Although the MOD admits to the loss of just over 700 soldiers in or as a result of the Northern Ireland troubles, the real figure is over 1,000 and a complete Roll of Honour is included in my first book.

More deaths than the Korean War and although the GSM was awarded for service in Nothern Ireland, between 1969 and the ceasefire, it is not regarded as a ‘war’ and the contributions of the 300,000 squaddies who served there are largely ignored other than by the individual Regimental websites, by NIVA and by www.operationbanner.com