Thank you for uploading this footage. It was my family who immigrated to Australia. I’m the little girls in dads arms while he’s being interviewed. We have had a great life in Australia and I thank my parents for the decision to move but I still miss all my family in Ireland and Ireland will always be home.

Mr. Gunn's story broke my heart. You could hear the sheer terror in his voice. I really hope he did well in New Zealand.

Full respect to Edward Gunn. A shortage of men like him in this world.

He was not political and was hard working but was a catholic, so he was run out of a protestant area...really fell sorry for Mr Gunn and his family. I am an ex-soldier and a generally a unionist, but I am ashamed that he was chased out of the area...and the country...

Great little video.... My parents were also one of the families that ran away to NZ and Australia. I was always a wee bit resentful, I felt like an outsider over here growing up and always wished we were back in Belfast. Watching these films makes it ever so clear that there was no other option at the time. I can understand my parents fears and why they felt they needed to leave their homes and other family and friends behind. My mother and father are both still alive and loving life down under... we can all be truly grateful for this when so many lost their lives during the troubles

These old news reports from the troubles are great to watch..very educational..they should be shown in schools

Edward Gunn seems like a legend , New Zealand gained a great guy.

Alot of comments for mr gunn. A hard working family man. The worst about it is there was so many like him and his family this happened too. I hope he found peace

The man at the end,You can see the pain in his eyes and hear it in his voice. I hope he made it to NZ and the other families at the start who said the were going to Australia went, stayed and had a good life, for I too left for Australia and have never looked back! Protestant or Catholic god bless every single one of them !!!!!!

An example of an innocent person , irrelevant of religion , who just wants a decent life but had his home attacked and his family terrified . The silent majority who suffered . Very sad.

19:05 Such a nice man. Respect.

Mr Edward Gunn. A fine man and true community person. God has not made enough people like this. An insperation.All of the Belfast and more Love you sir.

Mr Gunn is a treasure. God bless Mr Gunn and family. It makes me very proud , when I hear this man.

Truly felt sorry for Mr Gunn, just a working jack trying to live his life, hope things worked out for him and his family...

Thank you for uploading this documentary, I hope all the people that left have done well for themselves, I wish they would teach our troubles in our schools as younger generations haven't a clue, it's so they don't make the same mistakes and learn from our past and treat everyone with the same respect they deserve themselves, I remember these times thankfully my children haven't to a certain extent, many thanks ☺

It was heartbreaking having to see a decent man and his family get chased out of a place he liked living in.We cannot go back to times like that.I hope everything worked out better for them.

I hope Mr Gunn had a happy life in NZ, I'll bet he did. Nobody could put up with all the nonsense he suffered, I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes!

I’d love to know what happened to Edward Gunn after he left for New Zealand. I hope it went well for him and his family

It's all these individual stories that break your heart. Just normal people trying to live their lives.

Edward Gunn's house looks pretty much the same as it did 40 years ago. It's 80 Ardoyne Rd, Glenbryn. Definitely no catholics living around that district to this day.

Thank-you for uploading this video

Bad dat a man born and bredd in Belfast and works hard doesn't botther any one has to leave his country. Hope he made a good go of it in New Zealand.

Soldiers knew these people personally, we felt sorry for those we were unable to help.. We tried!

Interesting documentary on Belfast. I am a firm believer that the majority of people during 'the Troubles' simply wished to go about their own lives, work hard and look after their family, like any other family in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. Only a very small minority of people created the divide on both sides. I was particularly perturbed by the circumstances of the hardworking man nearing the end of the documentary, who had been forced to emigrate to New Zealand as a direct result of youths stoning and damaging his home. How helpless he must have felt for having committed the 'crime' of 'being from the other side'. How very sad! Belfast is a very different place now. However, will it last? Only time will tell.

Very sad story, and I hope Edward Gunn and his family are doing well in NZ. Like Edward Gunn, my grandfather (except a Protestant) “cut his losses” and left Belfast. Only he emigrated to Australia - in 1914. Where he met and married my grandmother (a Catholic).

My dad was brought up in East Belfast and lived in Scotland the rest of his life when he married my mum, we all went 'back home' to visit and I always remember he would have a year in his eye, when he seen how his beloved city had been ruined by hatred and bigotry , we cannot ever go back to those dark days ever again!!!

good old thames tv giving us clips of yesteryear, so long ago now.

Read many books on the troubles!!! Done a lotta research too it was a horrible time where many innocent lives were lost through catholic and Protestant fight 😭😭😭 I love coming ova to Belfast from Scotland beautiful country fave place in the world

Sad story of Edward Gunn , hard working man .....and subjected to that , and no protection from the army or police ...

"an average day in Belfast" well that would send you to the other side of the world.

