Witness History
Witness History
British troops take to the streets of Northern Ireland
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August 8, 2019
9 minutes
Available for over a year
In August 1969 the British Army was first deployed in Northern Ireland. Their job was to keep the peace on the streets of Londonderry where sectarian violence had broken out. To begin with the soldiers were welcomed by residents, but attitudes soon changed and what became known as 'The Troubles' got underway.
Picture: Armed British soldiers on the streets of Northern Ireland, 15th August 1969 (Credit: Press Association)