NAM.2013-02-18-1

Oral history interview with Col Simon Fordham, Royal Irish Regiment and Royal Irish Rangers, conducted by Mairead O’Hara, 30 Apr 2009 and 6 May 2009. Interview covers his Army service 1973-2004, discussing his service in South America, Belize, Berlin, Northern Ireland, Uganda, Cyprus, the Gulf War, Rwanda, Kosovo and Sierra Leone. Digital audio file, five files, duration: 3 hr 18 min 55 sec in total. Associated with Cold War (1945-1991), Gulf War (1990-1991), Rwanda (1994), Northern Ireland (1969-2007), Kosovo (1999-), Sierra Leone (2000-2001). Interview covers his Army service 1973-2004, discussing his service in South America and Belize, describing his experiences searching for drug smugglers, notably an incident when an aircraft that was being used for smuggling was destroyed; expresses his opinions on jungle warfare; discusses his commissioning and officer training at Sandhurst in the late 1970s; his service in Berlin and posting at Spandau Prison guarding Rudolf Hess; his service in Northern Ireland, Uganda, Cyprus, the first Gulf War, Rwanda, with his thought on the United Nations; his service in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, where during Operation BARRAS he discusses his role in negotiations for the release of soldiers under captivity of the West Side Boys and the resulting rescue operation.

Northern Ireland (1969-), Cold War (1945-1989), Gulf War (1990-1991), Rwanda (1994), Kosovo (1999-2008)

BARRAS, Operation, 2000 (Sierra Leone 2000-2001)