Blair to honour elite bomb squad

Tony Blair will today honour an elite military unit that defused thousands of terrorist bombs over three decades in the North.

The British Prime Minister is to present a letter of tribute to officers from the 321 Explosive Ordnance Squadron at Downing Street.

Even though there have never been more than 100 soldiers in its ranks, it is the most decorated peacetime unit in the British Army.

Efforts to thwart republican and loyalist paramilitary attacks have led to nearly 350 honours and awards, most for gallantry.

Since Northern Ireland was engulfed by disorder in 1969, the 321 Squadron has responded to 55,000 call-outs and neutralised 6,000 live devices.

A total of 200 tonnes of explosives have been recovered safely during operations averaging one every six hours.

By the time of its first ceasefire in 1994, the British Army reckons the IRA had used bombs ranging in size from a few ounces to 8,000 pounds of commercial, military or home-made explosives.

The Provisionals had developed and deployed 15 different hand grenade types, 16 versions of mortars, as well as nail bombs, coffee-jar devices, under-car booby-traps, fire bombs, anti-armour and home-made explosive projectiles.

Loyalist terrorists have waged a frightening campaign, targeting lives and property with improvised explosives.

The unit’s mascot and recognised insignia is Felix, a cartoon cat renowned for getting into scrapes, having nine lives and using a bag of tricks to escape trouble.

But the cost of its work has been high for the 321 Squadron, with 20 operators killed and another 24 seriously injured.

Those who died are remembered at Felix Memorial Garden in Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Today’s recognition comes after relatives of a fallen serviceman lobbied their MP for such a tribute.