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'Bandit country', South Armagh
During ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, South Armagh was a strongly nationalist area, and soldiers and Army vehicles were targets for the terrorists. Bombs were hidden in culverts under the roads, and it was too dangerous for the Army to use the country roads. The IRA sniping activities further restricted the freedom of movement of Army patrols in South Armagh. Troops were therefore moved by helicopter.
Three miles north-west of Newry, a large linen mill at Bessbrook was used as the Army’s base. From here, helicopters transported troops to the various military posts along the border with the Republic. Observation posts (O.P.s) were set up on hilltops such as Slievebolea, in the Slieve Gullion ring of mountains. Near the foot of Slievebolea are the villages of Killeavy and Drumintee.
In September 1985 I was in South Armagh and joined soldiers being flown in Wessex helicopters from Bessbrook mill to various O.P.s. On Slievebolea, soldiers crouched as they moved around the hilltop because of the danger from IRA snipers. Not all of the apparent surveillance equipment was what it seemed. The ‘antenna’ on the left was a plastic chair tied to the top of a wooden post, wrapped in some camouflage netting, an example of the age-old art of deceiving the enemy.
This picture was selected as one of the Aviation Paintings of the Year in the annual exhibition of the Guild of Aviation Artists, 2016, and depicts a Wessex helicopter of 72 Squadron RAF.
This painting is for sale. Please contact the artist.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Printed image size(s): B3 only (approx 43 x 27 cm)
Price(s): £60
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