Sister in poetic tribute to murdered UDR soldier

Sister in poetic tribute to murdered UDR soldier

5 November 2025

A BALLYNAHINCH woman has published a deeply personal collection of poetry in memory of her brother, UDR Private Robert William Hill, who was murdered by the IRA in a booby trap car bomb outside his home in Drumaness on July 1, 1986.

Born in 1964, Robert Hill grew up on a small farm on Drumsnade Road in Drumaness and was the youngest of four siblings, each just a year apart. 

He was educated at Drumaness Primary School, then Spa Primary School and later Beechlawn School in Hillsborough.

His sister, Elizabeth Woods, recalls their idyllic country childhood, filled with love, laughter and adventure.

“We didn’t have much growing up, but we were happy,” she said.

“We have wonderful memories of Christmases together and of Robert riding his purple Chopper bicycle and playing with my horse Fanta.

“All of us were close in age and very close as friends. We played with both Protestant and Catholic neighbours — friendships that still exist to this day.”

In his late teens and early twenties, Robert moved into Drumaness village and worked at the Pinewick Woodwork Factory in Ballynahinch. 

In 1984, he joined the 3rd Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment at Ballykinlar, following in the footsteps of his sister, Pauline, who was a Greenfinch, and several of his close friends.

Outside of his service, Robert was known as a cheerful, community minded young man. 

He was a member of the Orange Order, Royal Black Institution and Apprentice Boys of Derry. He played for the UDR football team, was involved with Saintfield Hockey Club and an accordion player with the Sons of Ulster Accordion Band in Ballynahinch. 

Tragically, his first football match was due to take place the day after his murder.

“He looked so handsome in his uniform,” said Elizabeth. “I was proud of him for joining and standing against terrorism. I have no regrets, I told him to join. I didn’t plant the bomb, the cowards did. He was proud of his service and so am I.”

In the early hours of July 1 1986, Robert was killed instantly when the IRA planted a large car bomb beneath his vehicle. 

His mother, who was inside the house at the time, was injured and covered in debris from the explosion. The family’s dog, Sam, terrified by the blast, swam across a nearby lake before being found and brought home later that day.

Elizabeth, then newly pregnant and living in Ballynahinch, vividly remembers the knock at the door that changed her life forever:

“When I saw my mother covered in blood, I thought it was my father who had died. He’d been unwell,” she recalled. 

“Then they told me it was Robert. I remember thinking, ‘they’ve got him, but they won’t get my baby.’ The shock was overwhelming.”

Nearly 40 years later, Elizabeth has channelled her grief and love into words.

Her new poetry collection, ‘Robert Hill, Forever Young’,  reflects her brother’s childhood, family, faith, service and innocence, while expressing the enduring pain of his loss.

“Robert couldn’t tell his own story, so I’m doing the talking for him,” she continued.

“The poems are my tribute, to his life, his courage, his friends and the happiness we had before his murder. Writing has helped me find peace. If I didn’t speak for him, it would be an injustice and he’s already had enough of that.”

Diagnosed with cancer in 2015, Elizabeth began writing during her treatment, with her poems capturing her brother’s spirit and the lasting impact of terrorism on victims’ families.

“People sometimes ask when Robert died, but he didn’t just die, he was murdered. His life was stolen. People ask if I forgive, but how can you forgive murder? The only one who could forgive is Robert and he’s not here to do so.”

The family has never received justice for Robert’s murder.

“We will always be stuck in 1986,” Elizabeth said. “How can we move on when the killers were never caught? At least we didn’t have to see them released under the Good Friday Agreement; they were never caught in the first place.”

Elizabeth’s book is now available at Ballynahinch Royal British Legion and other local outlets. Priced £5, all proceeds go to the Royal British Legion.

She said: “This book is the least I can do for my wee brother. He was a country boy, full of kindness, love and courage. God didn’t take him, faceless cowards did. But they’ll never take his memory from us.”

Reflecting further on the lasting impact of her brother’s murder, Elizabeth said the family never thought “the knock would come to our door”. When it did, it shocked them to the core.

She said his killers “tried to blame the uniform” but her brother wasn’t even wearing it that morning hey crept under his car.

“Too many South Down murder victims don’t get a mention,” she declared. “Nobody knows what murder is like until it hits their own door.

“We have no doubt Robert loved the UDR and would have risen through the ranks. It’s only right that millions are spent on murder inquiries, but justice should be equal for everyone, including single murders.”

Elizabeth recalled that a Greenfinch once said to her: “Of all the people murdered, you couldn’t have found anyone more innocent than Robert.”

She continued: “It’s us, Robert’s family, serving the life sentence. “Nobody comes out of murder untouched; each generation has been affected. When you lose a family member, you lose a part of yourself. Mummy and Daddy had four children and they’ll always have four.”

Elizabeth said her brother’s murderers “destroyed the man, but they can’t destroy the memory.”

She added that the bombers not only murdered her brother, but also devastated her mother’s life.

She added: “Mummy could never work again after that; it ruined her life. Robert could drive a tractor before he could drive a car. We often wonder if those same people murdered others. We’ll never know. Our big loss was our brother, torn from us forever.

““We will always remember Robert as young, because we never got the chance to remember him any other way.”