Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines Band
Location: Great Britain
Period/ Conflict: The Troubles
Year: 1989
Date/s: 22 September 1989
The Deal barracks bombing was an attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) on the Royal Marine Depot, Deal, England. It took place at 8:22 am on 22 September 1989, when the IRA exploded a time bomb at the Royal Marines School of Music building.
The building collapsed, killing 11 marines from the Royal Marines Band Service and wounding another 21.
Those killed were:
BALL Michael Francis Patrick Musician :
CLEATHEROE John Andrew Musician Band Corporal:
DAVIS Trevor James Edward Band Corporal:
FICE Richard George Musician:
JONES Richard Mark Musician:
McMILLAN David B/Cpl Royal Marines: NOLAN Christopher Robert Musician:
PAVEY Dean Patrick Band Corporal:
PETCH Mark Timothy Musician :
REEVES Timothy John Musician:
SIMMONDS Robert Leslie Musician
A memorial bandstand was constructed at Walmer Green to the memory of those who "only ever wanted to play music"
A memorial in the Deal Barracks chapel was destroyed when the building burnt down in 2003, but the site is now a memorial garden.
A short and very poignant memorial service is held annually in the Band Service Memorial Garden early on the morning of 22nd September to remember those who were killed and injured in that terrible atrocity. Deal Parochial Church of England School now stands in the former barracks' Drill Fields.
A large carved stone bearing the Globe and Laurel (the cap badge and emblem of the Royal Marines) sits at the entrance of the school. It originally adorned one of the buildings facing the parade square in the barracks.
More related Royal Marines 'Dits'
Comments