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The 14th/20th Hussars took part in early Operations in Northern Ireland in the 1970s.
In November 1970 C Squadron carried out an operational tour in Northern Ireland, the first of many by the regiment. In 1971 A Squadron rejoined the regiment at Tidworth from Singapore and went to Northern Ireland in June, followed by RHQ and C Squadron in August.
In August 1971, while patrolling near the border with Eire, Corporal Peter Webb, of C Squadron, was approaching the customs post at Cullaville when his Ferret Scout Car was hit by a Claymore mine and came under automatic fire. Despite receiving a half-inch bolt in his jaw, he calmly returned fire and gave his driver the order to reverse out of trouble; he was awarded the Military Medal. On 29th August, a patrol commanded by Sergeant Tottman was ambushed near Crossmaglen. The commander of the leading vehicle, Corporal Armstrong, was killed and his driver, Trooper Ager, seriously wounded. A Saracen personnel carrier, with Corporals McVay and Elsdon came to assist the recovery. After 45 minutes and under continuous fire, Sergeant Tottman extricated his patrol. He received a Mention in Dispatches for his actions, and Corporals McVay and Elsdon received General Officer Commanding’s Commendations.
In July 1972, A Squadron returned to Ulster and moved into Belfast. While patrolling in the Lenadoon area of the city in a Ferret, Second Lieutenant Robert Williams-Wynn was killed by a sniper. His driver, Trooper Brian Hansell, was wounded in the shoulder, but called for support over the radio and insisted on driving his officer to Musgrave Park Hospital. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches.
In February 1974, A Squadron was billeted in Gosford Castle, a Victorian folly, with troops at Newcastle, Newry and Newtownhamilton. The squadron had some successes arresting suspected terrorists and finding weapons and explosives. One troop under Second-Lieutenant Colin Wetherall-Pepper found three bombers and chased them across the border. Two were captured and made to defuse their bomb. On this tour, Corporal Michael Herbert and Corporal Michael Cotton were tragically shot dead in error by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Also Trooper John Tyson died in a road accident whilst driving a Landrover, which had been protected with sandbags against improvised explosive devices.
