Part 2 of Aidan Teevan’s history of B Coy covers the early years from 1940 to 1959 when 21 Bn was formed. Thanks again to Aidan for the hard work and research.

Sixty Five Years of Volunteer Soldiering

The story of B Company 21 Infantry Battalion
By Commandant J.A. Teevan (FCA Retd.)

The Commanders of South County Dublin Local Security Force (L.S.F) 1-6-1940 – 31-1-1941

• Dun Laoghaire District: D.A.O (District Administration Officer) Garda Sgt. Mc Adam
• Rathfarnham District: D.A.O Garda John Flynn

District Leaders (D.L) Local Defence Force (L.D.F) 1-2-1941 – 31-3-1946

• Dun Laoghaire District: D.L. Mick Stack
• Assistant D.L. Tommy Morrissey
• Rathfarnham District D.L. Edward A. Maguire
• Assistant D.L. John Ryan

Battalion Commander South Dublin Battalion 1-4-1946 – 30-9-1959

• · Captain Thomas A. Egan

Company Commanders B Company 21 Inf Bn. 1959-2005

• · 1959 – 1962: Commandant Thomas A. Egan
• · 1962 – 1965: Commandant H. Paddy Ryan
• · 1965 – 1969: Commandant Brendan M. White
• · 1969 – 1973: Commandant Patrick J. Rochford
• · 1973 – 1975: Commandant John A. Haughton
• · 1975 – 1991: Commandant J. Aidan Teevan
• · 1991 – 1993: Commandant John J. Hynes
• · 1993 – 2005: Commandant Patrick A. Holahan (Now Lieutenant Colonel)

Officers of the South County Dublin Battalion

• Captain Thomas A. Egan
• Lieutenant Stan Forster
• Lieutenant John Nolan
• Lieutenant H. Paddy Ryan
• Lieutenant Jack Burke
• Lieutenant Jim Doyle
• Lieutenant Mick Delahunty
• Lieutenant Gerry Fitzgerald
• Lieutenant Brendan White
• Lieutenant Seamus Taite
• Lieutenant Patrick J Rochford
• Lieutenant Frank Gallagher
• Lieutenant Bill Ivers
• Lieutenant David Goulding
• Lieutenant Eddie Doyle
• Lieutenant Neil Coughlan
• Lieutenant Des Walsh

The Reserve Soldiers of South County Dublin 1940 – 2005

The Local Security Force 1940 – 1941

On 24th May 1940 as a result of the Emergency Powers Order 1939, the Local Security Force (L.S.F) was established. As the Department of Defence was too busy with the “Call to Arms” campaign trying to build up the regular P.D.F (Permanent Defence Forces – Regular Army etc..), it left the organisation and running of the L.S.F to the Department of Justice.

The title “Local Security Force” was truly descriptive of the force, its central role as originally conceived which was to provide intelligence of any attempted attack on the country.

The organisation of the L.S.F was modelled closely on that of the Garda Siochana and organised into districts with District Leaders. The Garda undertook recruiting, organisation, and administration of the force. Recruiting commenced on 1st June.

A member of the Garda Siochana in each Garda Division was nominated to attend a course under army auspice to train him in the administration of the new organisation.

The course covered security, care and custody of weapons etc… together with supervision of training. On completion of his course the trainee was appointed District Administration Officer (D.A.O) and issued with army uniform similar to that worn by regular army Sergeant-Major’s, but instead of a Sergeant-Major’s insignia he wore a triangular patch on his sleeve.

The L.S.F was divided into two main groups, “A Group” and “B Group”. Group “A” consisted of members suitable for military service who were willing to assist the Defence Forces in an emergency, and who were to prepare themselves for such service by undergoing a course of military training while still members of the L.S.F. The army provided Group “A” with three hundred rifles and shotguns.

It was hoped that the younger members and the older members who had already undergone military training and were physically fit would join this group.

Group “B” would consist of members who were willing to undertake Auxiliary Police duties.

On 21st September 1940, 20,000 rifles were received from the U.S.A and 2,300 were made available to the L.S.F. These rifles were. 300 Springfield Rifles which were slightly heavier than the .303 Lee Enfield that was the standard issue to the regular troops, but they were a very accurate weapon.

