- Extended Description
- John BIRCH Private 24469635 3rd Ulster Defence Regiment of Ballykinler Army Camp, County Down.
Resided at Meadow Park, Ballywalter. Killed on duty 9 April 1990 aged 28 years
At rest in Whitechurch Cemetery, Ballywalter, County Down. Grave M52.
Click into any of the names in the tag boxes for further photographs.
IRA Landmine Attack on 3 UDR
Event
Monday, 9 April, 1990
Corporal John Bradley, Private Michael Adams, Private John Birch and Private Steven Smart of the 3rd Battalion The Ulster Defence Regiment were killed in a landmine attack outside Downpatrick.
The mobile patrol was travelling from Ballykinler towards the town on the Ballydugan Road. The 1,000lb device exploded as the two Land Rovers passed, leaving a crater 15 feet deep and 40 feet wide. It was the Regiment's largest single loss of life since a landmine attack near Ballygawley in July
