An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | BY CPL CARMEL BENNETT, AIR CORPS O n a very hot Easter Sunday, whilst most people were tuck- ing into their Easter eggs, eight members of the Defence Forces based in Kosovo took part in a gruelling 25km DanCon route march. DanCon is short for Danish Contingent, and the march is a tradition in the Danish Army and was established in 1972 by the Royal Danish Army. The DanCon march invites foreign troops allied with Denmark to participate in the 25km march. Participants have to wear their military boots and uniform, carry 10kg in weight, including body armour and their personnel weapon. The route consisted of undulating terrain both on road and off with the highlight been a 17-degree incline to the half way checkpoint. Over 364 soldiers from 22 different countries took part. The march was made easier by the comradeship from all those taking part, the support from all the locals as the troops matched through their villages and towns and the chats been had by all troops from all ranks and nationalities. As flags from across the globe were proudly hung from backpacks of all participants and flew gently in the soft Kosovo breeze. Capt Enda Caldwell, 28 Inf Bn in Finner Camp, Co. Donegal finished in the top ten in a very impressive time of 2 hours 39 minutes. Although most suffered with tired bodies, blistered feet and extreme fatigue due to the excessive heat, it was the comradeship of all nations who spurred each other on to complete this extreme chal- lenge. As one Danish soldier said "The pain is only temporary but the honour of completing DanCon lasts forever." ANZAC DAY SYDNEY 2019 BY MICHAEL LYONS, UIESAA T he former Irish Defence Forces Director of Legal Service, Col John Spierin (Ret'd) from Dublin joined the United Irish Ex Services Association Australia (UIESAA) for the 2019 ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) march in Sydney on Thursday 25th April. John remarked that after reading about the UIESAA some years ago in the 'An Co- santóir' he put it on his list of lifetime things to achieve! The Irish Consul General Mr Owen Feeney attended and we were honoured to have from Melbourne, Irish Army veteran John 'Bird' Prendergast. John served in the Congo and Cyprus prior to emigrating from his native Waterford to Australia over 50-years-ago. The ANZAC Day marches are over 100 years old and were initially formed to remember the Australian and New Zealand forces that fought and made the supreme sacrifice in World War 1 especially at Gallipoli. Over 6,600 Irish-born that had immigrated to Australia returned and served side by side with the Australians in WW1, tragically 970 were killed. In recent times the ANZAC Day marches commemorate and honour those who served in all theatres of war and peacekeeping. Any present Irish Defence Forces personal, veterans or families of veterans vis- iting Sydney in April around ANZAC Day please have do not hesitate to contact UIESAA. https://uiesaa.wordpress.com/contact-us/ or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UIESAA/

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