The “A” Group posed a major problem, as its members were armed by had no defined military uniform. (Each member on joining was issued with an identity card, a badge which could be worn at all times and an armlet to be worn only when on duty) If they were captured bearing arms in civilian attire might not have been treated as prisoners of war, but as partisans and treated as such. Armed civilians in time of war are not entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention as this applies to uniformed personnel only.

In order to circumvent this situation arising a new organisation called the Local Defence Corps was to be created, which in the event of the regular Amy being mobilised, all “A” Group members would be automatically transferred into this new organisation, given military uniforms and identification so that on capture, they could claim prisoner of war status.

The Local Defence Force 1941 – 1946

By December 1940 the Department of Defence was ready to take charge the L.S.F “A” Group, so on 1 January 1941 the L.S.F A Group passed from the Department of Justice to the Department of Defence and became the Local Defence Force with the “B” Group remaining under the Department of Justice, and being known simply as the Local Security Force continuing to act as an Auxiliary to the Police with A.R.P responsibilities where no A.R.P organisation existed locally.

In each Garda division a military officer, known as the Area Officer was appointed with responsibility for the co-operation, training and control of all units of the force within the divisional area. By September 1941, however, these arrangements were modified in the area of Dublin and two Area Officers were henceforth responsible for the LDF with units there; one area comprised the units in A, C, and D Districts and the other of the units in B, E, and Dun Laoghaire districts.

Henceforth, duties of the LDF were to be:

• Combat duties – initial delay of enemy troops, guerrilla operations, demolitions and roadblocks.
• Garrison and local defence duties.
• Collection and distribution of impressed vehicles for essential services and safeguarding or destruction of other vehicles.
• Provision of military communications other than those operated by the Corps of Signals.
• First Aid – initially for own casualties.
• Military intelligence.
• Armed protective duties.
• Military traffic duties.
• Field security duties.

In February 1941 there were major changes in the LDF. Urban units were formed into rifle battalions and during that year the brown denim uniform was replaced by a much more workmanlike green battledress and the original black and gold cap badge of the LDF was superseded by the Army Crest.

The new battalions were commanded by a regular Commandant, and the staff of the District Commands was absorbed into Headquarters Company and the Combat Groups became Companies. Equally significant was the improvement in the availability of weapons and training equipment. The .300 rifles were withdrawn and the .303 introduced.

Recruiting to the regular Army was sluggish during 1942/43 due to the apathy of the civil population. Emphasis was placed on increasing the combat efficiency of the LDF. This was done by introducing collective training where possible, mainly in urban areas and the introduction of annual camps. This efficiency was tested by the LDF participating in exercises against troops returning from manoeuvres on the Munster Blackwater.

Exercise Number 4. 19/20 September 1942. – The LDF versus the Cavalry in Wicklow.

Exercise Number 5. September 1942 – “The Battle of Dublin.”

The battle was an attack on Dublin by the Second Army Division, (“The Spearheads”) who were marching north after defeating the First Army Division (“The Thunderbolts”) in the south, and they were defeated by the 6 Brigade and units of the LDF who were defending Dublin.

After the “The Battle of Dublin” a parade was held through the city by the Second Division Eastern Command troops and Dublin units of the LDF which was the biggest military parade ever witnessed in Ireland. The salute was taken by the Taoiseach and it took four hours for the troops to pass the saluting base.

During 1942/43 the senior students of the Christian Brothers School, Eblana Avenue, Dun Laogahire, trained in the Garda Station in Dun Laoghaire with weapons despite the fact that they were not members of any branch of the Defence Forces. One of the instructors was Reggie Gillhooley, an ex pupil of the school. This must seem strange today but in the atmosphere that existed during the Emergency it was not surprising. Among the students was John O’Brien who later joined the North Wicklow Battalion (now C Company 62 Reserve Infantry Battalion). He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in that battalion before transferring to the 11th Air Defence Battery (now 2 Air Defence Battery, RDF) on integration in 1958.

Due to the “American Note” in 1943 (a request that the Irish Government as an absolute minimum take appropriate steps for the recall of the German and Japanese representative in Ireland, on the grounds of the security risk they involved for the allies getting ready for D-Day), the Army was five days on full alert and the LDF was called out. They responded with such enthusiasm to the call out that one group reported that there was a 200% turn out, as lapsed members turned out for the engagement.

