33 RES INF BN 'ON THE GROUND' 22 |
BY WESLEY BOURKE PHOTOS BY ARMN NEVILLE COUGHLAN
D COS Ops, Maj Gen Ralph James, and Govern- ment Chief Whip and Minister of State for De- fence, Paul Kehoe TD, recently visited the Glen of Imaal where he observed reservists from the mainly Wexford-based 33 Inf Bn in training for the 1 S Bde reserve infantry tactical as- sessment. After watching a platoon-in-attack exercise Minister Kehoe commented: "You can clearly see the commitment and training that goes into an exercise like this; very impressive. What really strikes me here today is the com- mitment and enthusiasm of the reservists." For some the reserve has been their life. On his last camp this
year was Pl Sgt Billy Dermody, C Coy, who is retiring this summer after 43 years service. "I joined E Coy, 10 Inf Bn FCÁ, in Loughlin Bridge," he says. "I remember it clearly. Sgt Willy Haynes from Borris, Co Carlow, was our instructor during recruit training. By the way he is still alive and well and into his 90s now." Ireland of course was a different place back in the '70s and
has changed over the years; training, equipment, organisation and personnel. "I first trained on the .303" Lee-Enfield and the Bren Gun, then the 7.62mm FN, and now the GPMG and Steyr," says Sgt Dermody. "Over the years I've met a lot of great people and had some great times; I'll really miss it."
An Cosantóir October 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie
'80s. The Defence Forces had units permanently stationed along the border and the FCÁ were regularly called upon to provide personnel to augment PDF units. For a period Sgt Dermody was stationed in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. "Most of the time we took over barrack duties to release the regular guys," Sgt Dermody reminisces. "On occasion we also went on patrol with PDF units, and on more than one occasion I clearly remember the barracks being called to 'stand-to'. Different times for the reservist back then." Just like its permanent counterpart, everything in the reserve
Sgt Billy Dermody
