An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 38 | ODE TO BILLY AND THE ROLLS ROYCE ZJ5000 by CQMS JIM CLARKE (RETD) & COY SGT HARRY MULHERN (RETD) R olls Royce ZJ5000 was driven by senior NCos of 2 grn Coy, Supply and Transport Corps. This unit was the proud custodian of this prestigious vehicle from 1947 until 1973. ZJ 5000 was primarily used to transport the president and came into service to replace the horse- drawn landau coach in 1947, during the presidency of Seán T o'Kelly. It continued its role throughout the presidency of Éamon de Valera, and was used for some ceremonial oc- casions by presidents Patrick Hillary, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. In its prime, the vehicle was an amazing piece of machin- ery - having an intercom sys- tem and electric sliding panels between driver's cab and passenger area. It also had a radio (a rare object in vehicles at that time) and an excellent toolkit, with battery charger included. The engine could not be maintained in the normal way as most of its components consisted of sealed units that had to be worked on by specialist Rolls Royce- trained fitters. Coy Sgt William (Billy) Myers, who sadly passed away in Octo- ber 2014, was the last military driver of the state Rolls Royce. A profile of Billy, published in ONE's Connect newsletter in 2010, is reproduced here with their kind permission. Billy Myers was born in Bunclody, Co Wexford, on 7th September 1920. On completion of his education he enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces in June 1940 and following his recruit training in Stephens Bks, Kilkenny, he was assigned to the S Comd, where he served with 13 Inf Bn and 1 Fd S&T Coy. He later transferred to E Comd and served with 2 Grn S&T Coy, Base Workshops S&T, and finally with Directorate S&T Corps. While serving with 2 Grn S&T Coy in McKee Bks, Dublin, he was appointed the official driver of the presidential Rolls Royce ZJ5000, a position he held for 13 years (1960-1973), during the presidency of Eamon De Valera. Since its purchase (early 1940s) the Rolls Royce was used to convey many dignitaries on state visits. Those included: King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium; Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands; Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco; King Juan Carlos of Spain; US presidents Dwight D Eisenhower and John F Kennedy; the presidents of India, Pakistan, and Zambia; and UN Secretary General U Thant. In 1973 the car was taken over by An Gárda Siochana. Billy, who retired from the Defence Forces in 1979 after 39 years of loyal and devoted service, was awarded the Medal of the Royal House of Belgium after the visit of Prince Bernhard, and was presented with a mounted Rolls Royce emblem by the legendary car manufacturers, which is now on permanent display in the ONEt soldier's home Brú na bhFiann. Rolls Royce ZJ5000 is presently undergoing restoration and is located in Áras an Uachtaráin. ZJ5000 on display Coy Sgt Billy Myers with the presidential Rolls Royce ZJ5000 pictured in July 1986 when his majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain visited Ireland. Coy Sgt Billy Myers (retd) in 2009

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