I was in Rockbrae House last night (Sad looking, old and decrepid – but enough about me) and got a History of 21 Bn dated 1984, this time by Brian Hayden. It has a separate section for each company, although it repeats some of the stuff in the 21 year history obviously. It also includes lists of past and present (as at 1984) officers and NCOs. Due to the fact that A Coy, so far have no postings, I will begin with their history 1959-1984. There are a number of opinions stated in the text (all complimentary to A Coy and its members) and these remain those of the original author.
‘A’ Coy.
The Officers of ‘A’ Coy on integration were Comdt. P. Kehoe who was O/C North. Wicklow Bn. (for 13 yrs.),. Lts.. Tim .Conroy, Al Morris, Frank Burbage, Joe Geraghty, John (Seanie) Walsh, P.G. Doyle and Paddy (Scotty) O’Brien.
Lt. Bob Smyth was promoted Capt. and appointed Q.M. 21 Bn.
Assisting these Officers in the training and running of the Coy were a dedicated band of NCO’s which included C/S J. O’Brien, C/S P. Downes, BSM L. O’Brien, C/S T. Foley, CQMS T. Boyle, Sgts. B. Hayden, W. Shortt, P. McAuley, T. Condron and B. Brierton, S. Irwin and J. Whiston.
Lt. Al Morris who was a well known personality in the F.A.I, was a Regular Officer who was transferred to the F.C.A. after his time elapsed in the Regular Force. He brought with him a vast amount of Military Knowledge which ‘A’ Coy welcomed and he was a great adviser in regard to the organisation of Overnight Camps, exercises and Tactical Training on Field Days.
Sgt. B. Hayden was Commissioned in 1961 and joined ‘A’ Coy still under the Command of Comdt. P. Kehoe assisted by his 2 I/C Tim Conroy and Lts. S. Walsh, F. Burbage, J. Geraghty and P. O’Brien. Comdt. Kehoe retired from the Force in 1968 after a long and distinguished career which earned him the respect and admiration of all who served under him from 1946 to his retirement.
1966
Capt. T. Conroy was then promoted to O.C. ‘A’ Coy and continued the good work. One of his major successes was a well organised Coy in Attack held outside Kilkenny and Code-named “Operation Timmie”. Lts. D. Walsh, J. Haughton and B. Hayden were among the Platoon Commanders that day and all will remember that very efficient and organised exercise, held in glorious weather. (Captain M. Sweeney was the Training Officer.)
1968
Capt. T. Conroy was promoted Area Comd. Capt. B. Smyth (QM 21 Bn) became Coy Comd. of ‘A’ Coy, his 2 I/C was Lt. B. Hayden and his Pln. Comds. were P. (Scotty) O’Brien, Lts. J. Hynes and J. Kelly. Lt. J. Geraghty was promoted Capt. and appointed QM 21 Bn and continued in his role until 1972 when he was appointed Area Comd. Sth. Wicklow and later transferred to Area Comd. Nth. Wicklow until his retirement in 1978.
Lt. John (Seanie) Walsh, who joined the L.D.F. in 1942 and was commissioned in 1957, resigned from the F.C.A. in 1968 due to pressure of work.
Capt. B. Smyth was in the hot seat when the call for Security Guards on vital installations arose in 1970 due to the troubles in Northern Ireland. The 21 Bn. was given the major task of providing Security Guards for Roundwood Reservoir and Callow Hill near Roundwood. Every week-end the Security (which numbered 18 all ranks) moved into position at Roundwood and relieved the Regular Soldiers for the week-end. The Guard was under the control of an Officer assisted by a Sgt., 2 Cpls. and 14 Ptes. Conditions at Roundwood were tough and the 2-man patrols round the Waterworks day and night proved invaluable for the training of men who at times found the going nerve racking due to the terrain, e.g. woods, rivers, ponds and now and again intruders. However, even though conditions were tough, it was seldom anyone cried off a Guard, indeed the majority in the Bn. were only too eager to be detailed. Great stories were told about experiences of F.C.A. Guards at Roundwood and all will remember the loyalty and enthusiasm of all ranks who volunteered for this dangerous mission.
1970
In 1970 Capt. Bob Smyth was promoted Comdt. and became Area Comd. North Wicklow on Comdt. Tim Conroy’s retirement from. the Force. Lt. B. Hayden was appointed Coy. Comd, ‘A’ Coy. and was promoted Captain. His 2 I/C was Lt. A. Teevan who had transferred from the 20 Bn. and his Pln. Comds. were Lt. J. Hynes, 2/Lt. R. Shortt and 2/Lt. D. O’Toole. Early in 1970, Lt. P. O’Brien and 2/Lt. J. Kelly resigned from An Forsa and in the same year 2/Lt.’s R. Shortt and P. Ferguson were promoted. Comdt. Bob Smyth retired in 1974 after serving in the old L.D.F. and later through the emergency right up to the 1970’s.
