HC Deb 03 July 1981 vol 7 cc520-1W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel have (a) been killed, (b) severely injured and (c) suffered other injuries while on duty in Northern Ireland in each year since 1969.

Mr. Goodhart

The full information is not held in the form requested, and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost. The following table shows the number of soldiers, Army and UDR, who are recorded as having been(a) killed, (b) wounded by gunshot or bomb blast, and (c) otherwise injured, in each year since 1969:

Year Army/ UDR Killed Wounded Injured
1968 Army 0 24
1970 Army 0 41 579
1971 Army 43 232 149
UDR 5 6 3
1972 Army 103 542
UDR 26 36
1973 Army 58 278 247
UDR 8 21 2
1974 Army 28 205 248
UDR 7 27 3
1975 Army 14 44 107
UDR 6 15 1
1976 Army 14 143 99
UDR 15 18 4
1977 Army 15 75 97
UDR 14 9 6
1978 Army 14 29 98
UDR 7 6 2
1979 Army 38 52 80
UDR 10 7 14
1980 Army 8 15 38
UDR 9 13 11
1981 to 31 May Army 8 20 17
UDR 6 9 4

Definitions:

  1. (a) Wounded. Directly caused by shooting, bombing etc., ie hit by bullet or fragment of bomb, or flying debris from a bomb (but not slight cuts from shattered glass, included under b).
  2. (b) Injured. All injuries not under a, includes all injuries sustained on operational duty not involving shooting-bombing incidents. Also includes petrol bomb injuries.
  3. (c) Road traffic accidents are not included in any of the totals.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1969.

Mr. Goodhart

The following table shows the number of Army personnel in Northern Ireland as at 31 May each year:

1969 2,700
1970 6,800
1971 10,300
1972 14,300
1973 17,000
1974 16,600

1975 14,500
1976 14,700
1977 14,600
1978 13,600
1979 13,000
1980 12,400
1981 10,900

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