A local-born former soldier has told of how he narrowly avoided a fatal IRA bomb blast in 1974 as colleagues took part in a poignant memorial service at RM Condor in Arbroath.
Corporal Dennis Leach, 24 and Marine Michael Southern, 19, were killed when a 500lb bomb exploded at a security force observation post in County Armagh.
The bomb, hidden in two buried beer kegs, was detonated by remote control at Drummuckavall, near Crossmaglen on August 13 1974.
Yesterday’s service at the base’s Memorial Gardens was attended by several marines who served with Cpl Leach and Marine Southern, two of whom had a narrow escape from the blast one being saved by a burst appendix.
Major Steve Nicoll, originally from Dundee but now of Brechin, was one of the five men from 6 Troop, Yankee Company, 45 Commando inside the observation post at the time.
He said: “The bomb was set off at exactly three o’clock, which is when the marine at the observation post changed over. Me and the other two section members were protected from the explosion by a wall which shielded us from the powerful blast.
“I remember being lifted and slammed back down to earth. All the soil started coming back down again and started to bury me. I was struck by some falling stones, which made me gather my senses.
“I thought we had been mortared and that another round was only seconds away. I grabbed my weapon and ran out of the observation post.”
Major Nicoll, who was just 18 at the time, lost his hearing for 36 hours after the explosion but was unharmed.
He added: “Dennis and Micky’s deaths were a huge loss for the unit. The whole company were friends.
“Yankee Company built a sangar in the crater of the explosion in an act of raw defiance and occupied it for several weeks. The IRA never reappeared.”
A 40th anniversary event marking the unit’s deployment during the troubles in Northern Ireland will be held next year.
However, Stuart Lavery, chairman of 45 Commando Veterans, said he felt it was important that the men were honoured with their own event.
He recalled: “I was in Northern Ireland at the same time as Dennis and Michael. They were excellent guys and very professional soldiers.
“The tour in Ireland was very hairy because we were in constant contact with the enemy. You never knew what was coming round the corner.
“I had actually been sent to Ninewells Hospital two days before the explosion with a bust appendix, otherwise I could have been killed as well.
“I remember hearing about the deaths on the news and I knew my company was in that area. It was a very dark day for 45 Commando but being marines, we soldiered on.”
According to The Courier’s article about the attack in 1974, the IRA claimed responsibility shortly after the blast. Leach, from Leeds, and Southern, from St Albans, were both unmarried.
Conducting the service, Rev Robert Duncan said: “Dennis and Micky’s untimely deaths left their loved ones and us all bereaved of two brave and splendid commandos.”