An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 31 Memorial Service for Comdt Thomas Wickham by LT COL ROBERT KIELy, CHIEF OBSERVER GROUP GOLAN PHotoS by CPL NEVILLE COUGHLAN, 55 INF GP, UNDOF O n 7th June 2017 a memo- rial service was held in Camp Ziounai on the Go- lan Heights to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Comdt thomas 'tommy' Wickham who died in the line of duty two days after the start of the Six-Day War between Israel and Syria in 1967. At the time Comdt Wickham was operating as an unarmed UN military observer (UNMo) for the United Nations truce Supervi- sion organisation (UNtSo) when he was shot and killed while trying to relieve observer posi- tions on the Golan Heights. Attending the memorial service were Irish UNMOs currently serving in the Golan Heights, Jerusalem and South Lebanon. Also present was a large representative body from 55 Inf Gp, the Irish unit currently serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights. The ceremony included a prayer service led by 55 Inf Gp padre, Rev Fr Pat Mernegh, followed by the laying of a wreath by myself, Lt Col Robert Kiely, Chief Observer Group Golan, and concluded with the playing of the Last Post, a minute's silence, and the raising of the na- tional flag to the strains of Reveille. Fr Mernegh celebrated Mass after- wards in the Camp Ziouani church. Comdt Wickham was an artil- lery officer and instructor in the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. He had extensive overseas ser- vice, having completed several international military courses throughout Europe and see- ing action in the Congo with 38 Inf Bn in 1962/3. He was also a football enthusiast, much like his father who had been secretary of the FAI for 30 years. Comdt Wickham was a Defence Forces representative to the FAI and had accompanied them to Istanbul as an official, just weeks before deploying to the Golan in 1967. Significantly, Comdt Wick- ham is the most senior Irish of ficer to be killed on overseas service and the only member of the Defence Forces to die on active service in Syria. June 5th 1967 saw the out- break of the Six-Day War and, unfortunately, two days later Comdt Thomas Wickham, the husband of Patricia and father of three, made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace. His remains were repatriated to Ireland where he received full military honours, rendered by members of the Defence Forces. As I said at the memorial service, it is important that we remember those members of the Irish Defence Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace. Today, we have 587 personnel serving in 10 missions around the world, often in dangerous conflict zones. As well as commemorating Comdt Wickham and his service to Ire- land and to the United Nations, our memorial service was also a reminder of Ireland's and the Defence Forces' long-standing and historical commitment to the United Nations and to peace in the Middle East. Lt Col Kiely at the wreath laying. Rev Fr Pat Mernagh CF, leads the assembled parade in a prayer. Members of 55th Inf Gp remove their head dress for the Last Post. A Fijian bugler, serving with UNDOF, plays the Last Post.

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