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Post by andybrennan on Apr 17, 2009 23:00:17 GMT
Before I hit the scratcher,
who remembers the ally in the middle of the plains Brownstown side opposite Collins Stables , we as lads always thought that it was a firing range for the Churchill Tanks because after they were out on a run we would find what I remember as solid little black rubber tanks Churchill shape in or around that ally, does that strike a chord.
Also the burning of the furze same area up to Maddenstown when the prisoners escaped from the internment camp around mid to 1958 not sure of the date on that one but not hard to find on the Kildare Library Site
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Post by tommyhetherington on Apr 19, 2009 10:47:46 GMT
Hi Andy ,
I do rem the ball alley but it as in a bad state and never seen it used for handball
Tommy H
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Post by Matt McNamara on Apr 20, 2009 17:24:48 GMT
Hi Andy
I remember the alley well and many a day I played in and around it. As a nipper I often remember various army vehicles parked at the open end of the alley, but were never allowed to get close enough to see what they were doing. But when they left we always combed through the sand in the alley looking for the black rubber tanks. Never really knew what they were doing there, but I was talking to my brother Donal, a Calvary for almost 30 years and he was telling me that the Churchill and Comet tanks fired a small “Sub Calibre” round (.22 in size ) down the main barrel of the tank at the little rubber tanks. The little black rubber tanks would look like a real tank at 5 or 6 hundred yards through the gunner’s sights. So instead of firing the main gun they fired .22’s at the tanks. During the 1970’s and early 1980’s Donal and fellow Phanard AML 90 crews also used the “Range” to firer “Sub Calibre” rounds from the main gun and get it ready before going to the Glen of Imaal to fire the real thing.
All the best
Matt
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Post by andybrennan on Apr 20, 2009 20:28:32 GMT
Matt,
Thanks for that piece of info, wondering about the little rubber tanks since early 1950 now clarified.
cheers
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Post by Matt McNamara on Apr 20, 2009 20:39:35 GMT
Matt, Thanks for that piece of info, wondering about the little rubber tanks since early 1950 now clarified. cheers And the sad thing is that he has one or two somewhere in his garage and is taking a photo for the forum. Matt |
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Post by andybrennan on Apr 20, 2009 20:48:05 GMT
Matt , That might be sad but there would not be many of them around , well kept Donal Cheers lads
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