Margret Thatcher

Baroness Thatcher has supported the Sharedtroubles archive by supplying an account of her experiences during the Brighton Bomb

Read Margret Thatcher's story http://www.sharedtroubles.net/storydetail.php?story_id=1146

American Major reflects on Sharedtroubles

Good evening, I have just finished up reading some of the most powerful expressions of what it was to live in N. Ireland through the troubles. They were probably so powerful because I lived them. I know the street names. I rode my bike and delivered my Irish News and “Teles” to some of those addresses. As I read, I recall the experiences, the soldiers’ accents, the emotions, and the smells of the many times I was stopped and “checked out”. I will share this site with my wife, as I have never been able to fully explain what it was to grow up in Belfast. Perhaps this will help her and my children understand why I prefer not to discuss this aspect of my childhood and young adult life. As I read, I re-experienced the atmosphere at hunger strikers’ funerals, being gassed during Operation Motorman, ducking from rubber bullets and plastic baton rounds and cooking in the back garden on the outside fire during the general strike The irony of this is that I am sitting in my office at work. I am and active duty US military officer, (one of many from N. Ireland including my wee brother) who teaches young officers how to approach irregular warfare and counter-insurgency. These are hot topics for the US military as you might expect. I find that as I approach the preparation of these young officers I am drawing ever more frequently on my experiences in Northern Ireland. You have started an amazing project. A truth and reconciliation process similar to the one in S. Africa was probably never going to happen in N. Ireland however, you have created a virtual place for our parents, us and our children to travel back and hear perspectives of the events of the troubles that would otherwise be lost. I applaud you for your commitment to your children and to their understanding of what we, as humans, are capable of doing to each other when we fail to understand the basic humanity we all share. We condemn ourselves and our children to repeat the mistakes of the past when we fail to educate the succeeding generations about our failures. Continue this great work. One day I will return to my home. I had to leave. My choices were narrowing by the day. I am glad that my nieces and nephews do not have to face the choices we had to. Keep up the good work. I have thought hard about signing my name to this… To this day I still worry that my family left behind will be subject to something?? I know this is not a reasonable thought but it is a legacy of the troubles I still carry. Maybe one day I will not have this baggage.

Until then, Major, United States Air Force Proud graduate of Saint Oliver Plunkett Primary School and the streets of Lenadoon, Belfast

Bogside Sniper

The Derry Journal picked up on a Sharedtroubles.net story from a British Soldier who worked as a sniper in Derry during the Troubles. Shows two sides to a situation and the complex issues facing those involved.

http://www.derryjournal.com/features/I-couldn39t-shoot-her-.5325259.jp

Bullets, Bombs and Cups of Tea: Further Voices of the British Army in Northern Ireland 1969-98 (Hardcover)

This is Ken Wharton's second oral history of the Northern Ireland troubles told again from the perspective of the ordinary British soldier. This book looks deeper into the conflict, utilising stories from new contributors providing revealing and long-forgotten stories of the troubles from the back streets of the Ardoyne to the bandit country of South Armagh. Ken Wharton - himself a former soldier - is now known and trusted by those who served and they are keen for their part in Britain's forgotten war to now be made public. For the first time, he tells the stories of the 'unseen victims' - the loved ones who sat and dreaded a knock at the door from the Army telling them that their loved one had been killed on the streets of Northern Ireland. There are more first hand accounts from the Rifleman, the Private, the Guardsman, the Driver, the Sapper, the Fusilier on the street as they recall the violence, the insults and the shock of seeing a comrade dying in the street in front of them. There is an explosive interview with a soldier who killed an IRA gunman who was fresh from the murder of two Royal Artillerymen. Building on the huge success of Ken's first book, this second volume will provide plenty of new material for the reader to reconsider afresh the role of Britain's soldiers in Northern Ireland.

Highly recommended read http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/190603334X/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Gerry Adams lends his support

Gerry Adams ' story of life in his street when internment arrived gives a stark and human account of the rough end of 'Ulsterisation policy' Told with a sense of black humour Gerry's story may surprise a few readers.

Read Gerry Adams' Story http://www.sharedtroubles.net/storydetail.php?story_id=1094

Northern Ireland Story No.100

A watershed of 100 individual stories has been reached! After launching in January 2009 Sharedtroubles.net has attracted stories from all sides of the Northern Ireland Conflict.

Story number 100 comes from David a young Orangeman who witnessed the stand off between The State and Unionist Orangemen.

Read David's story from Drumcree http://www.sharedtroubles.net/storydetail.php?story_id=1092

The Irish News Feature Sharedtroubles.net

Read the article about Sharedtroubles.net from The Irish News

http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/5860/2009/4/4/614406_377494731837Websiteco.html