Former soldier revisits scene of Derry shooting
The first soldier to be shot in Derry during the Troubles has made a journey of discovery to the city more than 37 years later.
It was in 1971, when 25-year-old Peter Booth was messing about with his army mates, surrounded by a world that was alien to him, that he became part of the city's history forever
But it wasn't until he visited the Free Derry Museum earlier this year that he realised the part he unwittingly played. After convincing his friends to join him, Peter travelled to the city in April this year to begin, a 'healing process.'
"The last three or four years I just started getting flashbacks of things and I needed to come back as some sort of reconciliation," said Peter."Three friends and I tend to take holidays together, usually to First World War battle fields, and I said I had to go back to Derry. I thought they would laugh at me, but they said they would come with me."
The group made the trip to the city in late April/early May and Peter said he felt a range of emotions.
"Coming back was very important," he said. "It was terrific to hear some of the views of nationalists and the people I spoke to.We made two trips to Derry, the first began at the Free Derry Museum and included a political tour of the Bogside led by Gerry McCartney.
"I had the surprise of my life when I discovered two images of me on pages 109 & 110 of Willie Carson's book as the First British Soldier Shot in Derry. I did not know I was. I can vaguely remember Willie taking the photographs, it was all very unreal with me crumpled and in great pain."
Recalling what it was like in Derry in the early 1970s and the day he was shot, Peter said: "It wasn't that bad then. It obviously got a lot worse.There were constant riots in Derry when I was shot. You couldn't go anywhere in the Bogside without being spat at and insulted.
"On that particular day it was getting all very quiet. It was the last knocking of riots along William Street and Little Diamond. I seem to remember there was a mini cab business with people waiting nearby.
"We were taking the 'mick' out of each other and there was a lot of banter and then the shots rang out. I was the last person to realise I was shot when someone told me. The pain was excruciating. My leg has never been right since."
Peter was taken to Altnagelvin where he managed to have a conversation with a young nationalist lad in the bed next to him, before being taken to Belfast and then on to England.
Memories
But years later, memories of his time in Derry were triggered by newspaper reports which gave Peter the urge to revisit.
"I suppose the memories came around various programmes about Bloody Sunday," said Peter. "I don't believe in Post Traumatic Stress but my memories came back after my mum died about three or four years ago. They just started to emerge and they were in need of healing, for want of a better word. Part of that healing process was talking about it and coming back to Derry.
“You just think of all the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday and people who live there usually have to suffer it all the way through. We came and went, it was easy for us. No attachments or loyalties, but for people living there it was very different. Every time I read something about Bloody Sunday I am appalled.
“Things keep coming up. I read something last night and if it’s true, I received more compensation for my wounds than all but four families of the 13 victims of Bloody Sunday. I found that staggering.”
Coming to terms with the past
Peter has vowed to come back to the city to continue coming to terms with his past and the part he played during the Troubles, but he has regrets.
“I wish I had told people about being in the army which I didn’t do, as a confession type of thing, but the words kept getting stuck.
“I feel guilty not telling them who I was when they were so open with me about their pasts.“I’ll hold back nothing next time I come to Derry.”
Permission to use pictures from ’Derry Through The Lens - Refocus’ kindly given by Guildhall Press.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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