Brave Bus drivers, who were often targeted and many killed or injured. The elderly gentleman boarding his windows . My heart melted when he was talking. Throughout ALL the years of The Troubles, the innocent communities, shoppers, children, workmen, they were all targeted by cowards on either side, and paid the ultimate price. God Bless them one and all, and bless this great island. I am an Irish descendant and I am, and always have been, proud to say that 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 🇬🇧

thank youuu! tough topic, love it from a historical not political POV

The Partitioning of the Six Counties from Ireland in 1921 was a disastrous Mistake from the British Government, it placed a Land Border on Land, and in the Mindset of both People's living there. Catholics and Protestants live side by side in the Republic of Ireland as Equals with no violence.

Sickening behaviour by both sides the youth should have been kept on leech.

14.10 is the problem. Protestant feels better because no Catholics nearby. She wasn't scared was she.... just didn't want them near her. That smile on her face when she quotes her husband saying it hasn't started yet.

To think it could go back to this because our precious peace process isn't being looked after 😞😠

The bus driver, what a legend 😂

That last interview was the most touching all of I've seen in those Thames documentaries about Belfast. I knew a guy who left a protestant area even though he was a protestant, simply because he didn't want to get entangled in the conflict in the early 80s. He spent 10 years in RSA and eventually returned.

Where I lived back then,there was little or none of this. I pitied the poor people of Belfast having to endure that shit for over 30 years. Thankfully,those times are passed.

I see from Google maps that this area has been redeveloped and Thistle Street is now a Court but with Union Jack's still flying! Would love to know what happened to those interviewed all those years ago.

Very good footage of our old town and folk ... thank you!

Absolutely shameful the way that hardworking Mr Gunn was treated. No doubt in my mind he done well in New Zealand.

Thank god things have changed.. I went to Belfast about 3 years ago . I found it to be a modern vibrant city..which was busseling. The people were kind and helpful. It's worth a visit. Lots of history!

I've watched several documentaries on The Troubles etc, as I grew up in Canada in the 70s, and remember seeing fighting on the nightly news every day. I was too young to understand it at the time, and frankly, (And I am ashamed to admit this) it was so far removed from us, most adults just ignored it. This brings up some interesting perspectives I actually have considered while watching the turmoil. Like how did the buses keep running, civic facilities, or shops? The take from the suburbs was fascinating, very informative!

would love to know what happend to the fella at the end said he was moving to NZ, did he and his family make it and a good life for them selfs??

what a real man and gentleman that farther was .......

My Mother's family left this insanity and took the entire family to the United States. My Father's family got the entire family out if Poland and also emigrated to the United States for obvious reasons. I graduated from High School in 1976 and wanted to go to Belfast to help. My Irish Mother stopped me. 😶

@1.44 “you see with me being on holiday I forgot all about it. Lol

I honestly think this type of clear, factual programming is way superior to the over loud, frenetic nonsense that so often fills TV screens. The early ‘70s was a golden age for television in many ways.

20.55 This man Mr Gunn. He was too good for the area as it was at that time. Moving was a blessing in disguise. New Zealand is a lovely place.

I hope Edward Gunn and his family are doing well and are happy that they got away from those idiots. What a nice man

15th feb '71 decimilization was introduced, this film was 30th sep '71 so when I see a house @£20000 which in todays money would well north of £1M it makes me think that these house prices have not inflated in line with currency.

Mr Gunn , I hope you all had a good life.

Bless mr Gunn

Some of our relatives left the North in December 1971 they came down to us around Midleton and Waterville Co Kerry. They came for the children sake due to the breakdown in behaviour at schools. It was the best thing they did the children settled well. They have never been back, They never wanted to got back. I hope it worked out for the other emigraes too

How sad that a man born and bred in the city of Belfast with both sad and happy memories felt he could no longer stay had to move to other side of the world.and fact he said he would rather not see it again sad to have to be made to feel that way.yes we have come on to some degree but there is a long way to go.the vast majority of people here are great and feel exactly as Mr.Gunn did back then it is only a handful of people on both sides now that want to keep this nonsense alive cos they don't know any other day to live but I am confident with next few generations it will eventually die off because people are travelling more outside of northern Ireland they are widening their horizons more and educating themselves more so we will get there it's just going to take but longer than we had anticipated because future generations are not going to be put in a box Catholics.protestants.dissenter will all mix together and become more integrated with one another and if two people come together in love no one is going to worry where you were christened or indeed even if you were because love and mutual respect will always win the day in the end and I firmly believe it will here too.

Good for him he’s a hard working man wanting a normal life

My best friend 42 yrs ago NI Catholic married an English protestant they moved over to Craigavon and we run out by both sides, they settled back in England.

my god,,i grew up in Belfast,, memories , fuck ,,,we were a crazy bunch in west Belfast back in the day.

Mr. Edward Gunn is a true man, protecting his family. His face is very similar to that of the actor Daniel Day Lewis.

Heartbreaking

Strange to see Beechfield St in East Belfast opened up the way it used to be, now split to divide the communities.

It's just a shame that the whole population of northern Ireland can't get together and forget about their religious beliefs and remember that they are all decent human beings and get on with one another it must be awful I feel sorry for them all.

