- 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.
Imaged credited to David Rea.
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 Ballydougan 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
