The content of this post is taken from the May 2005 edition of Connect – The Defense Forces Newsletter, the text and photo are theirs, I found a copy on an archive of the now-defunct 62 Bn web site.

The Campbells, a family affair. (l-r) Ptes Rory (1986-90), & Stephen (1980-87), Cpl Peter(1978-86) and BQMS Peter Campbell (1957-99)

Marking time

At their annual dinner dance at the Kingston Hotel Dun Laoghaire in March, the members of B Coy 21 Inf Bn, RDF had a special reason to celebrate. This would be the last unit function prior to the RDF re-organisation later this year when 21 Inf Bn will be integrated with the 20 Inf Bn and become the 62 Inf Bn

Many former company members attended and mingled with the newer recruits instilling in them an understanding of what it meant to belong to B Coy; people like BQMS Peter Campbell (Retd) and his three sons, Rory, Stephen and Peter who between them had over 60 years service. In 1957 BQMS Campbell joined the South County Dublin, which later became 21 Inf Bn. During his career Peter Snr, a keen marksman, was in charge of recruitment for the Blackrock College Centre and at one time had some 120 men under his command.

The event organiser Lt Paul O’Donovan, himself a former member of the PDF, was delighted with the turnout and interest shown by both current and former members. He noted that it was fitting to mark time on the closure of B Coy, and to look forward to the challenge that the re-organisation posed for all in the RDF.