assault rifle

War Or Peace?

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“War or peace, north or south.” A hooded gunman from “Seymour Hill UFF” stands with his back to an explosion on O’Connell Street, Dublin.

“To the politicians: words are not enough for the peace and freedom of the children and the people of Ulster – “deeds and actions”. To our freedom-fighters: the supreme sacrifice is to lay down your life for your country. Some have given everything, others have yet to give.” The same wording (with “volunteers” instead of “freedom-fighters”) appears in a UVF mural in east Belfast.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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No 5 Platoon

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“No 5 platoon, A company, 1st battalion, Shankill, west Belfast”. Hooded gunmen crouch in front of a St Andrew’s Saltire and an Ulster Banner, with a UVF flag on top.

A plaque “in memory of a true soldier, Big Bill Campbell” was later added (see the Peter Moloney Collection).

Northland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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D Company, Ballysillan

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The writing on the stone reads, “In memory of Lt Col John Bingham, murdered 14th Sept 86” and “In memory of Major Thomas Stewart, murdered 29th Oct 96”. The volunteers in hoods are divided between active service and graveside memorial: two stand behind their downward-pointing rifles, two assume crouching positions with rifles pointed.

D company (Ballysillan), 1st battalion, UVF

Ballysillan Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00232

Gone But Not Forgotten

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“This mural is a memorial to the volunteers of A Coy 1st Batt who served the Shankill community so bravely during the years of conflict. Gone but not forgotten.” The flags being held on either side are of the Shankill Protestant Boys (1st battalion, Ulster Volunteers) and the USSF.

Canmore Street, Shankill, west Belfast. Paddy Duffy’s British Telecom van is parked on the Shankill, to the right of the image.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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Woodvale Defence Association

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“In proud and loving memory of our comrades who have sacrificed their lives. They gave their all so that we may live in freedom.” The Woodvale Defence Association (“WDA” along the bottom) was the largest of the local associations which merged together in 1971 to form the Ulster Defence Association (UDA/UFF) and the WDA became B company of 2nd battalion (WP).

Ohio Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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For Freedom Alone

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“It is not for glory we fight, nor riches, nor honours – but for freedom alone, which no good man loses but with his life.” (from the Declaration Of Arbroath). A UDA/UFF gunman from A battalion, South Belfast brigade, is ready to fire.

Similar in style to the pair of murals in Snugville Street.

Roden Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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UVF 1st East Antrim Battalion

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The flag on the left is the UVF flag with “1912” in the corner, referring back to the Ulster Volunteers. The flag on the right lists WWI battles – Somme, Ypres, St Quentin, and Grandcourt are showing, while Arras, Thiepval, Messines, and Fricourt are probably hidden – under the title “Monkstown East Antrim”; men from the area joined the Central Antrim/12th battalion of the RIR.

Cloyne Crescent, Monkstown, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
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We Are The Pilgrims

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“We are the pilgrims, master – we shall go always a little further” is a line from James Elroy Flecker’s verse poem Hassan and is inscribed on the clock tower of the the Hereford barracks of the SAS (WP). It is used here by hooded gunmen from “East Belfast” Ulster Volunteer Force.

Armitage Close, east Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
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