ON THIS DAY IN 1973, CORBYN'S MATES...

The Provisional IRA murdered two British soldiers in a bomb attack in south Armagh.  Security forces had been lured to the village of Cullaville, near Crossmaglen, after a masked terrorist had told a local woman there was a bomb inside the house opposite.  He had knocked her door and told her to call Newry police station with the news.  The house was owned by a soldier serving with the Royal Irish Rangers, but all the occupants were out at the time.

The police were first to arrive on the scene and checked the perimeter of the property.  A short time later soldiers arrived in a helicopter and prepared to enter the house.  A police sergeant described how he heard glass breaking followed by a loud explosion.  The house was partially demolished by the blast and Warrant Officer Ian Donald was killed instantly.  Sergeant John Wallace was fatally injured and a third soldier was seriously injured.  The house was just 500 yards from the border and it is thought the bomb was detonated remotely by terrorists who then fled into the Republic.

WO2 Donald was a bomb disposal officer serving with 48th Field Squadron the Royal Engineers.  He was 35 and came from Ripon in North Yorkshire.  He was survived by his wife and two children.

Sgt Wallace, 31, was a member of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment and came from Frome in Somerset.  He was survived by his wife and child.

Sgt John Wallace