'GLORIOUS GLOSTERS LAST STAND

The Gloucesters made their triumphant return from Ulster recently and swaggered through the streets of Bristol in a victory march.

Freedom streets The march was originally banned, but after an outcry from the right wing of this old slavetrade city the decision was reversed and the Ist Battalion had the freedom of the streets.

This was a gay public-relations affair with children and mothers out waving at the parade.

One wonders how many smiles would have frozen on the faces of the naïve populace if they had learned of the farewell the regiment gave to the embattled CHEQUE Criticism continues to mount against the way the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders' shop stewards' co-ordinating committee attacked the Young Socialists' Right - to - Work march after it set out from Glasgow on February 5 for its five-week trek to London.

The committee gave £100 to the campaign but then placed advertisements in the Communist Party's 'Morning Star' and "Tribune' suggesting the money had been obtained by false pretences.

Following the massive Rightto-Work rally at Empire Pool, Wembley on March 12 the marchers unanimously decided to give the £100 back to the committee. Bob Dickie received the cheque and signed a receipt on behalf of the committee.

Pat Kelly, an ex-General and Municipal Workers' Union convenor at the Robb Caledon shipyard, Dundee, gave us his comments on the co-ordinating committee's conduct:

The 'Morning Star' advertisement, published after the UCS gave £100 to the Right-to-Work march was definitely a slander on the marchers. It was quite right to give the money back.

The Young Socialists and the critical of the policies of the coordinating committee in the 'work-in'. '. But the money was given because they saw the mass support the Right-to-Work campaign. was winning in trades councils and factories-they saw that they had to give it. As to the advertisement repudiating the march, I'm sure there must have been outside pressure on the co-ordinating committee. Catholic inhabitants Rd, Belfast.

After a night of uproarious celebration the women and children of Divis Towers in the Lower Falls were left terrified standing guard in the corridors lest men of the regiment stuck by their promise to 'be back in an hour' A Union Jack was painted by the soldiers on a gable wall with the 'Glorious Gloucesters' battle honour around it.

The last post was sounded several times and shots were fired cowboy style into the air. Other soldiers visited public houses to insult and taunt men they had arrested - and later released - because they were innocent.

The 'invasion' of Divis Towers occurred when Saracens were driven into the courtyard and soldiers mobbed along the corridors.

Mrs Susan Carson described the intrusion:

'There was pandemonium here. I was hit on the arm with a rifle butt. The people were just ADEN ENY Above: wall with battle honour of in a state of terror. They were ringing bells and blowing bugles and the children were hysterical.' Other women in the flats claimed they had been spat at, indecently assaulted and generally insulted. The Citizens' Defence Committee headquarters in the Falls Rd was inundated with complaints.

an at the behaviour of 'his' boys.

In Raglan St soldiers stood in doorways with their rifles at the ready singing 'The Sash' - the battle song of extreme rightwing Orange order.

Another soldier climbed up on the roof of the Clonard Cinema and hoisted the Union Jack. John Watson, a Citizens' Defence Committee member, said that the area had been peaceful for some time and it appeared the army ERELAND