How would you react when you get shot at, or worse still shot and injured? RPG Attack is the story of Phil Hartley and how he responded to being rocketed while serving in Belfast. If ever the phrase "calm under fire" needs an example, this is it.
@@Paul-b7vcorrect after 1st hungerstrike The OC off the PIRA in the blocks said back us the outside leadership knew men would die but Bobby Sands who was OC put himself on first as he was convinced he would die and Thatcher would let him and she did worst mistake in history as now you look at what she did for republicans who are on their way to unification bad move maggie
You need to get to the core of it that makes people pick up weapons in the first place.....two sides to every story.... although I appreciate your point of view on the flip side how would you react if you grew up in a republican area? I grew up in one and only one thing got young people involved... because of the way they and their family friends etc were treated..... without animosity lessons have to be learnt from this
My ol man was RWF regiment based in derry from 72 onwards and he still to this day wont talk about the bad things that happened, he only talks about the carry on that went on, any time i asked him about the bad stuff he clammed up and changed the subject😢
Actually the IRA leadership outside of prison initially refused to support the hunger strike because too much momentum had already been built up from the 1980 hunger strike and they believed they would not be able to win the public’s support again. The hunger strike was a decision of the IRA inside of long kesh and was not ordered from outside.
This is real stoicism. I have nothing but admiration for this man's determination to get on with his life. Beechmount Avenue was called RPG Avenue. I have very vivid memories of that day. Belfast erupted with buses etc on fire everywhere and large scale rioting.I was a fourteen year old schoolboy, and somehow managed to walk four miles from school across town which was really hairy. I remember turning my school blazer inside out and taking my tie off so I wouldn't get jumped. It was terrifying. But really just another day in my childhood in Belfast.
I’m ex 🏴💂♀️,I was in Belfast when this happened,I thought it was Springfield road and we never used pigs round there we preferred to walk…same in the Ardoyne but the lads who took over from us in Aldergrove ( RGJ) never took our advice and lost some lads who had left the back doors opened as they travelled through the area…tough times indeed.
The Provisional leadership never ordered any of their POW's to go on Hunger Strike . Totally inaccurate. Óglach Bobby Sands was OC and lead his men from the front into the Hunger Strike . Nobody was ordered to go on Hunger Strike . The participants all volunteered.
How would you react when you get shot at, or worse still shot and injured? RPG Attack is the story of Phil Hartley and how he responded to being rocketed while serving in Belfast. If ever the phrase "calm under fire" needs an example, this is it.
Just for the record, the hunger strikers went AGAINST orders from the outside PIRA leadership to go on hunger strike and were not ordered to do so.
@@Paul-b7vcorrect after 1st hungerstrike The OC off the PIRA in the blocks said back us the outside leadership knew men would die but Bobby Sands who was OC put himself on first as he was convinced he would die and Thatcher would let him and she did worst mistake in history as now you look at what she did for republicans who are on their way to unification bad move maggie
Your kinda rite
You need to get to the core of it that makes people pick up weapons in the first place.....two sides to every story.... although I appreciate your point of view on the flip side how would you react if you grew up in a republican area? I grew up in one and only one thing got young people involved... because of the way they and their family friends etc were treated..... without animosity lessons have to be learnt from this
@jackietreehorn5561 correct chara
No no no, the PIRA never ordered anyone to go on hunger strike, it was a prisoner decision only! I do i know? I was an INLA Pow at the time.
Them soldiers were good men . Doing their job in crazy times. God bless them all and help them overcome any bad memories of that time.
I mind this happening..a police land rover was also hit a few whiles later..that street is called RPG Avenue strangely enough. Thanks for sharing.
…them amateur lads held their own against a professional army.
what a hero what a man . My heart goes out to you. God Bless from a fellow veteran
My ol man was RWF regiment based in derry from 72 onwards and he still to this day wont talk about the bad things that happened, he only talks about the carry on that went on, any time i asked him about the bad stuff he clammed up and changed the subject😢
And he is the best dad ❤❤❤
Actually the IRA leadership outside of prison initially refused to support the hunger strike because too much momentum had already been built up from the 1980 hunger strike and they believed they would not be able to win the public’s support again. The hunger strike was a decision of the IRA inside of long kesh and was not ordered from outside.
This is real stoicism. I have nothing but admiration for this man's determination to get on with his life. Beechmount Avenue was called RPG Avenue. I have very vivid memories of that day. Belfast erupted with buses etc on fire everywhere and large scale rioting.I was a fourteen year old schoolboy, and somehow managed to walk four miles from school across town which was really hairy. I remember turning my school blazer inside out and taking my tie off so I wouldn't get jumped. It was terrifying. But really just another day in my childhood in Belfast.
Fantastic temperament and character
I’m ex 🏴💂♀️,I was in Belfast when this happened,I thought it was Springfield road and we never used pigs round there we preferred to walk…same in the Ardoyne but the lads who took over from us in Aldergrove ( RGJ) never took our advice and lost some lads who had left the back doors opened as they travelled through the area…tough times indeed.
This is correct this attack was in my street i was 9 years old when the RPG hit and it was followed by a gun attack
Seen the aftermath of this.. was at Daly's garage..
An army on its own ground will always have the advantage over one that isn’t!
We have a foe in common now,
Did you ever ask wTF you were doing there in the first place ?
The Provisional leadership never ordered any of their POW's to go on Hunger Strike . Totally inaccurate.
Óglach Bobby Sands was OC and lead his men from the front into the Hunger Strike .
Nobody was ordered to go on Hunger Strike . The participants all volunteered.