LCpl Kevin John Pullin
Kevin joined the Army and
the Regiment late in life having had a taste of Soldiering with the 4th
Battalion Devon and Dorset Regiment (T.A.) By the time of his death he
had served three years with the 1st Battalion Duke of
Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, and during that time he had served in
‘B’ Company, as a Rifleman, as a Mortarman with the Mortar Platoon
and as a Physical Training Instructor. Kevin was the winner of the
Battalion Cross Country running Championships ‘The Nines Cup’ in
1991and 1992 at Catterick. In 1993 he was selected for the Army Cross
Country Team. Kevin’s fitness was outstanding and there were few in the
Battalion who could match him, when laden with a pack few could march as
fast as he could. One Company commander remembers having to pull rank on
him to slow him down.
L/Cpl PULLIN who at the
time of his death was serving in ‘C’ Company based at Crossmaglen was
killed by a terrorist using a new large sniper rifle, the Barrett Light
.50. The Company Commander, Maj P C TOMLINSON, recounted the events of
that day: -
‘Despite two successful
attacks the mortar threat remained high, and the I.R.A. seemed determined
to inflict serious injury. We conducted a number of anti – mortar
operations designed both to pre-empt further attack and to discover the
places from which these attacks were launched. These operations involved
the whole Company plus elements of Operations Company who conducted VCP
tasks on the routes and approaches to the area of operations. One such
operation was run on the 15th/16th July.
Nothing of significance
was found, although there seemed to be genuine surprise amongst the
locals at both the timing and scope of the operation. Whilst surprise had
been achieved it became apparent that the operation had attracted the
attention of known terrorists and associates who were seen observing
troop movements, we felt vulnerable to a shoot. Such an attack had
undoubtedly been prepared and the IRA were just looking for an
opportunity target. Good patrolling skills had denied them the
opportunity, however as a consequence I decided to minimize all patrol
activity for the next day…..
A changeover from one of
the observation towers to the south of XMG had been delayed by the
anti-mortar operation. I approved a morning move into the SF base, but
this would be the only planned activity for the day. The changeover
patrol would be vulnerable to a shoot from the town and we there fore
deployed a town patrol to deter such an attack. It was designed to
support the incoming patrol over the last kilometre of its move in.
Lt MUSPRATT deployed with
three teams on a short 15 – 20 minute town patrol. He moved out with
his team and set up a snap VCP on the Carran road. No sooner had the
patrol gone firm when a single shot was fired from the north of the town
and L/Cpl PULLIN was hit as he took up his fire position in the doorway
of a house. Despite magnificent efforts by Ptes PRICE and MEAD to keep
him alive it was obvious that nothing could be done. L/Cpl PULLIN was
evacuated by helicopter but pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. He
had been hit by a .5 inch round.’
L/Cpl PULLIN was the last
Duke of Edinburgh’s soldier to loose his life here, and the third to
die in XMG, the previous two being Cpl WINDSOR and Pte ALLEN
In 1994 in Honour of Kevin’s achievements the
Corporals mess donated a cup ‘The Lance Corporal Pullin Memorial Cup’ to be
presented to the individual winner of the ‘Nines Cup’ That year it
was presented to the Winner by Kevin’s father and mother.
(Source, Regimental Journal and Regimental History
‘Cold War Warrior’.
