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James Joseph COCHRANE
- Extended Description
- Private 24355690 James Joseph COCHRANE, 3rd UDR. Killed 6 January 1980 aged 21. At rest in St Patrick's Churchyard Sect A Row 1 Grave 171
The following Private Robert (Roy) SMYTH, Private Richard Samuel John WILSON and above James Joseph Cochrane all 3rd UDR were killed by the PIRA whilst on active service with the Operations Platoon, 3rd Ulster Defence Regiment 6th January 1980 He was one of a section of four in the lead vehicle on a two vehicle patrol near Castlewellan, County Down. On their return to Ballykinlar Camp their vehicle was blown up by a 600lb home made land mine at Burren Bridge, near Caslewellan. The explosion left a thirteen foot crater.
He and private Jim Cochrane were trapped under water underneath their vehicle in the crater which was filling up with water from a broken water main caused by the explosion. Three had died at the scene, two from fractured skulls and one may have drowned
Image credited to We Will Remember Them on facebook
He was commemorated a wood cross (poppy cross type) at the base of the UDR Memorial, Ulster Ash Grove, National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas Staffordshire 29 September 2020.