In 1971 ‘A’ Coy. decided to build an assault course at Rockbrae house. Lt. Teevan and Lt. O’Toole along with CS. B. Murphy visited the Curragh assault course where they sketched and planned their own Coy Course. The course in Bray was built by members of the Coy and has proved a real challenge to Units which have used it over the years.
During the years from I960 to 1984 ‘A’ Coy. produced some of the finest NCO’s ever which included men like CS. L. Murphy, CS. B. Murphy, Sgts. T. Shortt, P. Ferguson, J. Scannell, D. Murphy, N. Murphy, R. Shortt, H. O’Toole, J. Good, E. Masterson, P. McAuley, J. O’Toole, S. Lynch, S. Ward, D. Kavanagh, C. Walsh, T. Duggan, S. Irwin, J. Whiston, E. Doyle, T. Fields, F. Doyle and J. Brack, Cpls. B. Walsh, Mooney, A. Thompson, O’Sullivan, Quigley, O’Brien and many more who served their Country well in the true spirit of the Volunteer.
Barney Murphy, the well known Bn. Gustav Sharpshooter, is the present C/S of ‘A’ Coy.
It would be impossible to name the many hundreds of volunteers that served as privates during this period. To all of them let it be said that their Country is indebted to these men who were prepared to defend her from all aggressors and who served her so well as only true volunteers know how.
‘A’ Coy produced three Regular Officers from its ranks, Lts. Baines, O’Brien and O’Gillaoin all ex members of the Presentation College. Lt. J. Hynes was appointed O/C C Coy in 1974 and shortly afterwards was promoted Captain. His other appointments were Area Commander Nth. Wicklow 1978-79 and Bn. Adj. in 1979.
C.Q.M.S. P. McAuley won the 6th Bgd. rifle individual shot at the Curragh in 1977 which qualified him to partake in the All Army F.C.A. Shoot.
Sgt. D. Kavanagh who is known for his great attendance over the years won the “Best Attender” award A Coy. three years in a row.
Officers presently serving with ‘A’ Coy. are as follows: Capt. R. Shortt, Lt. T. Shortt, Lt. J. Good, 2/Lt. J. O’Toole, 2/Lt E. Doyle, 2/Lt. B. Walsh
In 1981 A Coy. built an Audio Visual Lecture Room at Rockbrae House which proved an immense training aid. This was officially opened by the then G.O.C. Eastern Command, now Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. G. O’Sullivan.
In recent years, training in ‘A’ Coy. was confined to three major recruiting centres, Newtown, Bray and the College and the Coy. produced well trained and disciplined men who will always remember their service in the FCA with pride. ‘A’ Coy. had the honour of providing in Bray a Guard of Honour for the late President E. De Valera in 1968 (Officer I/C was Capt. B. Smyth) and the late President C. O’Dalaigh in 1975 (Officer I/C Capt. B. Hayden). Several Guards of Honour were also provided at opening ceremonies at Churches in Kilcoole and Moneystown by the late Dr. McQuaid.
St. Patrick’s day parades are now a common occurrence once more in Bray, with ‘A’ Coy. providing a Colour Party and a body of marching men carrying Bn. pennants.
The dynamic Capt. Dick Shortt is O/C of this excellent company.
Lt. Frank Burbage, O/C Delgany F.C.A. Centre, resigned from A Coy. in the late sixties due to ill health and died soon afterwards. R.I. P.
Lt. Al Morris resigned in the early sixties after a successful career in the Army and F.C.A. Al died in 1975. R.I. P.
1980
Capt. J.M. Geraghty who retired in 1978 died after a long illness. Joe was very popular with all ranks and his “Limericks” were famous during his annual training periods. Joe will always be remembered for the great gentleman that he was. May he rest in Peace.
Sgt. Sean Lynch, well known Defence Correspondent with the Irish Independent, died after a long illness. Sean was a great story teller and his experiences as correspondent held many a comrade spellbound as he spun his yarns.
We all miss Sean, one of the best comrades we ever had. May he rest in Peace.
1983
Another tragic and sad death occurred when Pte. Patrick Lacey was accidentally killed in a road accident.
This young and much liked Private was laid to rest with full military honours by his comrades in the quiet graveyard at Ballywaltrim on the last day of Aug. 1983. R.I.P.
Cpl. J.G. Doyle from Greystones, who was a great favourite with all ranks of the Bn., died after a long illness patiently born. Earlier in the year he made the journey to Lourdes with the Defence Forces Pilgrimage.
J.G. was buried with full military honours in the peaceful graveyard overlooking the sea and the lovely harbour at Greystones.
J.G. excelled himself in the making of a T.V. film “Many Miles to Babylon” filmed on location in South Wicklow. May he rest in Peace.