An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March / April 2025 www.military.ie/magazine 26 | www.military DESERTERS OF THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES DURING WWII This article is the fourth and final in a series exploring the controversial topic of Irish Defence Forces soldiers who deserted the organisation to join the British Army during WWII. This article specifically explores the idea that soldiers deserted to join the British military establishment for reasons of adventure and seeking military combat. Seek Adventure & Action? 'Young men of adventurous spirit may thus be tempted to join the British Army in the hope that they may see active service' - Defence Force CoS (1941). In attempting to find a common denominator among the motivations of those who deserted and joined the British Army, the most compelling factor is the argument that this specific group of British Army volunteers sought adventure and action. They deserted due to inactivity within the Defence Forces and joined the British Army to engage an enemy – to seek the thrill of combat. As McElwaine states: the effects of adventurousness may 'not be capable of historical verification using documentary sources only, but they certainly can, and have been, verified using oral sources when dealing with an issue such as motivation of individuals in enlistment'. In endeavouring to understand whether the argument of 'seeking combat' holds weight, documentary evidence cannot be utilised. Motives of adventurism and action are not inked on paper. Oral evidence, with all its flaws, is the critical investigative outlet for this specific question. Even before detailing individual accounts and reasons, the considerable number disparity between those who joined full-time after the Call to Arms versus those who joined for the duration of the Emergency is a telling sign that for most enlistees during this period, they saw military life, not as a long-term plan or as a career opportunity. But then again, the vast disparity between those who opted for a full-time duration as opposed to the volunteer force (LSF/LDF) also indicates that they wished to engage in the full-time soldiering aspects for the duration of the Emergency and were more eager to "get involved" so to speak. Among the few interviews conducted with deserters, seeking adventure/action/combat is a common reason given in one form of language or another. Among the most well-documented deserters was Phil Farrington (who deserted twice). He openly stated: "I was looking for adventure" and explained how "I wanted to have a go". Joe Walsh from Athy, a deserter himself who joined the RAF (715 Motor Transport Light Repair Unit) in October of 1942 stated how the "only regret I had was I did not go sooner. I might have seen more action. I would have loved to have been an air gunner and wouldn't have minded the risks." For some Irish servicemen at this time, they had already 'had a go'. Limerick native Christopher Robinson (who seemingly left the Defence Forces by legitimate means during WWII) was manning a 40mm Bofor anti-aircraft gun along the Bull Wall, Dublin, during the night of 31 May 1941, when a German the bomber entered Éire's airspace. As the gunner, he opened up on the aircraft: "We let hell go loose with our guns firing away that night". Despite his and his comrade's best efforts, Christopher failed to impede the pathway of the German bomber that would drop a bomb on the North Strand area of Dublin, killing 28 and wounding 90 people. "After that bit of action, my mind was made up. It was further afield for me". Christopher had gained a scent of warfare and the thrill of combat was calling out to him. When asked by Prof. Roberts why he was volunteering for the British Army, Kevin Williams spoke of how it 'might have been an adventure, the excitement of the whole thing – nothing unusual about it. Lots of fellows from Southern Ireland (doing the same).' The opinion of British servicemen regarding the Irish personnel joining the war effort and the answers Irishmen gave to their new military compatriots are also of interest. When Con Murphy told members of the British Army of his national origins: 'Several times the young ARTICLE BY CAPT CÍAN HARTE MOTIVATIONS TO DESERT WWII Emergency Service Medal, 1939-1946

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