50 years since first British soldier killed in Derry during Troubles

Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the first British soldier to be killed in Derry in the Troubles, writes Sean McLaughlin.
1971... The damaged British Army jeep.1971... The damaged British Army jeep.
1971... The damaged British Army jeep.

Lance Corporal William Jolliffe (18), a lance corporal in the Royal Military Police, died after an army Land Rover was hit by petrol bombs and crashed into a wall at the junction of Cable Street and Westland Street in the Bogside.

In all, ten petrol bombs were thrown - four of them hitting the vehicle - in the attack which took place just after midnight on March 1, 1971.

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The next day’s edition of the ‘Derry Journal’ reported that, as the army jeep reached the street junction, a youth threw a petrol bomb which did not explode; but, then, a gang of youths, numbering between 20-30, attacked the vehicle with more petrol bombs and it burst into flames, went out of control and crashed into a wall.

FRONT PAGE... How the ‘Derry Journal’ reported the incidentFRONT PAGE... How the ‘Derry Journal’ reported the incident
FRONT PAGE... How the ‘Derry Journal’ reported the incident

The driver, reported the ‘Journal’, managed to get out but the other two occupants were trapped in the vehicle. Local residents helped to extricate them and they were cared for in a house until an ambulance arrived. The badly injured L/Cpl. Jolliffe was taken to hospital but died soon after admission.

The inquest into L/Cpl. Jolliffe’s death heard he died as a result of inhaling a high concentration of chemicals from fire extinguishers used in an attempt to put out flames inside the jeep. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure after hearing evidence that the soldier succumbed to the asphyxiant and anaesthetic effect of the chemicals.

Evidence was given by the jeep’s driver who said the vehicle ignited suddenly in flames which covered the windscreen and entered the cab through air vents.

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The front seat passenger said he used a fire extinguisher and could see Lance Corporal Jolliffe using another in the back of the vehicle.

Residents who witnessed the incident. Clockwise from top left Willie McCay, Tommy Green and Kathleen McLaughlin.Residents who witnessed the incident. Clockwise from top left Willie McCay, Tommy Green and Kathleen McLaughlin.
Residents who witnessed the incident. Clockwise from top left Willie McCay, Tommy Green and Kathleen McLaughlin.

He said: “At one point, I thought Jolliffe was on fire and I doused him with my fire extinguisher. As we were preparing to leave the vehicle, we came under a fierce attack with petrol bombs and the vehicle was burning fiercely.

“The crowd was shouting and jeering at us. I heard Jolliffe coughing and spluttering in the rear. I attempted to pull him into the front as the vehicle was burning fiercely at the rear, but I could not reach him.”

Lance Corporal Jolliffe had been serving with the 173 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police when he died.

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He had just returned from his family home in Chippenham, in Wiltshire, after attending his father’s funeral ten days earlier.

A special 24-strong squad was set up by the RUC to investigate the incident which was condemned by the SDLP MP John Hume, the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Neil Farren, and others.