This poem was written by a student at Queens College Belfast and handed in to the Regiment, I do not think that it was ever published. It was due to these killings that no soldier under the age of 18 was sent to N.I.
In memory of Fusiliers Dougald McCaughey, Joseph and John McCaig of B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers, Girdwood Park, Belfast 1971. They were picked up by the IRA on the 10th March 1971 in Belfast City centre and taken to Squires Lane in Ligoniel and executed by shots to the neck and head.
LIGONIEL
ALL THOSE THAT RULE THIS PROVENCE
HOW GUILTY THEY MUST FEEL
FOR THE DEATHS OF THREE
YOUNG SOLDIERS
IN A DITCH AT LIGONIEL
THESE SOLDIERS CAME FROM SCOTLAND
TWO ONLY IN THEIR TEENS
IN COLD BLOOD THEY WERE MURDERED
WHILST
THOSE IN POWER DREAM
WHEN OUR OWN ULSTER SOLDIERS
SOME SERVING FAR AWAY
RECEIVE THEIR SPRIG OF SHAMROCK
I
WONDER WHAT THEY'D SAY
OWN GOOD NAME IS TARNISHED
THIS SCAR WILL NEVER HEAL
PERHAPS THEY'LL PLANT A THISTLE
IN
THAT DITCH AT LIGONIEL
IT MATTERS NOT HOW LONG THEY LIVE
THEY NEVER CAN CONCEAL
THEY STOOD ASIDE WHILE SOLDIERS
DIED
IN THAT DITCH AT LIGONIEL
OUR THOUGHTS GO TO THEIR PARENTS
WHEN ON THEIR KNEES THEY KNEEL
AND TRY TO PAINT A
PICTURE
OF THAT PLACE CALLED
"LIGONIEL"
(written by a student of Belfast)
From: Robert A Lynch
ex Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Royal
Highland Fusiliers
Royal Engineers
