Roll of Honor
Incident
At 11.20pm on Saturday 11th October 1969, Constable Arbuckle was accompanied by a number of colleagues at a cordon near the end of the Shankill Road near Unity Flats.
Serious rioting was in progress and sporadic gunfire was taking place. The disorder was due to the release of the Hunt Report recommending The disbandment of the USC and the disarming of the RUC.
During this disorder Victor was struck by a single shot to the head resulting in his death. Three men were charged with his murder but were found not guilty but they did receive sentences for firearms possession.
Victor was married with two children, a son and daughter. He was the first RUC Officer to be murdered at the start of what became known as ‘The Troubles’
His funeral took place at Bloomfield Gospel Hall in East Belfast and he was interred in Roselawn cemetery.
In Our Keeping
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BO-GB-RUC-68EF51BA- Stewardship
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- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Arbuckle served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Arbuckle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Victor William Arbuckle is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NIR, 422 of 599 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.5% of this state's fallen. That is 16.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, 351 of 469 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Victor William Arbuckle's cause is highlighted.
How Victor William Arbuckle Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Victor William Arbuckle is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
468 officers from Royal Ulster Constabulary GC are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
