This day in 1977

[P-C Association Member/NIVA Merit Award Winner 2017/18 Find all posts View Profile Close P-C]

14 December 1977:
Paul Harman, 27-years-old, a soldier with the 16/5th Queen's Royal Lancers holding the rank of Corporal was from Orpington, Kent. CPL. Harman was transferred to the Intelligence Corps and had been selected for special duty in Northern Ireland as a member of 14th Intelligence attached to the 39th Brigade. As he stopped his car at the junction of Monagh Road, he was approached by an unknown number of attackers and was shot by the IRA. CPL. Harman was shot in the head and back and his car set on fire. His Browning weapon was also taken. He was the son of a career diplomat and was born in Ankara, Turkey. He also served in Cyprus during the Greek-Turkish war. CPL. Harman was listed in the army's official list as the 1st member of the Intelligence Corps to be a fatality. The IRA claimed that his intelligence data, weapon and some transistor-like flares had been taken. The IRA said that the folder that was taken contained photographs of 73 republicans including Gerry Adams and Billy McKee.

LEST WE FORGET

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I have visited his grave twice. It is well cared for and is situated in the small cemetery at St Botolphs Church in the grounds of Lullingstone Castle.
He is surrounded by maybe a dozen or so graves that date from the medieval period, so should you wish to visit he is easy to find.
An Intelligence Corps wreath had recently been placed on his grave.
The Castle charges for admission but the attached church is of course free to visit.
http://www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk/thecastle.html
The estate is owned by Oliver Guy Hart Dyke, who served in the RN and was once captain of the Royal Yacht.
Miranda Hart the comedienne is a cousin. Posh lot. It would only take a medium sized flu epidemic to see a Hart Dyke on the throne.

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We will remember them.

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