Yes indeed: I recall it being shown on bbc2 quite often in the early 80s.

I saw this film when it was originally released in Canada, and at the drive-in no less. I was nine years old at the time and haven't seen it since, but the one scene that sticks in my mind is the kid getting kidnapped by some fake Brit soldiers at what I seem to remember was an abandoned military airstrip somewhere.
I hear it's available on R2 DVD in UK but not in North America at all save for some dusty VHS copies churned out a decade ago. That's why Amazon.uk has received a TON of my business this year, as increasingly whenever I think of some film I haven't seen since I was a kid amazon.uk is the only place that stocks it.

I agree, I love this movie, and it has always been slated by many critics. It's pacy and tough, and Caine is excellent in it.

This used to be an absolute staple of late night TV in the late seventies/early nineties.
It's much better than it's ever credited with being, IMO, the only major disappointment being Roy Budd's uncharacteristically lacklustre score.

Glad to know it's available on Region 2 DVD now. Whenever I can, I'll buy it and watch it if I have time. It's a bit ironic, because the last time it came on terrestrial TV was ten years ago.