In memory of Sergeant Michael Willetts , GC & all other members of HM Armed Forces murdered by Irish Terrorists.

See below for the full story of this brave Hero’s death

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A short video, set to music, in memory Sergeant Michael G. Willets  and all those members of HM Armed Forces murdered by Irish Terrorists.

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A True British hero

We salute you all –  Your memory will live on forever!

My son loves this song ( he’s 9 ) and it always brings a lump to my throat when I hear it and I feel myself  welling up. Its a funny thing being a patriot  sometimes , it can fill me with pride and love for my country and culture and other times melancholy flows through my being when I listen too and remember the sacrifice our glorious troops have paid to ensure our freedom and liberty.

Michael Willetts, GC (13 August 1943 – 25 May 1971) was one of the first British soldiers to be killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the recipient of a posthumous George Cross for his heroism in saving lives during the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombing which claimed his own.

Early life

Born in 1943 in the Nottinghamshire town of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Michael Willetts entered a local colliery after leaving school but found that he did not suit the job and soon afterwards joined the British Army, serving in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. He married his wife, Sandra and had two children, Dean and Trudy during his time in the army.

After several tours abroad and a promotion to sergeant, Willetts was dispatched with the rest of his regiment to Northern Ireland at the outbreak of violence there between Irish nationalists and the unionist Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1971. Placed with his squad at Springfield Road police station in Belfast, Willetts engaged in local operations until 25 May 1971, when he was killed in a Provisional IRA bomb attack on the barracks.

Willetts was killed in Springfield Road RUC station by the Provisional IRA. A man in his mid-twenties emerged from a car and threw a suitcase containing a blast bomb into the lobby of the station. Willetts thrust two children and two adults into a corner and stood above them as the 30 lbs of explosives detonated, seriously injuring him.

Seven RUC officers, two British soldiers and eighteen civilians were injured in the attack. Willetts was fatally injured by a chunk of metal from a locker which had struck him in the back of the head. As he was being removed by ambulance, he and the injured officers were jeered by local youths who screamed obscenities at them. Willetts died after two hours on the operating table at Royal Victoria Hospital.

The sacrifice of Sergeant Michael G. Willets, 27, 3 Para.

The Harvey Andrews song “Soldier” commemorates Willetts’ sacrifice.

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WORDS

In a station in the city a British soldier stood

Talking to the people there if the people would

Some just stared in hatred, and others turned in pain

And the lonely British soldier wished he was back home again

Come join the British Army! Said the posters in his town

See the world and have your fun come serve before the Crown

The jobs were hard to come by and he could not face the dole

So he took his country’s shilling and enlisted on the roll

For there was no fear of fighting, the Empire long was lost

Just ten years in the army getting paid for being bossed

Then leave a man experienced a man who’s made the grade

A medal and a pension some mem’ries and a trade

Then came the call to Ireland as the call had come before

Another bloody chapter in an endless civil war

The priests they stood on both sides the priests they stood behind

Another fight in Jesus name the blind against the blind

The soldier stood between them between the whistling stones

And then the broken bottles that led to broken bones

The petrol bombs that burnt his hands the nails that pierced his skin

And wished that he had stayed at home surrounded by his kin

The station filled with people the soldier soon was bored

But better in the station than where the people warred

The room filled up with mothers with daughters and with sons

Who stared with itchy fingers at the soldier and his gun

A yell of fear a screech of brakes the shattering of glass

The window of the station broke to let the package pass

A scream came from the mothers as they ran towards the door

Dragging children crying from the bomb upon the floor

The soldier stood and could not move his gun he could not use

He knew the bomb had seconds and not minutes on the fuse

He could not run to pick it up and throw it in the street

There were far too many people there too many running feet

Take cover! Yelled the soldier, Take cover for your lives

And the Irishmen threw down their young and stood before their wives

They turned towards the soldier their eyes alive with fear

For God’s sake save our children or they’ll end their short lives here

The soldier moved towards the bomb his stomach like a stone

Why was this his battle God why was he alone

He lay down on the package and he murmured one farewell

To those at home in England to those he loved so well

He saw the sights of summer felt the wind upon his brow

The young girls in the city parks how precious were they now

The soaring of the swallow the beauty of the swan

The music of the turning world so soon would it be gone

A muffled soft explosion and the room began to quake

The soldier blown across the floor his blood a crimson lake

They never heard him cry or shout they never heard him moan

And they turned their children’s faces from the blood and from the bones

The crowd outside soon gathered and the ambulances came

To carry off the body of a pawn lost in the game

And the crowd they clapped and cheered and they sang their rebel songs

One soldier less to interfere where he did not belong

But will the children growing up learn at their mothers’ knees

The story of the soldier who bought their liberty

Who used his youthful body as a means towards an end

Who gave his life to those who called him murderer not friend

Sergeant Michael Willetts, GC – 25 May 1971

On the evening of the 25th May 1971 an IRA terrorist entered the reception hall of Springfield Road Police station in Belfast. He carried a suitcase from which a smoking fuse protruded, dumping the case on the floor he fled out-side, inside the room were a man a woman and two children and several police officers. One of the police officers raised the alarm then began organising an evacuation of the hall through the reception office.

Sgt Willetts was on duty in the inner hall, on hearing the alarm he sent an NCO to the first floor to warn those above and hastened himself to the door towards which the police officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office.

He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway shielding those taking cover.

In the next moment the bomb exploded with terrible force. Sgt Willetts was mortally wounded. His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area. All those people who were approaching the door from the far side agreed that if they had had to check to open the door, They would have perished.

Sgt Willetts waited, placing his body as a screen to shelter them.

By this act of bravery, he risked and lost his life for those of the adults and children.

Sgt Michael Willetts was awarded the George Cross (Posthumous).

Republicans jeered when the ambulance arrived, but Willets had saved Catholic civilians and children. The IRA had no such respect for life.

See Para Chute Regiment for more details

A Child of the Troubles

Don’t forget to read extracts from my Autobiography Belfast Child , which tells the amazing story of my life growing up on the Loyalist Shankill Road and my secret 25 year search for my  ” Dead” catholic mother.

Click this link or see above for first eight chapters.

Thank you!