Phone 028 90 420 145
| SOLDIERS DETAILS | ||
| Soldiers Name: William Best |
Other Names: James |
Also Known As: |
| Marital Status: Single |
Age at Death: 19 |
Civilian Job: |
| SERVICE DETAILS | ||
| Enlistment
Date: |
Service No: |
Rank: Rgr |
| Regiment: RANGERS |
Battalion: 1 R IRISH |
Company: B Company |
| Service Type: Gen Service |
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| DETAILS OF INCIDENT | ||
| On
or Off Duty: Off |
Date
of Death: 21/05/1972 |
 |
| County: Londonderry |
Location: Londonderry |
|
Details: Shot by the Official IRA when he was home on leave from Germany. The outcry after his death was a major factor in leading to the Official IRA ceasefire declared later that year. He had left home to make a telephone call and his body was found on waste ground. An Official IRA statement said that he had been 'apprehended in suspicious circumstances, tried by an IRA court and sentenced to death; and that their military orders were to kill every British soldier they could'. 1st Ranger to be killed. |
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The details displayed on this page those are those currently held in the UDR and R IRISH (HS) Roll of Honour database. If you know of any errors please contact us and we will amend the record as soon as possible. Thank you.
North (Coleraine Area)
South (Portadown Area)
East (Holywood Area)
West (Enniskillen Area)