An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 19 the three 'Treaty ports' that remained in British hands up until 1938. (The other two were the defences in Cork Harbour and Bere Island.) Interestingly our guide's father was stationed at Fort Dunree while serving with the Royal Artillery in 1934. "He married my mother who was a Doherty from Buncrana," Terry told us. "He was then shipped off to Malaya, and then to Malta in 1942. He was discharged in 1948. He passed away when I was 12 and we moved back to Buncrana." As with many British posts in Ireland before and after the singing of the Treaty the British Army on the Inishowen Peninsula actively recruited from, bought supplies from, and its personnel married into, the local community. "Here's one for you," Terry told us. "On October 3rd 1938 when the fort was handed over to the Irish Army, the Irish flag was raised by CQMS McLaughlin, 5 Coastal Defence Battery, while the British flag was lowered by Sgt King of the Royal Artillery. They were brothers-in-law married to two local sisters!" During the Emergency 5 Coastal Def Bty was augmented by members of 15 Fd Bty, 3 Med Bty, and the Coast Watching Service. Air defence guns were also put in place at this time. Although regular firing practice took place the coastal guns never fired in anger. However, the air defence guns did fire at an unidentified aircraft in January 1941. After the Emergency the army dramatically reduced in size and Fort Dun- ree became the responsibility of 4 Fd Arty Regt in Mullingar. A maintenance staff remained in the fort as well as an FCÁ coastal defence battery who fired the fort's big 6-inch guns in the summer of 1964. With the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969 the fort was temporarily re- garrisoned by 14 Inf Gp. On June 1st 1983 the post was taken over by 24 Inf Bn and so it remained until the mid-1990s. The fort's guns are certainly impressive and are in great condition, some even with their originally manufacturer's name, Wolseley Motors, still on them. On display in the fort is a shell from Lenan Fort's 9.2-inch gun, which had a range of 15 miles. The museum is full of interesting exhibits and the pristine condition of them all is remarkable and a credit to the staff. Terry told us that BQMS John Joseph Ferguson is the main man behind the museum and its exhibits. "He served in the fort for many years as cadre staff and hid a lot of the equipment so it wouldn't get destroyed," Terry said. When the British pulled out they left everything behind for the Irish to use and that's exactly what they did taking over everything from the guns, to searchlights, rangefinders, telescopes, maintenance equipment, artil- lery simulators, and the list goes on. Over the years then as items became obsolete the BQMS would store them away. Consequently he had enough to open the museum in 1986. The occasional nights when the sky over the lough is lit by a demonstra- tion of the fort's still-working searchlights are a fitting tribute to the work of BQMS Ferguson. Fort Dunree is also home to 28 Inf Bn's museum, which was moved there several years ago following the closure of its former home, Rockhill House Military Post outside Letterkenny. This is one of the finest unit history col- lections in the Defence Forces, with uniforms, equipment, and personal memorabilia dating back to the founding of the unit and tracing its history at home and overseas. The fact that this is open to the public means the history of the 28 Inf Bn can be shared by all. Every so often the military side of Fort Dunree comes alive, reminding tourists that the fort was not always a museum. The fort offers similar train- ing opportunities to Fort Davis in Cork, with gun emplacements, bunkers, steep hills, and deserted billets. Consequently, throughout the year the upper redoubt echoes to the barking of orders and the admonishments of instructors to recruits to keep their heads down. Leaving Fort Dunree behind we will head south next month to Bere Island Military Training Camp, another part of the country steeped in military heritage and one that offers some of the best training facilities in the Defence Forces. Terry Tedstone

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