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Michael Willetts
Michael Willetts
	13 August 1943 – 25 May 1971
Place of birth	Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Place of death	Springfield Road Police Station, Belfast
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	3 PARA, Parachute Regiment
Battles/wars	The Troubles, Northern Ireland
Awards	George Cross

Michael Willetts, GC (13 August 1943 – 25 May 1971) was one of the first British soldiers to be killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the recipient of a posthumous George Cross for his heroism in saving lives during the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombing which claimed his own.

[edit] Early life

Born in 1943 in the Nottinghamshire town of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Michael Willetts entered a local colliery after leaving school but found that he did not suit the job and soon afterwards joined the British Army, serving in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. He married his wife, Sandra and had two children, Dean and Trudy during his time in the army.^[1] After several tours abroad and a promotion to Sergeant, Willetts was dispatched with the rest of his regiment to Northern Ireland on Operation Motorman at the outbreak of violence there between the Catholic and Protestant communities in 1971. Placed with his squad at Springfield Road police station in Belfast, Willetts engaged in local operations until 25 May 1971 when he earned his George Cross.

[edit] George Cross

Sergeant Willetts was not present at the start of the incident which would claim his life, working in a back room of the station away from the reception hall which was manned by a police officer and filled with people making enquiries. Into this crowd walked an unidentified man associated with the Provisional Irish Republican Army carrying a suitcase from which trailed a burning fuse. Challenged by a police officer, the man fled dropping the case and fuse, which continued to burn. Realising that just seconds remained, the police officer called the alarm and attempted to evacuate the hall way which contained several women and children.

Hearing the alarm, Willetts ran to the scene without hesitation and dispatched one of his men to evacuate the upstairs offices whilst he aided in clearing the front hall. Holding the door open for the civilians and police in the front hall, Willetts then slammed it behind him and realising that the door was not strong enough to withstand the blast, he stood against it hoping to absorb the explosion with his body. When the bomb detonated seconds later, Willetts was killed by flying shrapnel from the door, but in doing so he spared those sheltering in the room behind him from death or serious injury.

[edit] Medal citation

The George Cross was awarded to Sergeant Willett's widow in June and the citation appeared in the London Gazette at the same time.

The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the George Cross to:
2391067 Sergeant Michael WILLETTS, The Parachute Regiment.

At 8.24 p.m. on the evening of 25th May 1971, a terrorist entered the reception hall of the Springfield Road Police Station in Belfast. He carried a suitcase from which a smoking fuse protruded, dumped it quickly on the floor and fled outside. Inside the room were a man and a woman, two children and several police officers. One of the latter saw at once the smoking case and raised the alarm. The Police Officers began to organise the evacuation of the hall past the reception desk, through the reception office and out by a door into the rear passage.

Sergeant Michael Willetts was on duty in the inner hall. Hearing the alarm, he sent an N.C.O. up to the first floor to warn those above and hastened himself to the door towards which a Police Officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office. He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway, shielding those taking cover. In the next moment, the bomb exploded with terrible force.

Sergeant Willetts was mortally wounded. His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area, his post was elsewhere. He knew well, after 4 months service in Belfast, the peril of going towards a terrorist bomb but he did not hesitate to do so. All those approaching the door from the far side agree that if they had had to check to open the door they would have perished. Even when they had reached the rear passage, Sergeant Willetts waited, placing his body as a screen to shelter them. By this considered act of bravery, he risked - and lost - his life for those of the adults and children. His selflessness, his courage are beyond praise. 22nd June 1971

London Gazette, 21 June 1971^[2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

^ George Cross Database, Retrieved 2007-05-20
^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45404, p. 6641, 21 June 1971. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.

[0] George Cross Database, Retrieved 2007-05-20

[1] London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45404, p. 6641, 21 June 1971. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.

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Contents

[edit] Early life

[edit] George Cross

[edit] Medal citation

[edit] External links

[edit] References