An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 44 | author: Ernest McCall publisher: Self-published isbn: 978-0-9533867-6-5 price: €28.50 H/B The controversial title to Ernest McCall's latest book comes from W.A. Philip's work The Revolution in Ireland 1906-23 (1923) where he states that the Auxiliaries were the world's first Anti-Terrorist unit. Formed during the summer of 1920, the Auxiliaries were a highly decorated police force what were feared by the Irish Republican Army. The book covers the formation of the unit, recruitment and training but it is McCall's comprehensive account of the Divisions day to day activities during the Irish War of Independence that provides an invaluable source of information. The author utilises police reports and private papers as well as IRA accounts of various actions during this turbulent time in Irish history. This makes for fascinating reading as one can see how involved the Auxiliaries were in tracking down the IRA network and its operatives in Ireland. Bloody and violent confrontations erupted with no quarter being given or requested by either side in this war of insurgency and counter-insurgency. The text is complemented with black and white photographs of Auxiliaries many of them never published before. The Appendices in the book are excellent and cover the Division in Ulster, unit members in Palestine and pay and conditions to name but a few. This book is one of those 'must haves' for the student of this period as not only is it a great read but will also be an outstanding and essential reference of Auxiliary police actions. Though this work is not available in the shops, it can be delivered directly to your door and can be ordered from www.theauxies.com. Po'B The FirsT AnTi-TerrorisT UniT: The AuxiliAry Division riC nAvAl AviATion in inishowen world wAr 1 author: Guy Warner publisher: Inishowen Maritime Heritage Co. (May 2018) www.inishowenmaritime.com price: €12 I found this booklet, filled as it is with clear photographs of the period, chimed with my own experiences and local knowledge of the area to which the material refers. Having passed many weeks on detachment with the 28 Inf Bn in Finner a few short decades ago I can say from a helicopter viewpoint that the weather conditions in the Donegal and Inishowen region can be many and varied, but seldom described as either tranquil, warm or placid! I am sure my former Naval Service colleagues who patrolled the seas offshore would agree with those broad statements, they having been face to face with the weather on exposed bridges and decks more than I ever was, enclosed in a heated and relatively dry and stable helicopter cockpit! This booklet outlines a small part of the antisubmarine war fought off Ireland's north coast in World War One, with crews spending five hours in exposed open airship or kite balloon baskets or biplane cockpits. Even in an Irish summer, things can be challenging but as autumn gave way to winter it must have been a bitterly cold experience. Patrolling over a barren unforgiving ocean using rudimentary navigation devices to detect and attack lurking submarines was an endurance test and significant challenge to the crews' courage and determination. Given the rudimentary level of aviation technology and air navigation techniques at the time it is amazing that more crews weren't lost. But courage they had and operate they did, and the stories of some of their remarkable experiences and combats are retold within these pages. These will interest anybody with a curiosity about all and any forms of early aerial warfare. It contains also the record of military command and control systems but also the 'boots on the ground' narrative of the challenges to the building of the United States and Royal Navy air bases. From the training of the pigeons (they had to be combat ready too and have a proven homing record before long range operations could commence!!) to the party's and social interaction between the sailors and the local community, it is an intriguing read and well worth devoting the afternoon to it that it will fill. It can be purchased at the Inishowen Maritime Heritage Co. Maritime Museum & Planetarium or ordered by phone 07493 81363 or email greencastlemaritime@eircom. net - P&P is National €2.50, EU €3.50 US €4.90. Reviewed by Brig gen Paul Fry (Retd)

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