Description

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1962 General Service Medal, EIIR, with campaign bar NORTHERN IRELAND. Impressed named to 24608227 PTE T CLAYTON PARA. Mounted as worn.

The British Army during Operation Banner spent 38 years in Northern Ireland, during which the 2nd Battalion spent more time there than any other infantry battalion. Between 1971 and 1996, 51 men of the Parachute Regiment were killed while serving in Northern Ireland. In what has since become known as Bloody Sunday, on 30 January 1972, the 1st Battalion, stationed in Belfast, were flown to Derry to assist in policing a civil rights march demanding an end to internment. A section of the protesters began to riot and firing erupted. The Paras and other soldiers killed 13 civilians and wounded another 17 (of which 1 later died of their wounds).