Robert Curtis (soldier)
| Robert George Curtis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Geordie, Rob, Robbie |
| Born |
March 25, 1950 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Died | February 6, 1971 (aged 20) New Lodge, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Buried | West Road Cemetery, Newcastle, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Rank | Gunner |
| Service number | 24181317 |
| Unit | 156 (Inkerman) Battery, 94 Locating Regiment, Royal Artillery |
Robert George Curtis (25 March 1950 – 6 February 1971) was officially the first military fatality in the Northern Ireland "Troubles", which was to kill 503 British soldiers. He was the first British soldier to die in the line of duty in Ireland since 1921. The gunman responsible is believed to be Provisional IRA member Billy Reid, who was killed later that year in a gunfight.
156 (Inkerman) Battery were deployed to Northern Ireland on January 5, 1971 under the command of 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery. During the first week of February 1971 there was major violence in many Irish republican areas of Belfast when the British Army launched a series of searches for IRA arms. Rioting in the republican area of the New Lodge escalated and reinforcements were called for. 156 Battery were ordered into the area. Because mobs of rioters were threatening the bordering unionist Tiger's Bay area the Battery was deployed along the interface to block them.
A large crowd gathered at the junction of New Lodge Road and Lepper Street. A troop of soldiers from 156 Battery, including Gunner Rob Curtis, were deployed to disperse the crowd. As the troop moved to the junction they were attacked with a barrage of stones and bottles by the mob and deployed in “riot-formation” with shields as protection. Subsequently a nail bomb was thrown at the troop and in the aftermath of the blast the crowd split allowing a gunman to fire a long burst of automatic fire from a Sterling submachine gun, probably from the base of Templar House. The crowd then reformed, allowing the gunman to escape. Gunner Curtis was hit by a ricochet which passed through the shoulder opening of his flak jacket, penetrating his heart. He died almost instantly. Four other troop members were wounded, one seriously.
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Wikipedia