severely wounded and the second taken into custody. I believe he was later awarded the MM for his actions, and fully recovered in the military wing of Mussgrave Park Hospital Belfast.
We were also very fortunate to have had on both tours one of the best QMs the Corps has produced, a Capt R Jordan (Major, retd) who went on a few years later to take command as the OC 131 Ind Para Sqn RE. He also went with those of us involved on the project to the Turks & Cacios Islands. He recently passed on to me a copy of the official squadron photo of the officers & SNCOs from that period, which also includes one of our two future Major Generals pictured. Of course also in the photo is the one and only marvelous OC at the time Major Marks who in all our minds will be the thought that he should have made at least General. Hopefully other members of this site will probably remember and be able to put more names to faces than what Capt Jordan and myself have been able to manage so far. Sgt Dave Conlon must know a few, and I have through various contacts on the web enjoyed the assistance of to name but a few, Richard Talbot, James Wood, and Dave Smith. So please download the attachment of the photo and get your thinking caps on. I can be contacted either through the good services of the site or my email address as shown above.
We know there is many of you out there who will remember the likes of Cpl Paddy Killen, Sgt Ossie Peters, Sgt John Huckstep, field troop SNCOs, Sgt Gordon Price our great cook Sgt, and Big S/Sgt John Pennington on loan to us from 34 Sqn. This enabled the Sqn to also cover Londonderry as well as Belfast on that fist tour.
And last but not least, you all must admit that this really is a great website. I for one must congratulate the group on their excellent administration.
George (Paddy) Davison
North Norfolk, England
