An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | 18 Pdr Gun restoration by LT COL JAMES O'NEILL, 2 BDE ORD GP 2 brigade Ordnance Group were recently tasked with restoring two historic 18 Pdr Mk IV artillery pieces which had been on display for a number of years outside the administration block in McKee bks. The guns were looking the worse for wear from many years of exposure to the elements. The 18 Pdr Mk1 Gun was introduced in 1904 and was used during WW1. The Mk IV version entered service with the Defence Forces in the 1920's and was used up to 1974. The Mk 1 version had an over-barrel spring rercuperator and a pole trail whereas the Mk IV version had a hydro pneumatic recoil system fitted underneath the barrel and a box trail. When delivered the Mk IV's had wooden artillery wheels and a limber which would have been towed by a team of horses. During the Emergency, they were converted for vehicle towing by the fitting of a Martin Parry adapter to drop the height of the axel and to provide a suspension system. This work was carried out at the Great Southern Railway workshops in Inchicore. The weapons from McKee Bks were removed to Ordnance Workshops in Cathal Brugha Bks, where they were sandblasted to remove multiple layers of paint, which had been applied over the years. The weapons were then sent to vehicle base workshops in the DFTC for spraying. The barrel housing and the elevating and traversing system of the 18 Pdr were manufactured from phosphor bronze and it was decided to preserve these parts in their original state for display purposes. The guns were then placed in long-term care and preservation by Ordnance Corps personnel and are now in a pristine condition and will be returned to McKee Bks. The finished product, painted and ready for display The restoration team from L/R Cpl Forrester, Pte Brady, CS Gregg, Lt Col O'Neill, Sgt Groarke, Pte McDonagh, Pte Connolly 18 Pounder in the workshop for restoration ONE Michael Mc Neela Branch I n December 2015 An Cosantóir visited the Michael Mc Neela branch, Dún Dealgan of the ONE, based in Aiken bks Dundalk. The branch is named after a young private Michael Mc Neela who lost his his life while serving with the United Nations in Lebanon with the 64 Inf bn UNIFIL on the 24th February 1989. The branch opened its veterans office in Aiken Bks in January 2012, The official opening of the branch office was attended by the late Michael's parents John and Kathleen, and was performed by Lt Col Michael Dawson, OC 27 Inf Bn, who has been fully behind the aims of the organisation and has supported the opening of the office within the Barracks. The office is manned by branch volunteers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm each week. We spoke with the branch Chairman Mr. Jim McE- neaney and the branch Treasurer Mr Michael Reid, who gave us details of their branch and their recent fundraising activities. Their main fundraising event organised with the help of the 27 Inf Bn in a marathon challenge, a relay race of 46km across the Cooley Mountains. It finishes at St Brigid's School, who they have chosen to receive half of the money raised and the other half being donated to a local charity. When we visited they were collecting for ham- pers for the homeless in Dublin and had collected enough to make up 26 hampers, which has all been donated by the members of the branch. Treasurer Mr. Michael Reid and the branch Chairman Mr Jim McEneaney displaying items collected for hampers that were given to homeless people in Dublin. by CPL LEE COyLE

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