Memories Late 50s & Early 60s By AFCMoore

[afcmoore]

Hi. Everyone & a happy Christmas to one and all.
On the flight to the Congo with the 37th Batt we each received two twenty packs of senior service cigarettes.The cigs were free complements of the Irish red cross.Can you imagine that happening today? When we had all been billeted in the villas that had been vacated by the Belgians just outside of Elizbethville.When we went to the local shops we were amazed to find they sold senior service cigarettes When the packets were opened they all had a little slip inside them which read not for resale to be given free to the Irish troops serving in the Congo complements of the Red Cross. I wonder who was trying to protect our health God love them.Maybe somone who the tailor forgot to put lining in their pockets. Glad to say i gave up smoking 35yrs ago. cheers Anthony

[afcmoore]

Hi All.
One of the armour cars kept under the block at 1st Armour. I believe was used in the late 50s to make the Film Shake HandsWith The Devil starring James Cagney.We also had the the same armour in Elizabethville? The film was released in 1959 and another film with the same name has been released in 2007 but it is not a remake of the original. Cheers Anthony

[afcmoore]

Hi All.
I knew Matty Parle i think he was from Wexford ? I remember him doing a trick with his beer glass in Connolly wet canteen.He started to take bites of the glass and swallow it till half of the pint glass was gone. I remember while visiting the Curragh Camp in the 80s meeting him and he was the only i met that i knew from the early 60s. Matty never had a wire ring in his cap and always wore it in its natural condition. He must have been in the army well over thirty years.I just noticed from one of the other threads he has passed away.??I also think he was a electrician?? I do know he was quite a character.
Cheers Anthony

[afcmoore]

Hi Everyone Read between the lines.
In the 60s three bedford truck loads of ncos and young soldiers left the Curragh to go on manoeuvres to Duncannon Co Wexford. We had supplies with us to take a break at the halfway stage of our journey. When we made the stop for our fine dining the cook made tea in the dixies. We all sat down and had tea and sandwiches a smoke and the crack for an hour We continued on our journey and everyone started banging for the driver to stop .It was jump over the ditch undo belts braces and do what you had to do.The stops were many no sooner in the trucks till out again. The farmers ploughing looked in amazement to see all the soldiers jumping into their fields trying to make the soil better for the following year.The cook never washed the jell from the new dixies after taking them from the stores.He was charged i wont name him.I have to laugh when i think about it soldiers on the run.
Cheers Anthony

[afcmoore]

Hello Everyone.
I was assigned to the to the cookhouse at 4.30am to light the fires in the large cookers in Plunkett.The cookers had to be nice and hot before the orderly cook arrived to prepare breakfast for the men.The cook arrived it was a Friday because kippers were going to be served. The cook went in to the larder to get the kippers and returned with a cat by the scruff of the neck. He opened the cooker which was now red hot and threw the cat in and another cat received the same faith.The small window to the larder had had been open to let air in. The cats had got in and eaten all the kippers. I could not stop him it happen so quick. I could not report him as in those days in the army you didn't blow the whistle .It was a terrible cruel think to do.
Cheers Anthony.

[afcmoore]

Hiya Everyone.
When i joined as a recruit in 61 they liked you to have a short back and sides. One of the young recruits in our platoon went to the barber and asked for an army no1. He came back with a skinhead hair cut. Some of us thought lets get the same for a laugh. Three others and myself got the no 1. Someone must have told the C.S. because we were asked to remove our caps on parade. Right he said i dont want anyone else to get this type of hair cut. I wonder was he worried about the recruiting drive at the time.
Skinheads in the 60s.
Cheerio Anthony.

[afcmoore]

Hiya One And All.
When i joined up we had the staff of life quarter of a small pan loaf with a little square of butter on top. I m sure many of you can remember that in the 60s?? The old soldiers used to say to us youngsters they joined when the flag was flying not the loaf. That was a slice and a half of bread.Just think what you had to look forward to after running to Donnellys hollow and back and P.T.S.
Cheers Anthony.

[afcmoore]

Hi Everyone.
While stationed in Plunkett Bks i knew two soldiers of the same name. They resided at different ares of the Bks and were not well acquainted with each other. They worked at different jobs Then one day they got talking and discovered that they were both adopted when they were young. When they traced were they came from they found out they were brothers .They were in the Barracks for three years before they made the discovery.
Cheers Anthony.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Everyone,

Was just wondering do the lads still get CB for what are minor offences, and is there still fire picket duty?

Rose.

[afcmoore]

Hi Rose.
I can remember getting CB but that was back in the 60s. I also did guard at Plunkett and the magazine as for fire dutys i think they had a perment crew. I have lived in London for nearly 50yrs. I found this site by chance and its great .Did you know Jerry Sparrow Cprl Gilldy or Jilldy Colman stationed at McDonagh Bks
Cheers Anthony.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi,

Yes I do remember Gildy Coleman was reared in A block and they lived in B block in McDonagh MQRS, don't know if you came across my Dad RIP, he was in the Depot from he joined the Army until about 66 when he was promoted to CS and transferred to the 3rd Bat in Connolly Bks., Mick Smith was his name.

Rose.

[afcmoore]

Hi Rose.
I cant say i remember your Dad. I joined in 61 did my training at McDonagh and was transferred to the 1st Armour Sqn at Plunkett Bks.I left the Army in 64 and came to London. I have met quite a few people in London over the years that i served with in the Curragh. Some of the Soldiers i remember from McDonagh are Sgnt Maj Dillon, C.S Farry Cs Ambrose,Sgnt Georgie O Brian, Sgnt Fizsimmons, Cook Sgnt Bolger ,Cpl Meanie Cpl Mick leigh or Lee , Cpl John Brodrick
now living in Wembley. I mustn't forget the Curraghs Molly Malone Mrs Burke and her donkey she should have a Plaque set up in her honour.
Cheers Anthony.

[tommyhetherington]

Hi Anthony,
Funny you should mention Mrs Burke as a friend contacted me recently and her Dad has a photo of said lady I will try to have it on the forum soon.
A belated Happy Birthday hope you had a god one
Tommy H

[afcmoore]

Hi Tommy.
Mrs use to to tie her donkey under the stairs and sound the metal triangle.She would sit on ground with cushion under under her and a blanket to keep her knees warm. I think it was the corner of the of the first block of McDonagh where she would sell her sweets ect.She told me she had been there since the time of the british. She was one lovely old lady but if you owed her money she could bellow louder than any SGNT MAJ.I would love to see the photo and she is a big part of the Curragh Camp history.Yeah i had a great brithday thanks.
Cheers A

[afcmoore]

Hi Tommy
The mind is going or may its the heat Mrs Burke

Cheers Antoin O Morda