DRUMCREE FOOTAGE, JULY 2000 [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: DRUMCREE FOOTAGE, JULY 2000 [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BFB 222
  • Other titles: NORTHERN IRELAND ARMY INFORMATION SERVICES COLLECTION [Allocated Title]
  • Summary: Series of tapes covering the period surrounding the Drumcree march in July 2000.
  • Description: (Tape 1) Scenes at Mahon Barracks, Portadown, base of 3rd (County Down and County Armagh) Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment and Royal Ulster Constabulary J Division Headquarters; the barracks is being used as a temporary camp for additional troops drafted in during the build-up to Drumcree march. Scenes at the barracks include main gate, lorries with materials for barricades, and temporary tented camp. Long shot of Drumcree Church. General views of army vehicles on the Garvaghy Road near St John's Roman Catholic Church. Soldiers pose for camera. Visit by VIP (Scottish) talking to members of the Highlanders. Group of soldiers from the Highlanders sing the Beatles' "All My Loving" and also their regimental song. Interview with George Price. Shots of army field laundry unit: interview with laundryman Corporal Wilson. General views of vehicle park at Mahon where lorries are loaded with barricade equipment (barbed wire etc). Interview with Sergeant Dave Chalmers of 1st Battalion the Light Infantry (1LI) working with the field kitchen in Portadown - general views of the kitchen (soldiers collect food in portable cabin but have to eat it outside). Long shots of Drumcree church and surrounding area, with army barrier and observation post nearby. Corrugated steel barricades are welded together to block one of the roads near Drumcree Parish Church. Soldiers patrol the area and police put up a Police Line tape. Behind the barrier riot shields, batons and other public order equipment is inspected. Interviews with members of the Scots Guards at Mahon Barracks: David McConachie, David Perkins. Interviews with Wayne Clark and Andrew Woodell, who describe an incident in which they assisted a woman who had been attacked. (ca 6 July) (62 mins) (Tape 2) Police line near Drumcree Parish Church patrolled by soldiers. Further shots of the church. Saxon APCs move into position on nearby roads: lengthy scenes of area and army patrols. Army reserve vehicles assemble in Portadown. Interview with Tim Bewick of 1LI near St John's Catholic Church (Drumcree Parish Church also visible in distance), followed by interviews with Company Sergeant Major Stephen Mort (D Company, 1LI) and Lance Corporal Dimmock. Soldiers set up bivouac in woodlands behind the barricades at Drumcree. Interview with Major Giles Taylor (Company Commander the Scots Guards) about the army's rôle supporting the RUC in enforcing the decision of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission. Interviews with Sergeant Brian Cannon, Lance Corporal Laurie Smith and Guardsman Christopher Griffiths. Construction of protective barricades at the Garvaghy Road around St John's Church; vehicle patrols. Interviews with members of 1LI: Private Kevin Wilkins, Sergeant Tony Ayton, Private Ronny Heath and Corporal Ifor Ward. Further shots of barricade being built by the churchyard and general views of the Drumcree area. (6-7 July) (60 mins) (Tape 3) Visit by Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who stands with senior RUC officer (Sir Ronnie Flanagan ?) and gives a press conference praising the army and criticising violence. Further views of Drumcree Parish Church and the Garvaghy Road. Small group of Orangemen march past on their way to Drumcree, carrying banner "Portadown District LOL No 1: Our Bannerette is Still at Drumcree". Marchers gather by the church. Views from army barricade at Drumcree bridge; religious ceremony at church can be heard broadcast over public address system. Interviews with Members of 1st Battalion the Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment: Private Tom Johnson, Private Andrew Harper, Private Michael Cox, Private Richard Douglas, Private Ian Parry, Second Lieutenant Paul Kite and Private David Brown. Views outside Drumcree Parish Church as protesters/marchers gather in large numbers. Shots of "Mahon Village" and Glengowna Road. Convoy in town: on bridge, heavy lorries and earth mover on transporter move into position; two sections of a large barricade are lowered into position from DROPS lorries and opened out to block the bridge. Press and officials stand at barrier as the marchers approach on their way back from Drumcree on 12 July: they gather by the barrier and Protestant priest gives a speech to the crowd through loudhailer denouncing the presence of the barricade. (61 mins) (Tape 4) Interview with Highlander Gary Gibbs, who has just learnt that he has become a father. Scenes of him being congratulated and telephoning his girlfriend on his mobile phone. Other members of 1st Battalion the Highlanders are interviewed, including Lieutenant-Colonel Alex Alderson (CO), Andrew Christie, Gary Bain, Kevin Milne and Highlander Schiller. Children play football with soldiers in park. Interview with Warrant Officer 2 Peel in Portadown town centre; army patrol is also seen. The boxer Frank Bruno visits Mahon Barracks; he tries his hand firing an automatic pistol at the indoor range, watches an army dog display, visits the kennels and inspects EOD equipment (including operating a Wheelbarrow robot). Frank is also seen in gymnasium where army boxers are training for a Charity Boxing Event that evening. Interviews with boxers taking part: Private Christopher Peate, Private Luke Alexander, Private Lee Westwood, Private Wayne Nussey, Private Chris Rose, Lance Corporal Wesley Green and Lance Corporal Mark Bennett. Scenes of the boxing event shows extracts from two bouts. (64 mins) (Tape 5) Brief compilation of shots, taken largely from the previous four tapes: general views of Mahon Barracks, camp at Drumcree, barricades being put into place, shots of marchers (containing shots not seen above), interviews with Alex Alderson, Andrew Christie, Gary Bain, Kevin Milne and Highlander Schiller. Football scene, WO2 Peel, patrol in Portadown. (18 mins)
  • Alternative Title: NORTHERN IRELAND ARMY INFORMATION SERVICES COLLECTION [Allocated Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BFB 222
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (BFB 222)
  • Featured Period: 1990-2000
  • Production Date: 2000-07
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Army Information Services, Northern Ireland (Production sponsor) Mobile News Team (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: DVCPRO Number of items/reels/tapes: 5 Tape length: 66 & 33; Running time: 265 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BFB 222

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