At the military tattoo in August 1945 which was held in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund, the Dublin LDF battalions role was to give a display of Czech Solo Drill (Sokol Drill), a movement full of flowing and athletic events.

When the Emergency ended in 1946 the LDF was disbanded and the FCA (Forsa Cosanta Aitiul – Irish for Local defence Force) was formed. The first annual dinner of A Company (Blackrock), South County Dublin Battalion, Local Defence Force was held on 14th December 1946 in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.

The South County Dublin Battalion FCA 1946 – 1959

The South County Dublin Battalion came into existence on 1st April 1946 when, with the ending of the Emergency the LDF was stood down on the 31st March 1946. The FCA was organised into 24 territorial areas with 99 battalions, and became the second line reserve. The battalions were similar to the regular army battalions and were commanded by FCA officers with the rank of captain.

The LDF districts of Dun Laoghaire and Rathfarnham were the areas allocated to the newly formed South County Dublin Battalion. The Headquarters of the new battalion was Dun Eden House. The South County Dublin Battalion together with the North and South Wicklow Battalions formed the Wicklow area with its Headquarters located in Rockbrae House. The area commander was a PDF officer with the rank of Commandant.

All the members of the old unit were entitled to enlist in the FCA without a break in their service, but unfortunately the number who enlisted was not great, therefore throughout 1946 and much of 1947, the main preoccupations of the new battalion was with recruiting and recruit training. In contrast to the LDF years, stocks of weapons and ammunition were now generous, but the new regime demanded a much higher standard in weapon proficiency.

The FCA All-Army Shooting Competition was introduced in 1947 and the first public parade of the South County Dublin Battalion was the 1948 St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The Battalion Headquarters was moved from Dun Eden House to the Coastguard Station on the 1st May 1951. The parade under the command of Lt. Forster marched from Dun Eden House, to the Coastguard Station, followed the route Mounttown Avenue, via Mounttown Hill, York Road, Lower Georges Street, Upper Georges Street, Marine Road, Crofton Road to the Coastguard Station. The official opening of the new training hall at the Coastguard Station was held on Sunday 20 May 1951. The GOC (General Officer Commanding) Eastern Command, who was received by a Guard of Honour under the command of Lt. H.P. Ryan, preformed the opening ceremony, and the hall was blessed by Monsignor Boylan.

A battalion grenade throwing competition was held at Rockbrae House on 1st July 1952 and the prize for the winning section was 200 cigarettes.

The wearing of a battalion flash was approved on 17th December 1953 by Eastern Command HQ and in 1954 the new green and gold flashes were distributed to the members at a cost of 10 pence each. The battalion participated in the Dun Laoghaire An Tostal Parade on Sunday 18th April 1954. The members of the colour party were Lt. H.P Ryan, Sgt. Rochford, and Sgt. Byrne.

Sgt. P. Rochford was promoted the Lieutenant in May 1955 and appointed Company Commander B Company 21st Infantry Battalion in 1969. Sgt. T Byrne was promoted the Sgt. Major South County Dublin Battalion, in 1957 and continued on in that rank in the 21st Infantry Battalion until his retirement in 1983.

The following year An Tostal was opened on 8th May and the officer in charge of the Colour Party was Lt. P Rochford. During 1955 attempts were made with regard to the acquisition of the Garda Station at Booterstown as the Battalion HQ as the accommodation in the Coastguard Station was inadequate. One of the reasons why it was not proceeded with was that the cost of construction of a garage deterred the authorities.

Early in 1956 the Energa Anti-Tank Grenade was introduced to the Battalion and courses were held on it, on a unit basis.

The Guard of Honour for the opening of Mount Merrion Church in 1956 was drawn from the Stillorgan and Dundrum Centres, 22 from each under the command of Lt. P Rochford.

The Battalion introduced the Bren Light Machine Gun and the Gustaf Sub Machine Gun in 1957, and most of the training both on training nights and during the following annual camp was devoted to these weapons, until all members of the battalion were proficient with them.

A conference was held on 18th/19th November 1958 in the Curragh detailing the new organisation of the FCA, and how existing battalion’s establishments were to be affected by the integration of the battalion’s under the proposed reorganisation.

The Blackrock centre was required to vacate Avondale Hall by 31st January 1959 and would in future parade in Dun Laoghaire. The last meeting of the Staff of the South County Dublin Battalion was held in the Coastguard Station on 18th September 1959.