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The General Service Medal awarded to Private M. L. Hatton, Green Howards, who was shot dead by an I.R.A. sniper in the area of houses on the North side of the Crumlin Road, shortly after having charged a group of stone throwing youths at the Woodvale/Crumlin road junction, 9 August 1971. At the time this tragic incident was described as being part of ‘the worst three days of violence Belfast has ever suffered’ General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24163702 Pte. M. L. Hatton Green Howards) good very fine £700-£900 Footnote Malcolm Leslie Hatton was born in Middlesborough in February 1950. He resided at Overdale Road, Park End, Middlesborough and served with the 1st Battalion, Green Howards. Hatton was killed in action by a sniper whilst serving in Northern Ireland, 9 August 1971. The Evening Gazette (For Middlesborough, Stockton and District) gives the following: ‘A Teeside soldier died today as a wave of terror engulfed Ulster. The soldier, 21 year-old Malcolm Leslie Hatton, of Park End, Middlesborough, was shot by a sniper in Northern Ireland’s worst rioting for three years. And three more men were killed today as explosions and fires wrecked large areas of Belfast. Private Hatton, who was dreading serving a second tour of duty in Northern Ireland, died after being shot in the head by a Belfast sniper. He died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, after surgeons had fought for three hours in a desperate attempt to save his life.... Malcolm was crossing a road in the Brompton Park area of Ardoyne shortly before midnight when he was hit in the head by a sniper’s bullet. He was rushed to hospital where a team of valiant surgeons fought a vain battle for his life. His wife and parents were told of his death in a telegram. After hearing of his son’s death, Mr Harry Hatton told the Evening Gazette: “He was home a short while ago and he seemed to have premonition. He felt as though something was going to happen - he was dreading going back.” Malcolm was serving his second tour of duty in Northern Ireland, and had been with the Green Howards for two and a half years. He had his early training in Greece and had also served with the Regiment in Germany. Malcolm and Elizabeth were married only on April 15 this year. They last saw each other before he left with his unit for Ireland ten days ago....’ Additional detail about the overall operations is provided in The Green Howards’ Gazette: ‘It is with deep regret that we announce the deaths of Private Malcolm Hatton and Private John Robinson both killed in action by I.R.A. snipers in Belfast. To the families of both we extend our deepest sympathy over their tragic loss. The Battalion took over operational responsibility from 1 LI at 0800 hours on Friday, 30th July [1971] and the last chalk arrived from BAOR about 1200 hours the next day. Our dispositions in Belfast were as follows: Tac H.Q. - Tennent Street Police Station. Main H.Q. - Flax Street Mill. A Coy. - Ligoniel. B Coy. - Based at Flax Street Mill and responsible for the Ardoyne. C Coy. - Based at Flax Street Mill and responsible for the Bone. Sp. Coy. - Based at Leopold Street and responsible for the Shankill. The first five days were relatively quiet. During this time we dealt with routine problems such as bomb scares - interface when groups of young Catholics and Protestants faced each other hurling insults or bricks - monitoring the movement of Protestant bands and football crowds and generally supporting the RUC. Then about 0100 hours on Friday, 6th August we were involved in our first sniping incident. One of B Company’s ‘pigs’ was fired on in Butler Street in the Ardoyne, the bullets striking the back doors which were closed and nobody was hurt. However this was the prelude to what can only be described as the worst three days of violence Belfast has ever suffered. As far as we are concerned it started just after midnight on Saturday, 7th August when we received reports of Catholic and Protestant youths s