fbpx
Wikipedia

Billy Reid (Irish republican)

January 01, 1970

For other people named Billy Reid, see Billy Reid (disambiguation).

William Reid (1 January 1939 – 15 May 1971[1]) was a member of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.[2] Reid killed the first soldier of the British Army in the Troubles and was later himself killed as he attempted another ambush of British Army personnel.

Background edit

Reid was from Sheridan Street in the upper New Lodge area of North Belfast.[2] He grew up in nearby Regent Street, Carrickhill. He attended Catholic schools in North Belfast and became a joiner by trade. Reid boxed at amateur level for the local Holy Family Club.[1]

Shooting of Gunner Curtis edit

Reid is reported to have shot dead Gunner Robert Curtis of the British Army in the New Lodge, Belfast on 6 February 1971; Curtis was the first on-duty British soldier to be killed in Ireland since the Anglo-Irish War of the 1920s.[3][4]

The day after the shooting of Curtis, the unionist Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Major James Chichester-Clark stated that "Northern Ireland was at war with the Irish Republican Army Provisionals". The following week, following clashes at an IRA funeral in North Belfast, the government of Northern Ireland, which at that time still controlled the security forces, banned the wearing of military-style uniforms by "subversive organisations".[5]

Death edit

On 15 May 1971, a foot patrol of the British Army was ambushed in Academy Street in the centre of Belfast by the Third Battalion Belfast Brigade. Billy Reid, aged 32, was engaged with the foot patrol when a comrade was wounded. Billy Reid told his two comrades to run and he would hold off the patrol. His gun jammed and he tried to escape. He was shot in the back.[3][6]

Memorial edit

Reid is the subject of a song called "The Ballad of Billy Reid", written by Brian Lyons, which tells the story of his death; the song has been recorded by a number of bands including Shebeen, Terry O'Neill, Spirit of 67, The ShamRogues and the Wolfe Tones. The song was included in the songbook Songs of Resistance 1968-1982.[7]

A mural depicting Reid and other Irish republicans Sean McIlvenna, Rosemary Bleakley and Michael Kane is painted on the New Lodge Road in Belfast.[8] A republican flute band from Glasgow, Scotland named itself the "Volunteer Billy Reid Republican Flute Band" in memory of Reid.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Tírghrá. National Commemoration Centre. 2002. p. 14. ISBN 0-9542946-0-2.
  2. ^ a b Lost Lives. Mainstream Publishing. 2007. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-84018-504-1.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Peter (1997). Provos The IRA & Sinn Féin. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 89–91. ISBN 0-7475-3818-2.
  4. ^ "Soldiers, sashes and shamrocks: Football and social identity in Scotland and Northern Ireland", physed.otago.ac.nz; accessed 27 December 2015.
  5. ^ Eamon Phoenix. "35 Years Since First British Soldier Shot Dead In Troubles", nuzhound.com; retrieved 11 February 2007.
  6. ^ English, Robert (2004). Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA. Pan Books. p. 137. ISBN 0-330-49388-4.
  7. ^ CAIN Web Service - Extracts from 'Songs of Resistance 1969-1982, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 22 December 2015.
  8. ^ CAIN Mural Directory
  9. ^ Billy Reid band anniversary, republican-news.org; accessed 23 December 2015.

January 01, 1970
billy, reid, irish, republican, other, people, named, billy, reid, billy, reid, disambiguation, william, reid, january, 1939, 1971, member, belfast, brigade, provisional, irish, republican, army, reid, killed, first, soldier, british, army, troubles, later, hi. For other people named Billy Reid see Billy Reid disambiguation William Reid 1 January 1939 15 May 1971 1 was a member of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army 2 Reid killed the first soldier of the British Army in the Troubles and was later himself killed as he attempted another ambush of British Army personnel Contents 1 Background 2 Shooting of Gunner Curtis 3 Death 4 Memorial 5 ReferencesBackground editReid was from Sheridan Street in the upper New Lodge area of North Belfast 2 He grew up in nearby Regent Street Carrickhill He attended Catholic schools in North Belfast and became a joiner by trade Reid boxed at amateur level for the local Holy Family Club 1 Shooting of Gunner Curtis editReid is reported to have shot dead Gunner Robert Curtis of the British Army in the New Lodge Belfast on 6 February 1971 Curtis was the first on duty British soldier to be killed in Ireland since the Anglo Irish War of the 1920s 3 4 The day after the shooting of Curtis the unionist Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Major James Chichester Clark stated that Northern Ireland was at war with the Irish Republican Army Provisionals The following week following clashes at an IRA funeral in North Belfast the government of Northern Ireland which at that time still controlled the security forces banned the wearing of military style uniforms by subversive organisations 5 Death editOn 15 May 1971 a foot patrol of the British Army was ambushed in Academy Street in the centre of Belfast by the Third Battalion Belfast Brigade Billy Reid aged 32 was engaged with the foot patrol when a comrade was wounded Billy Reid told his two comrades to run and he would hold off the patrol His gun jammed and he tried to escape He was shot in the back 3 6 Memorial editReid is the subject of a song called The Ballad of Billy Reid written by Brian Lyons which tells the story of his death the song has been recorded by a number of bands including Shebeen Terry O Neill Spirit of 67 The ShamRogues and the Wolfe Tones The song was included in the songbook Songs of Resistance 1968 1982 7 A mural depicting Reid and other Irish republicans Sean McIlvenna Rosemary Bleakley and Michael Kane is painted on the New Lodge Road in Belfast 8 A republican flute band from Glasgow Scotland named itself the Volunteer Billy Reid Republican Flute Band in memory of Reid 9 References edit a b Tirghra National Commemoration Centre 2002 p 14 ISBN 0 9542946 0 2 a b Lost Lives Mainstream Publishing 2007 p 72 ISBN 978 1 84018 504 1 a b Taylor Peter 1997 Provos The IRA amp Sinn Fein Bloomsbury Publishing pp 89 91 ISBN 0 7475 3818 2 Soldiers sashes and shamrocks Football and social identity in Scotland and Northern Ireland physed otago ac nz accessed 27 December 2015 Eamon Phoenix 35 Years Since First British Soldier Shot Dead In Troubles nuzhound com retrieved 11 February 2007 English Robert 2004 Armed Struggle The History of the IRA Pan Books p 137 ISBN 0 330 49388 4 CAIN Web Service Extracts from Songs of Resistance 1969 1982 cain ulst ac uk accessed 22 December 2015 CAIN Mural Directory Billy Reid band anniversary republican news org accessed 23 December 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy Reid Irish republican amp oldid 1174698953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.