They were the 9th (Londonderry) HAA Regiment which the Royal Navy had demanded be assigned to the defence of Tripoli harbour once it was under Allied control. Recce parties from 24, 25 and 26 Batteries were the first British troops to enter the city and they ‘welcomed’ the armoured cars of 11th Hussars, the Cherrypickers, when they arrived. Gunner Tommy McCready of 24 Battery recalled asking the Cherrypickers what had kept them. ‘They didn’t like that,’ he said, ‘especially as it was ack-ack gunners who beat them to it.’ Needless to say, the Cherrypickers’ history omits this fact, as does the Official History. On The King’s Colours of the Royal Irish Regiment, there are six battle honours from the North African campaign. These were not won or awarded lightly. One of the key figures was Brigadier Nelson Russell MC (Photo in report) from Lisburn and a former student at Campbell College. After he retired from the army he was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the Northern Ireland Parliament. In today’s Roll is Thomas Heriott, a veteran, who served with the RNAS during WW1 and played for Ulster v The All Blacks in 1919. He served with the RAF Pathfinder Force in WW2. Photo – Casualties are treated after an enemy dive-bombing attack during the advance on Tripoli, 25 January 1943. Click below for today’s report.
Remembrance NI - Every day is a Remembrance Day 