Spearhead

This was first broadcast in the summer of 1978 and in all honesty I don't recall it lasting three seasons? Spearhead of course was years before the popular Soldier Soldier and did not glamorize the army. It's important to note that in the years soldier,soldier graced the UK screens there was never an easier time to be in the army than between 1992-1997. The fatality rate was low, most casualties were due to training accidents, suicides and killings due to bullying (alledgidly). The military as a whole was reduced to performing global social work, peace keeping (as long as there was peace to be kept) and meals on wheels operations than actually doing any fighting.

I'm not saying that all of the above was a bad thing but in 1978 the army had the unenviable and thankless task of trying to keep the peace in Northern Ireland (where there was no peace to be kept) and during the 70's and 80's a steady stream of soldiers were killed while on active duty in Ulster. Admittedly it was much worse in the early 1970's, but in 1979 the parachute regiment lost 27 soldiers at Warren point in an ambush.

In addition to dodging bullets and road side explosives (now neatly termed IED's, by the Americans) thanks to Britains poor industrial relations at the time some of the other tasks assigned to the army were fire fighting with 1950's equipment and standing in for striking dustmen , not exactly rewarding work! Also, in 1978 army pay was poor and one of the first things that the Thatcher government did in 1980 was to increase the pay of the military.

Spearhead in all honesty probably did not do any thing for army recruitment as, theft within the ranks, desertion (AWOL), marriage problems, riot control and ambushes in Northern Ireland as well as money problems were all highlighted in the first season. It's not surprising that spearhead was axed after 19 episodes nor that it is not remembered; army life was not as nearly easy back then.

I saw this on talking pictures some channel that shows old movies but I came across this programme and was hooked first episode was when the troubles were happening in 1970s my dad was in the army then as well so he will remember the pigs vehicles then second episodes are when there are in Germany then 3rd is when there are in Hong Kong

Like the other reviews, I agree that Spearhead was an excellent drama. I had patchy memories of it, at least the first series, since I had not seen it since broadcast and I was 11/12 years old. Thanks to a certain video posting site, I'm going through series 1.

What strikes you is a realism and for something that must have had a degree of Ministry Of Defence cooperation, the often uncompromising subjects. (The vehicles, the kit, some of the facilities possibly too, the way the actors are totally convincing as soldiers, none of the equipment would be 'surplus'. Those Humber 'Pig' armoured vehicles were so vital in Northern Ireland the Army were getting them out of store, buying back from private collectors and even rescuing from scrapyards in the early/mid 70's).

The N.I. set episodes build up tension very well, no mass shoot 'em up here, more often just waiting for something bad to happen.

I also agree that Soldier Soldier was a mere soap compared to Spearhead, I soon gave up on it.

The mid/late 70's had some of the best of British drama, Spearhead included.

I grew up in the Northern Ireland that this series is set in, so for me it was a real novelty having a television series based in my own country. My local streets were full of Saracens and Pigs and the skies reverberated with the noise of Westland Scouts and Sioux helicopters, and we had these strange men in flak jackets (usually stuck together with black tape) with hugely long rifles, talking in strange accents, running across streets and hiding behind fences. And, of course, being killed. This series did its' best to reflect that; no whys or wherefores, no politics or hand wringing, just men in a situation that for better or worse had found them in a corner of the United Kingdom facing bricks, bombs and bullets. A lot of it reflected what I saw every day, and I'm sure the Barracks life they depicted was familiar to many an old soldier. It wasn't sensationalist, as many programmes made today are, nor did it give a sense of being larger than life. It just was life, every day, warts and all, and all the more real for that. My only gripe is the depiction of the Northern Ireland Police - the RUC - as there are errors in the uniform and equipment depicted, but if you can get hold of a copy - it's available on DVD these days - it's a real nostalgia trip into the pre-mobile phone and Internet era of old cars, dirty streets and dead-end lives. Worth watching.

I can remember this when it was first broadcast . Unfortunately I must be the only person who can . But that`s not too surprising since I think it was shown during the summer months which is the traditional graveyard slot in Britain and was never repeated .

SPEARHEAD is a very realistic drama set around a fictional regiment of the British army called " The Wessex Rangers " . The best season was probably the first which revolved around the regiment`s tour of Northern Ireland and was surprisingly apolitical , SPEARHEAD never got into the rights and wrongs of 70s Ulster it just showed the thankless task of soldiers doing their job. Other episodes revolved around some soldiers having money stolen from barracks ( And the thief getting some harsh but justified punishment ) an officer helping an East German escape to the west , and being reprimanded for it , and a NCO being investigated for a liaison with a suspected East German spy . Perhaps that`s why SPEARHEAD is forgotten . It shows everything from a soldier`s point of view and never once played to the commonest denominator unlike the mediocore SOLDIER SOLDIER