Lance Corporal Christopher G Ireland

27 Aug 1979

Lance Corporal Christopher George Ireland served with 3 Platoon, A Company, the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA).

On the afternoon of 27 August, a convoy carrying men of 3 Platoon, A-Company was travelling en-route for 2 Para’s Company base at the border town of Newry. Terrorists triggered the bomb by remote control at Warrenpoint. The 4 tonner, which carried 9 men, took the full force of the explosion and of these only 1 survived unhurt.

25 year old L/Cpl Ireland was killed on 27 August 1979 at Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland by the first bomb detonated by the IRA that day. A second explosion claimed lives of Members of the MMG Pln, 2 PARA who had arrived after an earlier explosion assist the wounded and dead.

L/Cpl Ireland is buried in Bedford Cemetery.

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Service History

Christopher G Ireland

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Latest Comments

Paul Donaghey said:
L/Cpl Christopher George Ireland was serving in The 1st Bn The Royal Anglian Rgt (The Vikings) prior to completing P Company and rebadging. Chrissy was the Driver of my Anti Tank Det ( WOMBAT) when I joined the platoon in 1975.
Chrissy had always wanted to be a 'Para' and trained hard to be as fit as he could be. Chriisy finally got his 'P" Company selection chance and he took the opertunity,I did not get to see him again so it was obvious he had passed.
Fast forward early 1979 and I am on a COP PHOT course at St Martins Camp Shorncliffe and who do I see? Yup Chrissy on a course at the same time. Managed to meet up the night before he went back to his Battalion and had a few beers and catchup. He told me of his life in 2 Para and he was living the dream, married with a young daughter. He had his usual massive smile as usual,night ended said our "See you around mate maybe in N Ireland"
I went to Flax St Mill Ardoyne doing my bit. 27 August 1979 came the news of Warrenpoint with mass casulties and dead from 2 Para. Not once did I think my mate would be named. He was and dead along with 17 others. Devastated and angry is my memory of that day.
I have never forgotten Chrissy and all the dead and injured their families,friends loved ones.
Every August&November I lay a Rememberance Cross in his and others memory, this year March 2019 a friend layed a Rememberance Cross at Narrow water on my behalf and will do annually for me.
RIP AT THE FRV my friend and fellow Viking.
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