Private 24244664 Melvin James SIMPSON. Left the UDR in 1981.
He was shot and mortally wounded 8th October 1984 by the IRA as he operated a digger on a building site in Ann Street, Dungannon, County Tyrone. Gunmen fired twelve shots from a rifle and a shotgun. Melvin died in hospital five hours after the attack, aged 40. He had only started work on the site that morning; the ambush was set up at very short notice.
His plaque is incorrect. The army number refers to Robert Irwin RUCR ex UDR, killed 16 Nov 1982. The death date refers to him and his mate Snowden Corkey RUCR ex UDR. This matter was reported when I visited the Arboretum on the 11th August 2014. It will be corrected at some later date.
Tree dedication plaque at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The following plaque shows the same army number. Irwin was issued with.
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