An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 29 assault on The Tunnel, shortly after deploying in Elizabethville. The citation for Lt Riordan's posthumous DSM states that he was 'tire- less in his task in insuring the efficiency and welfare of his platoon under very trying circumstances, and it was while actually leading his platoon in an attack that he met his death.' DSMs were also awarded to Cpl Gerald Francis, who remained in command of his section although wounded and his platoon com- mander had been killed, and Cpl Patrick Gregan who: "On the 16th of December 1961, deliberately exposed himself to heavy automatic fire on a number of occasions in order to use his own 84mm anti- tank rifle more effectively... Later in the action, although wounded, he continued until ordered back for treatment." In October 1966 Coy Sgt J Ryan died in St Bricin's military hospital having been medically repatriated from UN service in Cyprus three months earlier. From 1969 the battalion was heavily committed in the ATCP role as a result of the eruption of hostilities in Northern Ireland. In March 1972, the battalion was presented with an official Irish wolfhound mascot, presented by famous music publisher Martin Walton. (When the battalion later formed its Special Assault Group, it was codenamed 'Wolfhound.') Two months later the battalion was deployed to Mountjoy Prison where imprisoned terrorists were staging a major riot. The sudden appearance of a large body of disciplined and well-equipped troops had the desired effect and the disturbances quickly came to an end. In 1978, members of 5 Inf Bn were among the first Irish troops deployed to Lebanon with UNIFIL, where Pte Michael Burke won the battalion's fourth DSM, 'For displaying courage, initiative and compassion of a high order when, voluntarily and under fire, and at considerable personal risk, Private Burke abandoned a position of safety to go to the aid of wounded civilians, in the open, in the vil- lage of Brachit, Lebanon on the 17th of April 1979.' On 8 April 1980, Pte Derek Smallhorne (31) was one of two Irish UNIFIL soldiers captured and murdered by DFF militia in the wake of the Battle of At-Tiri. Another battalion fatality occurred in Lebanon on 27 Oct 1982 when Pte Peter Burke (20) died under particularly tragic circum- stances as one of three soldiers murdered by Pte Michael McAle- avey at Tibnin Bridge. Meanwhile, ATCP duties continued, including border deploy- ments and cash escorts. In July 1981, a detachment from the battalion was on duty in Portlaoise Prison when a sudden fire in the clock tower trapped Pte John Norris on the roof. Pte Thomas Metcalfe, with 'exceptional bravery and with little regard for his own safety', scaled a forty-foot drainpipe while carrying a heavy fire hose and lowered his colleague to safety minutes before the tower collapsed. Metcalfe was subsequently awarded the military medal for gallantry (MMG); the only instance of this decoration being awarded for home service. Despite heavy ATCP and overseas com- mitments, the battalion took care to hone its conventional infantry skills through training exercises, such as a 48-hour exercise in Wick- low in July 1986 that involved a platoon deploying from LÉ Emer and marching inland to Kilpeddar to capture a company HQ. By this time, the battalion had acquired its own artist in the shape of Sgt Michael Clarke, who accompanied 59 Inf Bn UNIFIL as unofficial battalion artist. The artwork thus produced was pub- lished later that year as The Irish Soldier in UNIFIL. April 18 1997, marked the end of an era for the battalion when it marched out of Collins Barracks for the last time. It also marked the end of the barracks' status as the world's oldest continually occupied military facility (since 1704). On conclusion of the parade the battalion marched through the main gate onto Benburb Street where transport awaited to move them to their new home in McKee Bks. UN peacekeeping missions continued, notably UNMIL in Liberia. Training initiatives also continued; one example being a battalion commander's challenge, organised in April 2009, aimed at enhanc- ing the unit's basic soldiering skills and espirit de corps. Eight sections participated, each soldier carrying over 30lbs in battle vest and patrol pack, in addition to helmet and rifle, over a 5km march- and-shoot course around Gormanston Camp. Three years later, 5 Infantry Battalion was disestablished as part of the 2012 reorgan- isation, with most personnel transfer- ring to the newly formed 7 Infantry Battalion in Cathal Brugha Bks. The 5 Infantry Battalion Association was quickly formed to keep the 5 Inf Bn name alive and in 2015 the association was pre- sented with its colours, sponsored by the bat- talion's last two BSMs.

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