An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 5 Manager Comdt Colin Lawlor info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photo/Journalist Cpl Lee Coyle journalist@military.ie Photographer Armn Adam Murphy photo@military.ie 045 44 5307 Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Lynn Ryan admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 15331911 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd Earl Street, Longford, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)43 3350500 The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Front Cover Pictured is a member of the Naval Service during NBT training. Photo by Cpl Neville Coughlan For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our July/August double issue, which we hope will get you over the summer months. This 48-page issue contains 18 articles from the blue Seas of the Mediterranean, to green hills of the Glen of Imaal, and as far away as the beige sands of the Middle East. It was another tough month selecting the best photographs to 'fall in' On Parade. This month In Focus goes back 70 years to discover The Forgotten Memorial a bronze statue of a dying Royal Dublin Fusilier, which now sits inside the walls of Dublin Castle. Then we look at the recent Burning of the Custom House Conference 2017, were many historians and authors discussed the burning of the Custom House on the 25th May 1921. We go down under to Australia for our Veterans News, were DF Veteran Michael Lyons, writes about his memories of UN Peacekeeping in Cyprus in 1965. Our first extended feature covers the Recce Commander Instructor's Course, where Sgt Karl Byrne followed students on the course for a number of weeks to learn the skills of Recce. In Learning the Basics, Cpl Lee Coyle visits a three-star course with the 2 BTC, as the students complete their training in a patrol harbour. Our front cover and first Naval Service feature looks at how the Naval Boarding Team (NBT) are dispatched to board a vessel of interest in Irish waters. Our second NS feature Ship Shape and Ready for Action by CPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra, who is a member of the Naval Services Fleet Operational Readiness, Standards & Training (FORST) team. In A Natural Progression with Global Risk Solutions, I spoke to some DF Veterans about starting a new career in the private security sector. For Strategic Review, Paul O'Brien looks at how Chemical Terrorism weapons are used as 'the poor man's atom bomb'. Next ANSAC Credit Union makes one lucky member the owner of a new Skoda Octavia in an extra members draw and we hear about their new Annual and Car loans. Our next two features are about the United Nations, with both about paying the utmost respect and commemoration of the memories of fallen peacekeepers. First is the IUNVA Annual Commemoration ceremony at the end of May, this is followed by a 50th anniversary Memorial Service for Comdt Thomas Wickham who was killed in action in the Golan Heights in 1967. Next up we have a short piece on FIBUA Training. In the first of two history articles, Swedish military history author Henrik Jansson looks at the Irish and the Swedish soldiers who fought together on the red soils of Africa in Brothers in Blue Berets, then US author Joseph E.A. Connell Jnr writes a very informative piece on the last day of General Michael Collins in The Big Fella's Last Journey. Plus, we have our regular Tac-Aide, Gear Up, Noticeboard, Reviews, and What I Do features. Finally, check out our competitions and results on pages 11, 40 and 43. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor DARKNESS INTO LIGHT On Saturday 6th May at 0415hrs, 117 Members of the 109 Inf Bn lined out to support and raise awareness against suicide for Pieta House. A total of $2,500 USD was raised for Pieta House. "I think we all know someone who knows someone who has been affected by suicide. This is the first time that Darkness Into Light has taken place in the Middle East." I would like to thank the following: Bn Commander, Lt Col Stephen Howard, Coy Sgt O'Brien, Sgt McLaughlin and the members of B Coy for their generosity. Cpls Tony Farrell and Noel Poynton, who played a huge part in assisting me with the successful running of the event. Special thanks to Sgt Declan Gumley, Sgt Joanne Smith, PSS and Pte George Radford who assisted me in making this event such a success and to all those who participated. After the walk/run, all of those who kindly supported the event were invited for a full Irish Breakfast prepared by Sgt Martin Sheerin, Cook Sgt and his staff. Words/Photo: Capt Catherine Lundon, 109 Inf Bn

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