Caterham Arms pub bombing
On 27 August 1975 a Provisional IRA bomb exploded without warning at the Caterham Arms public house in Caterham, Surrey, England. There were no fatalities but 33 people were injured, some severely. Two off-duty soldiers lost their legs as a result of the bombing.
| Caterham Arms pub bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Troubles | |
 The Caterham Arms in 2009 | |
| Location | Caterham, Surrey, England |
| Date | 27 August 1975 21:20 (GMT) |
Attack type | Time bombs |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 33 |
| Perpetrator | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
Background
In February 1975 the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) agreed to ceasefire with the British government & the last IRA attack in England was in January 1975 when they planted seven time bombs in London.[1]
The bombing
The IRA planted a time bomb in the Caterham Arms public house in Caterham, Surrey, leaving a 7lb bomb in a duffel bag under a seat. There was no warning and the bomb exploded at 9:20pm, injuring 23 civilians and 10 off-duty soldiers. The pub was used by members of the Welsh Guards who were based at the barracks nearby. Some of the injuries were very serious, with at least three soldiers losing limbs, including a male soldier, who lost both legs and one arm, as well as two other soldiers who lost a leg each.[2][3] The blast blew the roof off the pub in the process. This attack marked the start of a renewed bombing campaign in England and the end of the truce with the British Government.[4] The next day, the IRA exploded a bomb in Oxford Street, injuring several people.[5]
References
- Steven P. Moysey, The Road to Balcombe Street - The IRA Reign of Terror in London: Second Edition pg.160-161 (ISBN 978-0-7890-2913-3)
- "Hansard, Written Answers, 2 November 1976".
- "The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London".
- "CAIN: PRONI Public Records on CAIN Web". ulst.ac.uk.
- "CAIN: PRONI Public Records on CAIN Web". ulst.ac.uk.