The contemporary account of the recent conflict in Northern Ireland is told in the words of British squaddies in Soldiers’ Stories on History Channel. This Remembrance Sunday the programme will be shown at 10pm on HD.  It was shown first on 26^th October, presented by former soldier Ken Harnes.  Throughout operation banner some 300,000 British troops served in Northern Ireland, some 1300 were killed and 6000 wounded.  With the murder of soldiers still making the headlines in 2009 this programme is not entirely the historic record it ought to be.

This is a programme that presents first hand accounts, and although a little long for one programme, it still manages to offer a stark, honest and very personal account of the lives of soldiers serving in Northern Ireland over 40 years.  It provides another perspective that lacks political spin, and doesn’t seek sympathy or accolade.  A frank account, and well worth watching on the night, or keeping for later.

A record of conflict was not available following World War One.  This year the last of the veterans of this war passed on: 108 year-old William Stone, 113 year-old Henry Allingham, and 111 year-old Harry Patch.  It made the short programme of events through the Maiden City Festival all the more relevant.  The ‘Three Cheers for the Derrys!’ programme was based on the book by Gardiner Mitchell of the same name, which had the benefit of reminisces of two old soldiers, Jim Donaghy from Londonderry and Leslie Bell from Moneymore.

Elements of the programme are now available on a dedicated mini website to give voice and life to the story of the ‘The Derrys’, the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The young men who acted in the short performance as part of the programme were no older than those who had gone to war 1914-1918.

Finally, there are those left behind.  Which makes the stories in a new book to be published on Wednesday, Remembrance Day itself, a worthy addition to this selection of means of recalling the sacrifice of the few for the many.  The outline is available in Eamonn Baker’s contribution to ‘The Derrys’ project.  Remembering has grown out of research conducted over the past few years by Trevor Temple, staff member of the North West War Memorial Project. The following is the description of the book provided by Yes Publications for the launch:

“Remembering is a tapestry of stories created from edited interviews with families who lost loved ones during the First World War. Without the generous commitment and openness of all twenty eight interviewees, this book would not have been possible. Each interviewee has shared precious family stories which previously had remained hidden from our collective view.

Many interviewees had researched in loving detail the life and times of their relative. We hear for example of Wesley Maultsaid’s football skills, of Holmes Haslett’s athletic prowess, racing down the Culmore Road ahead of the mail boat on the waters of the Foyle, of Denis Doherty’s working life at McCullagh’s in Waterloo Place and on the docks, of George Hasson “sweeping” around the city. We have been privileged to gain access to the family photographs, documents, keepsakes, memorabilia used to illustrate this publication.

Though all of the interviews were conducted in the spring of 2009, more than ninety years after Armistice Day 1918, it quickly became clear that many of the interviewees were grieving over the loss of their grandfather, grand-uncle, uncle (whom they, of course, had never known personally) in ways which suggested that the family loss had never been fully resolved.”

Remembering was launched in the Tower Museum on Wednesday 11^th November 2009. Books are on sale in local bookshops from 12 November priced £10 or direct from YES! Publications, 10-12 Bishop Street, Londonderry BT48 6PW  www.yespublications.org  This community-based project was developed by Holywell Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

Three very different records of soldiers’ lives and service, each making a contribution to this year’s time of Remembrance, underscoring that Remembrance is often very personal to those who served, their families and friends.  It is hard to really share those memories, those experiences.  But this is a time when we can all respectfully honour those who selflessly acted for us all, regardless though no less aware of the likely cost to themselves.

The book thoroughly lays bare the futility of the IRA’s campaign, and the lies used to propagate that campaign and on which the pursuit of its political objectives has been prosecuted.

MacDonald outlines the lies. These could be direct as in the attempt to shift the blame for the Abercorn bombing onto the British Army or a unionist grouping. Or they could be more subtle as in the effort to justify the murder of Edgar Graham as somehow inevitable through his being part of a ‘Unionist establishment’ at Queen’s University Belfast where he lectured – as if that could ever justify murder.

He outlines the disingenuous. How, if collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and British forces was endemic, as republicans strongly contend, were only 3% of those killed by loyalists over 30 years militant republicans? The IRA promoted itself as the ‘defender’ of the local catholic population in many areas: yet the single largest loss of life in the predominately nationalist Short Stand was caused by an IRA bomb exploding prematurely.

Mostly he outlines how anything now claimed to have been achieved by the IRA could well have been achieved equally through non-violence. This book is not an easy read. First, and the only criticism, it would have benefited from a stronger editorial hand in organising the information. Second, and perhaps the order of the information makes no difference, the book is depressing.

The book is depressing because it suggests that the IRA is the same as it ever was: the lies over Abercorn, the cover-up over Robert McCartney, the wall of silence over Paul Quinn.

Even more depressing is the code of republicanism in its attitude to Protestants/Unionists. With the exception of one or two who McDonald rightly praises for their individual effort, that effort seems overwhelmed by the words and deeds of others. For the most part Protestants/Unionists simply don’t matter.

McDonald’s book is an inconvenient truth for Republicans. It is a valuable handbook for anyone who wants an insight into the Republican mindset. It is a welcome contribution to understanding the present and learning from the past. To conclude on a positive note. If we learn from the past, and better understand our present, there is that little bit of extra hope for the future.