NAM.1989-08-78-1

‘Officers Mess. Royal Regt of Wales. Palace Barracks Holywood. Belfast. Lt Rchd Lee. Lt N.Evans’, 13 July 1974. Graphite, signed lower right and dated top right, by Ralph Lillford, 1974. Associated with Northern Ireland (1969-2007). Two lieutenants, each distinguished by the two pips on their shoulder tabs, enjoy a quiet game of backgammon. Even without the artist’s inscription, the painting of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, on the wall and fancy lamp bracket leave no doubt that the location is the Officers’ Mess. Palace Barracks was one of the most popular billets for troops on residential tours of duty. Residential tours meant a two-year posting, as opposed to roulement, the four to six-month short tour also known as Operation BANNER.

BANNER, Operation, 1969-2007 (Northern Ireland deployment 1969-2007)