I don't care that I'm a prod but what that gentleman said makes him a diamond and I respect him and he and his family shouldn't have to leave Belfast's nice places,that is what wee need more of and so feckin what I don't care wee need feckin peace because I grew up up there then so don't try and tell me because you are either English or member of my familie so I'm not bloody interested.

Northern Ireland fell into chaos and terror (from both sides) because there weren’t enough men like Mr. Gunn. Moral of the Troubles: Be like Mr. Gunn.

heart breaking

24:45 The words of those in the Clann MacDonald's of Glencoe back in late 1690's.

I hope that man & his family had a great life in New Zealand !! I'm sure he did as he was obviously a hard working man!! And I hope the young lads who chased him out of Ireland (just like my own parents were , for the crime of being Catholic's) are still alive when Ireland is united once again (or if they are dead, almost as good) because a United Ireland is now as inevitable as the sun coming up in the morning!! God Bless The UNDEFEATED P. IRA 🇮🇪✊🏻🇵🇸

So in 1971 you could buy a mansion out in the posh suburbs for 20K. 20k won’t even buy you a bed sit now. Crazy how house prices have exploded. Even though people earned less back then it wasn’t relevant to todays house prices and peoples wages. No wonder so many live in rented accommodation or have 30 year plus mortgages.

Charles Stewart Parnell, Wolfe Tone, Erskine Childers, Billy Leonard, Ernest Blythe, Robert Barton, Ivan Cooper, Kathleen Lynn, Issac Butt, William Smith O Brien, Darrel Figgis, Stephan Gwynn, Horace Plunkett, Thomas Addis Emmet, Thomas Davis, James Napper Tandy, John Gray, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, all Irish Protestant IRA members. It's an Irish, British thing not Catholic, Protestant as a lot of arseholes would have you think.

23:30 What a brave man

I am preparing for next place

the wee man with the windows godbless him and in the end of the day its only innocent decent people that suffered and continue to suffer

A typical day indeed. I remember the news reports on tv were similar every day for years.

Who the fuck in their right mind would want to live in that environment.

Very good..

The Gunn experience is not unusual. My brothers father in law was told by the RUC he was on a list. He was helping people (Catholics) fill out compensation forms. Moved to Dublin. The Police were not there to protect our sort. My father-in-law bought a shotgun and showed he could use it. That stopped the shooting into his house. The RUC "couldn't help." The same boys were out on the 12th marching. I know everyone suffered. It's a bit like like the Palestinians now. Some people left, some people fought, and everyone suffered. My perspective is that partition was unnecessary, and it made the violence inevitable. Sectarian states are just not stable.

The loyalist thugs and layabouts drove that hard working man and his family out of their home and it was all for "God and Ulster" LOL!

the fact the troubles started over a civil right campaign is crazy

i hope the man at the end got his wish

All this due to the biggest serial killers........RELIGEON.

It breaks my heart to see such nice desent ordinary people who just want a simple peaceful way of life be tortured that way . Sad world . Northern Ireland is such a beautiful country with genuinely nice folk .

Can a good honest Catholic and a good honest protestant tell me how the troubles started? I would like to hear from the 2 different sides ? houses don't get burnt like that for nothing so tell the truth, please.

"The children are defying the British army". 😂🤣😂🤣

Am I going mad or is that Bernadette Devlin who walks by in the yellow jacket at 2:00?

We good all English are responsible for all the problems that happen politically in Ireland!! We go to countries and state we are here to educate the natives!

Partition has failed, past time to end British rule in Ulster.

15:20 three years later at the Mulberry Bush Birmingham. Support for the UDA spread across the Midland's, even today 2019 you'll see the link on football pins to the UDA.

I was born 12/08/71 it's crazy to think this was happening

Another example of British intransigence on issues that lie solely at their door.

interesting to hear folk were actively segregating themselves before the walls went up. the footage from bryson street and thistle street was obviously pre wall yet folk were saying they felt safer by moving just a street along. i felt bad for mr gunn and equally bad for others that must've tried to hold on and refused to be intimidated by the mob. how many found themselves on the 'wrong' side post partition? i'm not from there so have no idea but can surmise not many. nobody could expect to live like that for any length of time.

Edward seems to be the smartest person in Belfast. If only they all had his cop on.

Wasn't this a major factor that moderates on all sides fled with their families leaving behind those who could not or would not therefore entrenching sectarianism even deeper and into the open arms of the paramilitary ideologies.

You’d never imagine in a thousand years think that this stuff could happen on British soil, on our front door step in the place we call home!

15:16 Her husband was 100% right.

2020 on lockdown. People working together. 🙏 God love next 5 years. Globally

Justice for Ballymurphy. Absolutely horrendous almost 50 years later!

On a sidenote. I can find Bryson Street on the map - but no more Thistle Street.

Yup as many have said, that outstanding man (i.e., someone normal looking out for his family) starting at 19:00 said it all about the ongoing stupidity of NI and, well, just us generally as a species. PS - there is no god.

What did we do to ourselves.