Remembering Those Who Gave Their Lives In Northern Ireland
14th August at 1045
Friday 14th August 2026 was the 57th Anniversary of the start of Operation Banner
Paignton Royal British Legion members met at the Paignton War Memorial at 1045 for an act of remembrance. We were joined by representatives of Torquay RBL, Torbay Royal Naval Association, other ex-forces associations and members of the public.
Wreaths were laid by Branch President Kevin Foster and Steve Darling MP.
Operation Banner commenced on 14th August 1969 as a limited deployment to help the Royal Ulster Constabulary but developed into the longest continuous deployment of the British Armed Forces, lasting 37 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 3 days.
It concluded on 31st July 2007 following the signing on 10th April 1999 of the Good Friday Agreement / Belfast Agreement.
In total 1,441 members of the British Armed Forces lost their lives.
722 of these were killed in paramilitary actions and 719 died from other causes, such as accidents and natural causes whilst on deployment.
We will remember them
