DEPOT & SCHOOL, CORPS of ENGINERS, Mcdermott
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DEPOT & SCHOOL, CORPS OF ENGINERS, McDERMOTT BARRACKS, CURRAGH CAMP “ IOSTA AGUS SCOIL, AN COR INNEALTOIR”, DUN MHIC DIARMADA”, CAMPA AN CHURRAIGH” The Corps of Engineers was established on the 1st October 1924, to provide Engineer Support to the Irish Defence Forces, both at home and abroad. The Headquarters of the Corps was the Depot & School, Corps of Engineers, which was based in McDermott Barracks, Curragh Camp. But unfortunately, due to the Re-Organisation of the Defence Forces , the Depot Engineers as we knew it, is no more and it is now known as the Engineer Group and it is a component of the Logs Base, Curragh , and is based in Ceannt House. The Engineer School however, is an integral part of the Combat Support College, and it is based in Plunkett Barracks. I was based there for the greater part 0f 34 years, and here is a short account that I have compiled from memory, of the time that I was stationed there, and in particular, the names of the people that I can remember that I would have served with . I joined the Army Apprentice School in August 1962 as a Member of No. 7 Platoon, and when I Passed-Out in June 1965, I was posted to Depot Ordnance, Clancy Barracks . I transferred from there to the 2nd Fd Engineer Coy, Clancy Barracks, in March 1967, and I subsequently transferred from there to Depot Engineers in March 1968. I was based there for the greater part of my career, until my Retirement in October 2002, having completed 40 Years Service in total. And among the people that I remember serving there at that time and in later years were my late Father – John Kelly, R.I.P. , who was the RQMS, and Bill Cramer R.I.P., who was the RSM.. (They both Retired in March 1974). My Late Father then took up employment as the Range Warden for the Curragh Cuntil his Retirement in 1980. Both of my Parents lived at 6 Owen Roe Road, Curragh, and afterwards in Kilcullen. My Father sadly passed-away on 03 December 1985 R.I.P., and my Mother in May 2009. R.I.P. I remember Ned Cramer,(A Brother of Bill) R.I.P.), Joe Pickering, R.I.P., Harry Wolverson, R.I.P., Tommy Carroll, R.I.P. Joe Fahy, R.I.P., “Bats” Boudron, R.I.P., Alfie Johnston,(Who was the holder of the DSM, which he was awarded during his tour of Duty with the U.N. in the Congo), Tommy “The Yank” Murray, R.I.P., Paddy Conroy, Bill Byrne, Paddy “The Mag” Donohue, R.I.P., Robbie Meehan (The Tailor), R.I.P. Tom Burke, Mick Hayes, Tony Grant, Brian Copeland, Larry Houlihan, and his Brother – Dec Houlihan, “Jemser” Farrell, R.I.P., Bertie Stewart, R.I.P., Bill Whoriskey, R.I.P. ,Tom Byrne, John “Whiskey” McGivney, R.I.P., Timmy Carroll, R.I.P., Paddy Power, R.I.P., Billy Bohan, Sean “Bunny” Dowling, R.I.P., John Davis, Mick Lennon, R.I.P., Alfie O’Donnell, R.I.P., Mick “ The Jet” O’Brien, R.I.P., Bob McSweeney, R.I.P., Paddy Power, R.I.P., Paddy Sullivan, Wilfie Cronin, Larry Ryan (81), and his Brothers Tommy Ryan, and Jimmy Ryan,(They also had a Brother Bob, who was a member of the Aer Corps), Michael(Murt) O’Brien, Noel Brannigan, R.I.P., Phil Grant, Joe Larkin, Pat “Seasca Do” Kelly, R.I.P., Richie McGrath, R.I.P., Johnny Hynes, R.I.P., Mick Breen (60), R.I.P. Frank Breen (40), Joe Burke, R.I.P., Christy Coady, (Christy was always very reliable), Paddy “The Whacker” O’Grady, R.I.P., Joey Kelly,(04) Michael Sixmith, Dec Ryan, R.I.P., Murt Phelan, R.I.P., Joe O’Leary(19), and his brother Tommy O’Leary (26), Johnny Jordan R.I.P., Noel Hanlon, Luke Roberts (42), and his Brother Noel Roberts (41), (R.I.P.), John Murphy (01) (Driver), Paddy Nugent, R.I.P., John Ronan, Jim Downey, Neil Gillespie, Jamesy Campbell, Dessie Mayall, Tom Watson, Dick McCarthy, Brendan Cullen, Frank “Mikey” Roche, R.I.P., Jack Connolly, Pat “The Old Sweat” Kelly, Tony McGovern, John Cunneen, Christy Cronin, Mickey Donohue, Pascal McBride, RI.P., Joe Burke, R.I.P., Liam Archbold, R.I.P., Seanie Whyte, R.I.P., Nicky Tobin, Tommy Tobin, Tom Purcell, R.I.P., Danny Tracey, Gene McCaughey, Davy Power, R.I.P., Martin Curran, Joey Browne, Paddy Fleming, R.I.P., Peter Quinn (23), Ned Lacey and his Brother Pat Lacey, Eamon Nolan, Charlie O’Regan, Grainne Cummins, Gerry Doyle, Dick Reid, Mick Brereton,Paul Fitzharris, Paul Howe, Jim Clarke, Paddy Farrell, The Delaney Family from the Curragh were very well represented;- Tony “Big Del” Delaney (07), Brendan Delaney (42), and Sean Delaney (21) . I think that they may have also had a Brother Declan who served in the Depot for a while ?? There were 2 other Delaney brothers from Newbridge – Pat Delaney, and “Miley” Delaney , (No relation) , Dan Whelan and his Brother – Johnnie Whelan, Paddy Nugent, R.I.P., Mousey Connolly, Harry Pearson, John Ronan, “Jack” Whelan (49), R.I.P., Gerry Ryan (56), and his Brother Paul, Pat Whelan,Tom Leslie, Finbar Reilly (51) and his Brother Paul, Tom Fennell, Tom Barnaville, Joe Body, Patsy Colbert, “Barney” Flanagan (91), Fintan Murray, R.I.P., John Fitzgerald, Peter Clifford and his Brother Tommy Clifford, Timmy Shanahan, RI.P., John Fitzpatrick, Johnny Corrigan, Tony Doyle, Mick Merrins, Tom Whelan (63), Pat Pender, Mick “The Gunner” O’Reilly, R.I.P., Jack Kelly and his Brother Martin, Denis Aylsbury, Mick Eccles, Sean Johnston, John Foley, John Malone, Tom McDermott, John Meehan, Christy Cronin, Pat Whelan, Gary Laffan, (A Member of the Wexford team that won the All-Ireland Hurling Final in 1996), Liam Stapleton, John Sheils, Andy Balfe, Jimmy Ruffley, Deccie Garret, Pat “Murdock” Maloney, Ollie McInerney,Terry Bergin, Terry O’Leary, Colm Walsh, Gerry Loftus, Pat Loftus, Tom Maxwell, Gordon Buckley, Andrew Vivash, Pat Wall, Timmy Touhy, John Smyth, The Commanding Officer when I joined the Unit was Lt. Col. B.A.J. Hanrahan, and the E.O. was Comdt, Whyte (Known to all as W.W.) R.I.P., , Capt. Luke Mullins, R.I.P., Capt “Ambie” Brophy, R.I.P., Comdt. Dan Donovan, Capt. John Gahan,R.I.P., Capt. Sean Berry, Capt. Macken, and Comdt. G.A. McCutchen R.I.P., and Capt. Mick Hughes who were in the Engineer School. And the Commanding Officers that I can remember afterwards were;- Lt. Col. Willie Whyte, R.I.P., Lt. Col. Jim Seward, Lt. Col. “Mossy” Shanahan, R.I.P., Lt. Col. Sean Doolan, R.I.P., Lt. Col. Larry Conran, Lt. Col. Gerry McCutcheon, R.I.P., Lt. Col. Gordon Birch, Lt. Col. Frank Kearney and Lt. Col. John Gahan. And the Staff Officers were Capt. Barry Studdert, Capt. J.J. O’Neill, Captain A.J. Carr, Capt. Colm Madigan, Capt “Ronnie” Bermingham, Capt Jim Foran, R.I.P., Capt Billy Enright, Lt. Col. Tony Kelly, R.I.P., Comdt. Martin Collins, Comdt. Peter Riordan, Comdt. Des Page, Comdt. Conor Furey, Comdt. Aidan Dempsey, Comdt. J.F. O’Driscoll, Comdt. Dominic Noone, Comdt. Eoin O’Riagain, Comdt. Maxie McCormick, Comdt Ciaran Spollen, Comdt. John Buckle, R.I.P. Comdt. Heffernan, Comdt. Eddie Fitzgerald, Comdt. Billy Donagh, Capt. Tony Byrne, Capt. O’Boyle, Capt. Seamus O’Sullivan, Capt. Marie Flynn, Capt. John Fitzmaurice, Capt. John McNamara, Comdt Pat Doogue(Tech Stores), Capt. Dave Doogue. And other Officers that I remember from the Field Company’s and the Director’s Office are Comdt. Gill, Comdt. MicK Gaffney, Comdt. Brian Hardwicke, Lt.Col Kenneddy, and Comdt. D.L. Murphy . I remember going on the Annual Corps Training Camp to Fort Camden in Crosshaven, Co. Cork in July 1968. It was very enjoyable, and most of the Unit attended it. I remember 2 of the Pubs there that we used to frequent during our stay;- “The Admiral Drake”, and “The Blue Dolphin” . I returned to Crosshaven last year to visit Fort Camden, but it was closed midweek, and it only opens on week-ends, as I think that it is now in the care of the Local Heritage Trust. I was a Member of the Basic Combat Engineer Course which was run at the Engineer School during July and August 1968. I was a member of the First Technician NCO Course, which was run by the G.T. Depot, McDonagh, and which was held in McDermott Barracks from September to December 1968. It was a short-course, as its duration was just 8 weeks . It comprised of Technicians from both the Defence Forces and the Air Corps. One of the the Officers on the Course was Capt. “Dougie” McManus , who was my Platoon Officer while I was in the Army Apprentice School. The NCO’s were from the G.T.D. as follows:- Billy Fitzpatrick, Ben Reilly, Fintan Morrisey, and Bill Lee. Sgt. Matt Murphy from Collins Bks Cork was also an Instructor on the Course. The Best-Soldier Award went to a member of Depot C.O.E. – Tom Burke . Tom retired from the P.D.F. around 1973. In those days, We had to work for the half-day on Saturday, you had to Parade on Saturday Morning for the Bath Parade and march to the “Bath House” in Ceannt Bks. The Field Engineer Platoon was formed in the early 1970’s . The original Platoon Officer was Lt.