An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 23 The Medal Man CQMS Ger O'Connor RDF by JAMES WIMS, MCIJ, EDITOR, MEATH TOPIC, TOPIC NEWSPAPERS LTD M ullingar man CQMS Ger o'Connor retired from the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) on Sunday 5th February 2017, after almost 42 years of service. He has the distinction of being the author of a most colourful and informative book that provides soldiers and the public with full details and photos of all of Defence Forces medals and ribbons since its foundation. CQMS O'Connor is a postman in Mullingar who has combined his work with An Post over 30 years with endless additional hours in the service of the State with the army reserve force, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ), which later became the Reserve Defence Force. Prior to An Post, Ger worked for 13 years as a dough maker with Mullally's Bakery, Dominick St, Mullingar, which is now the Topic Newspapers Ltd premises. He served his time in Mullally's Bakery and did his City & Guilds bakery course at Galway IT. Ger joined the FCÁ in Columb Bks, Mullingar, on 1st May 1975 at the age of 18, enlisting into 20 Batetry, 4 Field Artillery Regi- ment (4 Fd Arty Regt). In the FCÁ reorganisation in 1979 Ger's unit became part of 9 Fd Arty Regt. In 1977 Ger was promoted to corporal in Fort Dunree, Donegal, and to the rank of sergeant in Columb Bks in 1979, and later com- pleted his senior NCOs course in Athlone. 1979 was also the start of a historic run that saw 9 Fd Arty Regt winning numerous Command, Brigade and All-Army shooting competitions. As a member of the rifle and falling plates teams during those years, Ger won team medals at both Brigade and Command level and was a one-time runner-up in the All-Army Falling Plates Competition. In another reorganisation in 2005, 9 Fd Arty Regt was renamed 54 Reserve Artillery Regiment. By then Ger was a battery quar- termaster sergeant (BQMS), having been promoted by the late Comdt Des Colman (RIP), Mullingar. Ger's book, The Medals of the Irish Defence Forces, published in 2010, was the first book on military medals in Ireland and was officially launched by Chief of Staff Lt Gen Seán McCann, Chief of Staff, in January 2011 in the Officers' Mess, McKee Bks, Dublin. Ger was also afforded a local launch of his book, which was held on 18 February 2011 in the NCOs' Mess, Columb Bks, Mull- ingar, hosted by Lt Col Arthur Armstrong (OC Columb Bks and 4 Fd Arty Regt), together with Comdt (now Colonel) Paul Whelan, who was then OC 54 Res Arty Regt, and his cadre staff. This was another piece of history for the since-closed barrack. In the 2013 DF reorganisation 54 Res Arty Regt also ceased to exist: the last reserve regiment in the country to be stood down, making its own piece of history. The new reserve unit in Mullingar, based in Lynn Industrial Es- tate, would be C Coy, a sub-unit of 6 Inf Bn, Custume Bks, Athlone. Ger served as the new unit's company quartermaster sergeant (CQMS) up to midnight on Sunday, 5th February 2017, when he formally retired. Prior to his retirement, the 'medals man', as he is known throughout the Defence Forces, was presented with the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal by Lt Col Jimmy Whittaker, OC 6 Inf Bn, at a ceremony in Custume Bks. Ger has now come to the end of his career with the Reserve Defence Forces, pointing out, true to his form as a stickler for de- tail and accuracy, that he has given exactly 41 years and 280 days service to the State. He told 'Topic' that he has enjoyed his journey and the friends and com- rades he has met along the way. He wishes all his friends in C Coy best wishes for their future and he hopes the unit will continue Mullingar's strong military tradition, stretching back some 800 years. Medals of the Irish Defence Forces can be downloaded in PDF for- mat at: www.military.ie/ fileadmin/user_upload/ images/Info_Centre/documents/ Df _ Medals_ 2010.pdf this is an abridged version of an article that appeared in the 'meath topic' on 9 February 2017. CQMS O'Connor being presented with the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal by OC 6 Inf Bn Lt Col Johnny Whittaker in Custume Bks. Ger O'Connor pictured with former Defence Forces Chief of Staff, the late Lt Gen Dermot Earley DSM in the Curragh Camp. The picture was taken by the late Comdt Des Coleman, General Secretary of the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA).

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