M62 Coach Bomb (4th Feb 1974)

blackprince · Post by **blackprince** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 6:38 pm

The BBC reminded me that today was the anniversary of the M62 Coach Bombing (just after midnight on Monday Feb 4th 1974) . I have reason to remember it because we lived in Drighlington (about half a mile from the motorway) and the blast shook our house just after we had gone to bed. The windows really rattled in their frames and the curtains blew horizontally into the room. I knew it was an explosion of some sort but didn't find out the horiffic details until I switched on the radio news next morning.There used to be a memorial plaque on the M62 but I didn't see it last time I drove past.

Post by **Croggy1** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 6:52 pm

There is a memorial garden at Hartshead Moor service station, where the ceremony was staged. Quote: A memorial made of Yorkshire stone was unveiled in the garden in 2009 to replace a plaque inside the service station.The original was moved to the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-21312841

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 7:05 pm

As it happens I was only watching this ''Soldiers' Stories Northern Ireland'' documentary last night about the hellhole that was Northern Ireland in that era. It's hard hitting stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-UuwnX7ZsThey finally signed the Good Friday Agreement in 1988, 15 years after they rejected the Sunningdale Agreement in 1973 that was pretty much the same offer on the table. Thousands of life's needlessly wasted in between those years.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 7:53 pm

I think for me the depths were well and truly plumbed with the (earlier) 'Corporals Killings' that year.Also, as this was televised, the awful incident caused some Americans to pull the plug on 'Irish Aid' or at very least question what it was used for.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 8:09 pm

blackprince wrote: The BBC reminded me that today was the anniversary of the M62 Coach Bombing (just after midnight on Monday Feb 4th 1974) . I have reason to remember it because we lived in Drighlington (about half a mile from the motorway) and the blast shook our house just after we had gone to bed. The windows really rattled in their frames and the curtains blew horizontally into the room. I knew it was an explosion of some sort but didn't find out the horiffic details until I switched on the radio news next morning.There used to be a memorial plaque on the M62 but I didn't see it last time I drove past. I could be mistaken blackprince but I think it was put inside the services.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 8:15 pm

The first plaque was, the garden is new.

blackprince · Post by **blackprince** » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 9:04 pm

Thanks Johnny & Cardi. I had this vague recollection of seeing a memorial plaque alongside the motorway on the spot where the coach stopped. Its nearly 40 years ago so I could be wrong. It makes more sense to place the memorial , and the more recent garden, at the nearby Hartshead services. I'll take a llook next time I pass that way.

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Tue 05 Feb, 2013 12:04 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: As it happens I was only watching this ''Soldiers' Stories Northern Ireland'' documentary last night about the hellhole that was Northern Ireland in that era. It's hard hitting stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-UuwnX7ZsThey finally signed the Good Friday Agreement in 1988, 15 years after they rejected the Sunningdale Agreement in 1973 that was pretty much the same offer on the table. Thousands of life's needlessly wasted in between those years. The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998 25 years after the Sunningdale Agreement, which was wrecked by Paisley and the Unionist Ulster Workers Council who called a general strike, the spineless (and majorityless) Wilson government caved.Judith Ward was convicted at Wakefield Crown Court of the bombing - the security around the court was unbelievable - floodlights, post boxes sealed up, armed guards. Turned out 18 years later that she didn't do it. The paranoia about Northern Ireland in those days was tremendous. I recall being evacuated from a pub in central London because of a bomb scare.The whole thing could start up again over this flag business. The democratically elected Belfast council have chosen only to display the Union flag on the same days it is flown in the rest of the UK. Elements within the Unionist community object to this, but instead of biding their time and trying to vote those who are for it off the council at the next available opportunity, these people who always say they are in favour of democracy when it suits them have decided to use violence to get their way. Nothing changes. How long before the troops are back on the streets of Belfast?

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 05 Feb, 2013 12:18 am

Sad but true Major but we are being dragged OT from Leeds

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Tue 05 Feb, 2013 5:13 pm

One of my mates from primary school in Blackpool was killed in that bombing.I passed the 11 plus and he didn't ,so we had gone our separate ways, when i saw his name on the casualty list I remember getting a real shock.