An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 31 BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY SGT MICK BURKE A s part of the joint Defence Forces' 'Eldest Veteran' inter- view series, run in conjunction with Ireland's Military Story magazine, Military Archives and the National Museum of Ireland, An Cosantóir met with 92-year-old Co Kilkenny man, retired Lt Col Jim Dawson, in Limerick City. Jim Dawson was born on 12th April 1926 in Callan, Co Kilkenny and moved to Cappa near Kilrush in Co Clare aged 7. "I have always joked that I was born in the Workhouse in Callan as in fact my father had rented the master's quarters there." When Jim was 14 he served in the Local Security Force (LSF) were his father, a Garda Superintendent was in charge. In 1946 Jim went to the Cadet School in the Military College to start his cadetship with the 20th Cadet Class. 2/Lt Jim Dawson was com- missioned into the Artillery Corps aged 22. His first posting was to Magee Bks in Kildare Town to undergo his 6-month Artillery Young Officers (YOs) course, before being posted to McKee Bks with the 2 Arty Regt. Later he was posted to the 1 Arty Regt in Ballincollig Military Post (later called Murphy Bks), in addition he became an FCÁ training officer for the Tralee Bn, Dingle Bn and Killorglin Bn. Jim married his first wife Nellie in Ennis in 1954. After 3-years in Ballincollig it was further down south Jim went, to serve on Spike Island with the Coast Defence Artillery. Now pro- moted to Capt, Jim was in charge of 6-inch guns batteries on Spike and they had other forts in Cork Harbour with 9.2-inch guns at Camden, Carlisle and Templebready. Nellie also lived on Spike with him, and at one time he was the only officer living on the island. "Spike Island was a tough posting; in the summertime you would see friends and family but in the winter it was a lonely place to live and work. After 5 and half years we were ready to move. I remem- ber asking for a posting other than Capt QM in Ballincollig and the answer came back was 'QM Ballincollig' I took it to move off of Spike Island." Jim regaled us with many a tale of life on Spike and in Ballincol- lig on how they re- quired and purchased food for the ration scale – even passing a QMG's inspection. In 1961 Jim served overseas with the 1st Inf Gp known as the 1-inch group to go out and reinforce the Irish troops in the Congo. "As Capt QM I had to fight to get equipment for my men, as other QMs were Comdts. In Leopold- ville we got the proper uniforms and out of the bulls wool. The Congo was tough, I think we lost 3 soldiers on that mission." After the Congo it was back to Ballincollig before travelling overseas again to UNFICYP in Cyprus with UN HQ. "The Greeks were running the show in Cyprus, aggravating the Turks – we had to maintain the peace and not pick sides." During the 1970s the now Comdt Jim Dawson served in Portlaose Prison as I/C Security when the IRA tried to breakout, but no one escaped,"there were attempted break outs in the North and in the UK the same year." Jim lost his wife Nellie to cancer in the late 70s. Jim was the Assistant Bde Adjt in 1 S Bde Comd for a while, then in 1977 he was appointed as OC 23 Inf Bn FCÁ. In 1978 he promoted to Lt Col as Comd QM and then District Barracks Officer now known as the Barrack Services Officer. Jim also escorted Robert Fisk around Southern Ireland and Bere Island whilst he was researching and writing about the Defence Forces. "Not that he needed it, as he was well knowledgeable of the country." In 1980 Jim married his second wife Peggie whom he met in Tralee. Jim stayed on for an extension in 1984 to his retirement in 1986 still in Comd HQ. Sadly his wife Peggie passed away in 2014 also to cancer. Jim still speaks very fondly of his military career and enjoys meeting up with his military friends and colleagues often. On the range in the Curragh, circa 1948 Stand down Parade in Collins Bks, Cork, circa 1986.

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