ON THIS DAY IN 1972, CORBYN'S MATES...

The Provisional IRA murdered a British soldier in the Ballymurphy district of west Belfast.  Private George Lee was on foot patrol when he was struck down by a single sniper's bullet.  The gunman had taken up position in a house on Whitecliff Parade and Pte Lee was killed almost instantly after being shot in the neck.

The 22-year-old from Leeds was a member of the Duke of Wellington Regiment (1st Battalion) and had signed up five years earlier.  His parents later wrote to the Lord Mayor of Belfast to say they felt no ill will to the people of the city and wanted to express their gratitude to the Catholic priest who had donated towards a wreath for their son.  In 2010 Pte Lee's mother was presented with the Elizabeth Cross, an award given to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations.

Cap badge of the Duke of Wellington Regiment (1702-2006)