"Letting the Guest Tell the Story"
The Unconventional Soldier Podcast explores conflicts from the Second World War, the Cold War, Northern Ireland and the Global War on Terror. Hosted by veterans, it blends personal experience, regimental history, and in-depth analysis of battles, leadership, and military transformation. Episodes feature former soldiers, historians, and defence experts discussing life on operations, lessons learned, and the enduring legacy of British and other Army campaigns. Follow for authentic voices, forgotten conflicts, and sharp insights from those who served.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Letting the Guest Tell the Story"
The Unconventional Soldier Podcast explores conflicts from the Second World War, the Cold War, Northern Ireland and the Global War on Terror. Hosted by veterans, it blends personal experience, regimental history, and in-depth analysis of battles, leadership, and military transformation. Episodes feature former soldiers, historians, and defence experts discussing life on operations, lessons learned, and the enduring legacy of British and other Army campaigns. Follow for authentic voices, forgotten conflicts, and sharp insights from those who served.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
CONTENT
On this episode Kev and I discuss the Army's training for Operation Banner, the nearly four-decade deployment of British forces to Northern Ireland starting in 1969. Initially intended as a temporary measure to aid the civil power, the British military was unprepared for the complexities of the conflict, lacking specific training and relying on outdated counter-insurgency tactics from former colonies. The conversation highlights key events like the introduction of the "yellow card" rules of engagement, the disastrous reintroduction of internment, and Bloody Sunday, all of which significantly alienated the Catholic population and bolstered the PIRA. It also details the evolution of British Army training and tactics, emphasising the shift towards intelligence-led operations, the development of specialist units, and sophisticated countermeasures against IEDs. Finally, the discussion underscores the importance of continuous learning, adaptation, and the unique challenges of a domestic counter-insurgency, acknowledging both successes and failures, and the lasting legacy of the conflict on military doctrine and operations.
The book choice on Desert Island Dits is "Death in Derry: Martin McGuinness and the Derry IRA's war against the British" by Jonathan Trigg.
Reference publication: Operation BANNER - An Analysis of Military Operations In Northern Ireland, Army Code 71842, July 2006.
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This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.