Belfast film and stirred memories

One of the must-see films of the year is Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical tale “Belfast.” Set in the early days of The Troubles in Northern Ireland in August 1969, it is humorous, poignant, gritty, authentic and atmospheric. The acting and the script are top drawer and the film merits heaps of accolades. Told through the experiences of a Protestant (the term used in the film) family, the result is completely non-partisan and captures the anguish across both communities.

The experience of the security forces falls outside the remit of the drama, but I was reminded strongly of a Northern Ireland medal in my collection awarded to a Private in the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Regiment. 2 Queens was the resident battalion in Northern Ireland in 1969 and its troops were on the streets as Belfast erupted in riot and flames. I bought the medal in 1978, now having possessed it for more than double the soldier’s age when he earned it.

One of his colleagues recalled the experience in an email to me:

“The platoon’s objective was to protect the Falls Road/Divis Flats area from mob attacks from the Shankhill Road gangs, then relieve [ease out] the B Specials from the area. The scenes that met us as we moved up the Falls were reminiscent of war torn city; burned out buses, cars and lorries all at weird angles, scorched tarmac, rows and rows of used tyres stacked 3 feet high and spanning the whole width of the main roads with side roads blocked with heavy granite paving slabs stacked 3 and 4 feet high spanning the whole width of the side road, with first, the odd burnt out building here and there, giving way to complete streets of 60/70 houses all burnt out.”

It’s difficult to comprehend the impact of that turmoil on those who lived through it; I didn’t walk in their shoes and I’m always hesitant to superimpose my thoughts with the benefit of hindsight and from the comfort of an armchair. My Queensman left the Army soon after the Northern Ireland tour and found life outside challenging, later being smuggled back into camp for a bed and hot meals: he probably sold what little of value he had including his medal. Northern Ireland service medals are common and therefore inexpensive to buy: recalling what I paid he would have received no more than the cost of a couple of nights in the pub. While it was ever thus, it is still very sad. Perhaps because it was one of my first medals, it holds great sentimental value, and symbolises the cost and sacrifice of so many.

The dedication at the end of the film is: “For the ones who stayed. For the ones who left. And for all the ones who were lost.” To which I would add: “To those who served to protect.”