Recollections by Capt Kevin Browne, Bn Adjutant 21 Inf Bn
Like many before and after me my first formal introduction to the FCA was a visit by two recruiting personnel to my School. It was October 1968 and I had just completed my Intermediate Certificate and moved into 5th Year in St Michael’s CBS, Eblana Avenue, Dun Laoghaire. While I had seen people in Uniforms before at Corpus Christi processions etc I had never thought about the FCA or anything to do with the Army.
1968 was not the era of plenty and for me and my 4 Brothers and Sister it was a rare treat to be taken to Silver Strand or Brittas Bay so when the recruiters called that day and told us about the training we would do and the places we would visit joining the FCA seemed just about the best thing I could do. I had a couple of problems however. Not being as tall as I am now and although nearly 16 1 looked about 14. I was convinced I would not get in. My problem would be partially solved if I could get my brother Johnnie (RIP) who was nearly 15 to join with me as he was bigger than I was and if he was let join then I would surely have to be let join as well.
As I think back to what the late Lt Brendan White might have seen as he looked at the motley crew before him on 30th October 1968 he was either a blind and very desperate man or a leader in the best tradition of An Forsa who was committed to supporting anyone who wanted to volunteer to serve Ireland and its Citizens. As a nearly 16 year old these were very lofty ideals as I had been more interested in the training, the travel and the paid Annual Camps. In the months and years that followed the Oath that I swore on that night became part of my core value system and was the beginning of my transition from boyhood to manhood.
Reflecting back over 37 years’ service there are many things that one might say in a futile attempt to capture or covey what service in the FCA has meant and continues to mean to me as an individual and I know to many of the current and ex members of the Force. Three events stand out, one as a newly promoted Captain in B Company and two during my term as Adjutant.
The first refers to the tasking in 1995 by the then OC 21 Inf Bn Comdt (now Lt Col) Derry Fitzgerald to plan and execute a Coy in Defence over a week-end in the Glen of Imaal. In the original plan I was to be 2 i/c of the Company in Defence. In the event when the i/c went down it became my responsibility to plan and execute the exercise and I was joined at the start of the exercise by Capt John O’Toole who took over the role as 2 i/c. What sticks in my mind to this day was the proactive and supportive contribution of PDF and RDF colleagues to making the exercise such a success – there were no half measures. It was the first time in my experience within the 21 Inf Bn that Combat Support and Combat Service Support elements were on the ground at the same time in. a combined exercise. I was not alone as the OC of the Unit later stated that this was the first occasion, PDF or RDF, since he was commissioned that all elements, save for a late change in the tasking of Air Support, were deployed.
The second event refers to a Passing Out Parade for 2* to 3* in Wicklow on the 16th April 2000 during which the service of CQMS Tony Duggan, BQMS Peter Campbell, Captain John Bigley and Captain Terry Shortt was honoured. Their careers had spanned the period 1956 to 2000 and together they had contributed 164 years voluntary service to the State and its Citizens. If one was to ask each of them what had driven them to give so much of their voluntary time and energy over the past 40 years two common themes would have emerged:
One would have been that the FCA had been a huge influence on their personal and professional lives. They would have pointed out to the many role models within the FCA who had assisted in their early development. The many courses they had completed as both student and instructor had impacted on their sense of self and their contribution in both their Civilian and Military lives. It was in the FCA they would have said that they learnt how important self-confidence and belief were and how important were the skills of dealing with and motivating people properly, building teamwork and recognising the contribution that goal setting and stretching targets can make to personal and organisational development and effectiveness. The other would have been the many mentors and colleagues who had instilled simple but motivational ideas of voluntary service, commitment to the team and the value of each and every individual’s unique contribution to the wellbeing of the Force and their local, regional and national communities.
I was proud to be part of that occasion for not only were four people who had such an influence on my own development being honoured; my daughter Caoimhe was a member of the Platoon being promoted 3* and my son Cillian had commenced his Potential NCO’s course.
The last event was the Stand Down of CS Noel Lyster (RIP) from B Coy. Noel had both 21 years’ service in the PDF and 21 years’ service in the RDF. In his final Camp in 2001 he was Acting Sergeant Major and his stand down had been meticulously planned and executed by OC B Coy, Comdt Pat Holahan with the wholehearted assistance of the Officers and NCO’s of B Coy and the Battalion. The stand down parade also included representatives of the 20 Inf Bn who were on Camp at the time and for this quiet, unassuming and positive Leader who had served his Country and the Defence Forces with great distinction it was a day to remember.
As we approach the amalgamation of the 21 Inf Bn and the 20 Inf Bn on the 1st October 2005 1 am confident that the core values, history and tradition of the 21 Inf Bn will be carried forward and will help shape the new 62 Inf Bn and fit it for its role in the reorganised Defence Forces. For current and past members of the 21 Inf Bn the simple quotation from Gen Fred Franks Jr as told to Tom Clancy in Into the Storm will continue to hold true:
“One of the lasting truths about being a Soldier is that the friendships formed with comrades in arms are the deepest and most enduring. “
