Post by Waverley on Dec 26, 2007 23:03:34 GMT 1
Probably the most world renowned Glasgow street gang and despite dying out as an organised gang at the outbreak of the Second World War they are still as topical today as they were then.
TERROR IN BELFAST
Bridgeton Band In Involved In Scene
Great alarm is stated to have been caused in the heart of Belfast on Monday night, when a band from Bridgeton (described in certain quarters as the “Billy Boys” band), which had been over in Ireland for the “Twelfth” celebrations, marched into Royal Avenue to catch the night boat for Glasgow.
Accompanied by a big crowd of followers, the band played a party chorus, while its supporters, men and women sang and danced behind.
Suddenly a young man on the pavement brandished a revolver. The crowd scattered and fled in all directions. The man with the revolver was surrounded by a hostile mob, and took refuge in a billiards saloon.
The crowd were on the point of attacking the premises when tenders of armed police dashed up, and the fugitive was taken away in one of the tenders, while a strong force of police remained behind till the crowd dispersed.
Almost simultaneously another shot was fired, and another detachment of polic dashed in the direction with rifles at the “ready” In the twinkling of an eye the street was deserted.
Saturday 3rd August 1935.
BRIDGETON MEN’S THRILLS
Orange Grand Marshal’s Happier Experiences
Bullets spraying about them, and barricaded streets, provided a novel experience for members of the Bridgeton Purple and Crown Flute Band, which went over to Ireland on holiday and to take part in the recent Belfast Orange demonstrations. The sequel for two of the members, Bill Fullerton and David Turnbull evenuated in a Belfast police court at the weekend,when they were discharged from the country.
Fullerton and Turnbull , on their return home , were given a welcome from their followers. How they got into trouble was explained to a Standard reporter this week by Fullerton. “It was after the demonstration. We were going through a certain street when one of the marshal’s advised me to give the band the order to double,” he said.
“We refused to run, and walked through the street, stopped in the middle and played a tune. It was then the bullets began to fly. However, we were not standing for that, and chased the snipers.”
Several of the band were badly wounded, Turnbull and a youth, Burnside, being taken to hospital. Turnbull was struck a glancing blow in the stomach by a bullet, at a place where if the shot had gone straight it would probably have meant his death.
Another side of the picture is given by a Bridgeton man, Mr. Matthew Bones, Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge in Scotland, and who was over on holiday in Ireland, and who attended the demonstrations. Protestant and Catholics held an open air dance in front of one cafe, while in a certain village an Orange arch had some of its guy ropes fixed on to the railings of a nunnery and chapel which faced each other in the main street.
Since its return home the Bridgeton Purple and Crown Flute Band has received fifteen requests from Belfast Orange Lodges to take part in the procession next year. Before it left, however, it had accepted the invitation of the group which brought it over this year to lead it again next July.