Remembering Warrenpoint 46 Years: The Troubles' Deadliest Attack on Soldiers

On 27 August 1979, eighteen soldiers lost their lives and over twenty were seriously injured in a meticulously planned ambush during the Troubles.

Today marks the 46th anniversary of the Warrenpoint massacre, one of the darkest days for the British Army during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 27 August 1979, a convoy of British soldiers patrolling near Narrow Water Castle, outside Warrenpoint, came under a devastating attack carried out by the IRA’s South Armagh Brigade.

You can watch our memorial video here.

The ambush involved two large roadside bombs. The first, a 500-pound (227 kg) fertiliser bomb concealed in a lorry loaded with straw bales, targeted the convoy directly. The explosion struck the last lorry, instantly killing six members of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Only two soldiers survived the blast, both seriously injured.

Tragically, the attack did not end there. Anticipating the British Army’s response, the IRA had carefully prepared a second bomb to strike the incoming reinforcements and the incident command point established to manage the aftermath. As the Wessex helicopter lifted off, carrying wounded soldiers, the second bomb detonated, killing twelve more soldiers, including ten from the Parachute Regiment and two from the Queen’s Own Highlanders.

In total, 18 soldiers lost their lives that day, with more than twenty injured. It was a calculated and devastating strike, leaving an indelible mark on the British Army and on the history of the Troubles.

As we reflect on this anniversary, it is a solemn reminder of the human cost of conflict and the courage of those who serve in dangerous circumstances. Remembering Warrenpoint is not only about the tragedy itself but also about honouring the memory of those who gave their lives and the sacrifices made by their families and comrades.