On the 7th of December 2025 at 15:00hrs members of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch attended the Droppin Well Memorial Service at the Memorial Garden, Tamlaghtfinlagan Parish Church, Ballykelly to remember those killed in the 1982 Droppin Well bombing. 

Each year, members of the RBLR, veterans, families, and supporters gather at Dropping Well to pay tribute to the soldiers and civilians killed in the attack which took place on 6 December 1982.

The service provides a moment of quiet reflection, remembrance, and unity, ensuring that those who made the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten.

The Droppin Well Memorial Service is a solemn and deeply moving occasion held each year to remember the victims of the Droppin Well bombing in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland.

On 6 December 1982, the Droppin Well Bar — a venue frequented by service personnel — was the scene of a devastating attack in which 17 people lost their lives, including 11 soldiers and 6 civilians. Many others were injured. The tragedy remains one of the most significant single attacks against the security forces during the Troubles.

Each year, the memorial service brings together families of the fallen, veterans, serving personnel, local residents, and representatives from veterans’ organisations and the Royal British Legion. The service provides an opportunity to reflect, to remember those who were taken too soon, and to stand in quiet solidarity with their loved ones.

The ceremony typically includes prayers, readings, wreath laying, and a period of silence. The sound of the Last Post serves as a powerful reminder of sacrifice, duty, and the enduring cost of conflict. It is a time not only of remembrance, but also of respect and unity.

For those who attend, the Droppin Well Memorial Service is more than a date in the calendar. It is a commitment — to honour the memory of the 17 lives lost, to support their families, and to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten.

We will remember them.