The Bloodiest Year: British Soldiers in Northern Ireland 1972, In Their Own Words

by Ken Wharton

1972 was the bloodiest year of an already bloody conflict played out on the streets of Northern Ireland. For more than twelve months the country was rocked by the atrocities of Bloody Friday and the Claudy bombing, civilian casualties mounted, and the soldiers of the British Army were caught between the factions. One hundred and sixty-nine servicemen died that year, their deaths unnoticed at home except by their loved ones, fighting a forgotten war on British soil. In The Bloodiest Year , Ken Wharton, a former soldier who did two tours of Northern Ireland, tells the story of the worst year of the Troubles through the accounts of the men who patrolled the streets of Belfast and Londonderry, who saw their comrades die and walked with death themselves. He examines almost every single death during that year, and names the men behind the violence, many of whom now hold high office in the country they tried to so hard to break apart.

Genres: History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Ken Wharton is a former British soldier who served in the Royal Green Jackets regiment. Currently, he writes non-fiction books on the violent religious/political conflict in Northern Ireland known as The Troubles.

The books are an oral history based on first-hand accounts by soldiers of all ranks who served in the Operation Banner campaign as well as Wharton's own personal experiences when he did two tours of Northern Ireland.

Reviews

[Mark Suffern · Rating 3 out of 5]

The horror of the year,whatever your political views you should read this to understand what the troubles were. Apparently Bloody Sunday caused many to join the IRA, so why didn't Bloody Friday make many leave?