An Cosantóir

12 Events during summer of 1969 had brought the North of Ireland close to collapse. Forces of sectarianism and prejudice had been unleashed. Civil rights marches and protests met loyalist violence and resistance. Widespread riots ensued and British Army troops were deployed in the North for first time. One can recall Taoiseach Jack Lynch's August broadcast address to the nation on tragic events in Derry and Northern Ireland of previous days and the government's decision to deploy Irish Army troops (transported by CIE buses) for border duties. The Irish Government had at that time requested UN intervention and had set up refugee camps along the border. 1969 had also witnessed the UCD students' revolution and the Dublin Housing Action Committee's militant campaign, to highlight major social issues of homelessness, evictions and long waiting lists. In the United States, nationwide riots, protest marches and disturbances reflected hardening American public opinion in opposition to the Vietnam War. On 20/21 July the world had witnessed the historic Apollo 11 Lunar Module landing on the moon ('Eagle has landed ...' - 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind ....'). August 15-18 witnessed the historic music festival 'Woodstock' in Bethel, New York which would become a cultural touchstone. Such dramatic events unfolding in Ireland and more widely, at the time provided an interesting backdrop to our October 1969 registration in the Cadet School. The 14 October 1969 cadet intake comprised 26 Army Cadets (44th Cadet Class), 6 Air Corps Cadets (11th AC Class, later re-designated 5th Air Corps Regular Cadet Class), 2 Naval Service Cadets (8th NS Cadet Class) and 6 Zambian Cadets (2nd Zambian Cadet Class). As individuals arrived in the Curragh from their respective counties and town-lands registration details were captured in the historic hand-written Cadet Ledger which had similarly recorded cadet class entries since the first cadet class intake back on 1st February 1928. Assignment of personnel accommodation in the Cadet Lines, by Passage (Pasáiste 1-8), Room (Seomra 1-8) soon followed, as did the first mentoring of each new junior cadet by his allocated senior cadet class mentor ('Comhairleor'). The task of the Comhairleor was to informally initiate the junior cadet into the new and mysterious world of cadet life. Prescriptive senior-cadet wisdom was shared on specific procedures for reveille, morning bed-roll assembly, check parades, room, kit or square inspections, 'brasso' and 'spit-polish' applications and on protocols of Cadets' Mess etiquette. Traditional cadet school tips were disclosed on maintenance of the highly polished linoleum floors of rooms and passages (using sections of old army blankets as 'sliders') and cleaning of sinks, baths, showers, toilets and marble-tiled floors of communal ablution areas. The first of many severe haircuts ('bearradh gruaige') was summarily executed in a 'seomra agallaimh' at the Cadet Lines by Military College barber Pte Mossie. Memorably, the collective shock-and-awe response had the unifying effect of galvanising our group. It acted as the perfect catalyst for initial class interactions during which individual personality identities were revealed. Humorous exchanges and reactions were shared and enjoyed as our prized flowing locks were unceremoniously shorn. Thereafter regular visits to Reggie Darling's Curragh Camp Barbershop (still today a 4th generation family barbershop business) became routine inspection outcomes. Cadet School NCO instructor and administrative staff quickly imposed their authority and influence on the new junior cadet intake. Mountains of 'kit'; personal clothing ('bulls wool' uniforms, distinctive brown-coloured 'fatigues', sports gear etc) and ordnance equipment were issued from the Quartermaster's stores and the cadet class was organised into sections ('Gasraí'). Constant scrutiny of class activities and actions was sustained. Observations on individual performance assessments and progress would have been faithfully recorded and reported on for each cadet. When necessary and appropriate, Cadet School NCOs would dispense corrective direction and provide mentoring support and encouragement. We will fondly remember the unique leadership traits, management styles and personalities of these highly dedicated individuals, whose formidable mission was to slowly mould raw young civilians into soldiers and With the 44th Cadet Class and 5th Air Corps Regular Cadet Class REELING IN OUR CADETSHIP YEARS 1969-1971 This historic Cadet Ledger held in the Cadet School contains detailed hand-written records of all cadet intakes from the 1st Cadet Class on 1st February 1928 up until the 56th Cadet Class. 1 By Col Brian Dowling, Retired REELING IN OUR CADETSHIP YEARS 1969-1971 44th Cadetship Flag'

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