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Post by maryfarrell6 on Jul 8, 2011 18:43:14 GMT
Hi Nick, Best of Luck with your family reunion hope ye all have a whale of a time catching hope it all goes well for ye. Maybe you can encourage them to have a look in on the forum from time to time the more the merrier! Regards to all Maryf
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Post by jjcurran on Jul 8, 2011 23:55:29 GMT
Hi all, I just thought I’d share an adventure (one of many) I had while growing up on the Curragh. When people ask what was it like, living on the Curragh, I usually fob them off as I do not believe I could convey the richness and excitement of the experience. Making our way to school listening to machinegun fire on the ranges and perhaps passing the Landsverk armoured cars or even the comet tanks was for us part of the wonderful exciting experience of living on the Curragh. To illustrate the sense of adventure which was part of our daily lives I must recount one incident which I remember but rarely speak of, for fear that people would send for the men in the white coats.
Liam Heffernan, Michael Kelly (McDonagh) and myself used to play in an old air raid shelter which was situated behind the water tower just at the end of a plantation. The problem was that in order to get into the shelter we had to squeeze in via the slit window openings which had a piece of metal pipe sticking up in the centre which usually caught in our clothes. Getting out was even more difficult as we had to climb up to the window. Some spoilsport had covered over the normal entrance with a concrete slab about a foot thick and three feet square, in a vain attempt to keep us out.
This is where the story gets interesting. One day while playing on the swings which formed part of an assault course located in front of the pumping station, we found a hand-grenade. The old Mills 36. We couldn’t believe our luck as we felt we could put it to good use. We decided we would use it to blow-up the concrete slab from the air-raid shelter, which would then allow easy access at our leisure. (The courage of innocence springs to mind).
We proceeded to the shelter and placed the grenade on the concrete slab, pulled the pin and ran like hell to take cover. We waited for the bang...and waited...and waited. To our utter disgust there was no bang. We spent at least half an hour discussing who would do ‘Kevin Barry’ and go and see what was wrong. In the end we all went forward together to carry out a forensic examination of the failure. We retrieved the grenade lever and pin and reassembled it. Then we again pulled the pin a second time and ran for cover (how innocent can you get). We held our breadth in anticipation of a success but alas there was no bang. At this stage I’m sure some of you reading this have realised the nature of our problem. The grenade was what is called a DP (drill purpose) and was in fact harmless. On our way home up past the Marian Shrine, and down by Eason’s shop, we were tossing the grenade to each other when we noticed BSM Clohessy who lived opposite Easons, eyeing us with a look of disbelief. We decided to act the innocent and gave him the grenade after he gave us the third degree of questions. He said he would take care of it. I suppose some unfortunate corporal got a dressing down for mislaying the grenade. Sorry that this story is a bit long winded but I must compliment myself. My typing skills have improved almost to high infant standard. Regards JJ
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Post by jjcurran on Jul 9, 2011 10:05:53 GMT
Hi Andy, With regard to the transformer stampings, maybe we were all dyslexic as if you turned the ‘E’s upside down they would be ‘W’s. As I recall, every second one was a ‘C’ or was it an ‘N’ or maybe a ‘U’. I wonder if you ever saw Mr. Bean looking at the X-Rays of his teeth. The same dilemma applies. Regards JJ
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Post by charlie004 on Jul 9, 2011 15:15:59 GMT
Hi JJ,I always wondered were that granade of mine ended up.Really though,another great story and very enjoyable.Keep them coming. Charlie.
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Post by nickey on Jul 9, 2011 21:59:16 GMT
Hi JJ A great story and nicely told. Well done and keep it up. When an exercise was completed, the army was always so meticulous when gathering up its equipment, especially weaponry. But it didn't always achieve its goal. I can remember collecting tiny rubber tanks on a Saturday afternoon when the tank units finished training on the Brownstown side of the Curragh on Saturday mornings. I can also remember collecting empty bullet cases on the rifle range and finding an occasional live one. No matter how thorough their tidying up was and it certainly was thorough, they nearly always missed something,even grenades, which you JJ can give testament to. Best wishes, Nick Cunningham
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 9, 2011 22:22:25 GMT
Tis true J.J.
Those stamps and I think there were also round ones aswell as single ones, a lot of time would be occupied making different words i.e. wow. non. no. and figure spelling etc i.e one
Andy
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 9, 2011 22:41:25 GMT
J.J Another fine told story re the out posts and finding the grenade, live or drill makes no matter ye were not to know, the consequences if live could have being terrible.
I also remember finding bandoleers of ammunition in the sewage farm and my self and some of the guys I was knocking around with at the time much the same as your self we had our favorite gun post the one at the bottom of the trees old magazine side, in autumn we would fill it up with the nice golden crisp leaves of fall and hang out in it.
We decided to take the powder from the rounds an placed it in a tin with a home made fuse, which we lit and scampered the only thing major that happened was set the leaves on fire.
the little gang at that time were Jimmy Gray, Dessie Hayes, Patsy Rice and Johnny Nolan (R.I.P.)
As I said we would be in what we thought was our exclusive camp smoking the Woodbines and telling lies with a passion shure we nearly believed them ourselves
The little gangs would change often, but good auld memories.
The next experience with ammo was when I was in Signals it was common when there was a snap inspection that a few rounds would be tossed into the pot belly stove to coincide with the entrance of the orderly officer and RSM.
On one occasion when the RSM entered the billet shouting "stand by your beds " to an empty room, on entering a drill grenade came through the window and the RSM threw himself on it to protect the Orderly Officer. Strange Days
Andy
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 9, 2011 22:49:45 GMT
Hi Nick,
I hope reunion / gathering of the clan went well today.
I noted passing through the Camp to day a bit of a gathering at the now gone P.A hut opposite also gone picture house a fine bunch of chaps, they stood out in white shirts that Daz extra whiteness would have being proud of,
You / yes /no
Andy
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Post by nickey on Jul 10, 2011 20:49:02 GMT
Hi Andy. Unfortunately, a brother and sister missed their flights from London and our reunion, as planned, couldn't take place. I would love to say YES, we were the ones in the whiter than white shirts loitering around the place, but no, it wasn't us. My brother and my wife and I, did take a quick browse around the camp though. The only time we set foot on the Curragh to day was at the church, where we had the privilige of meeting two beautiful Curragh ladies. I dont think it will be possible to reschedule the re union for this year. Best wishes, Nick Cunningham. I am not sure if we can re schedule
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 11, 2011 6:53:45 GMT
Nick.
Sorry to hear reunion did not go ahead, "best laid plans of mice and men" and all that stuff,. No matter as Johnny Logan sang "whats another year".
At least you set foot on the ground of our Tir Na Nóg, and set foot inside the church, Did you ever carve or scratch your name as a chap on the seats in the church, I remember the old seats not just in our church in the camp but other ones often carried a name or message.
The school ones did, as did many a tree, we must have been graffiti artists without knowing it
Andy
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Post by nickey on Jul 11, 2011 16:41:47 GMT
Hi Andy. Thank you. In relation to graffiti, I have no recollection of scratching my initails into the church furniture. That is not to say that I didn't, because I probably did, I just don't remember doing it. I do remember though, painting my initials on the end wall of Clarke Warrant Officers at the Ceannt side when I was very young. My intention at the time, was to paint NCXXXXAD (Anne Douglas) but I ran out of paint. God only knows what or where I would have painted next, had my tin not run out of paint. I haven't seen that piece of graffiti for some time now, but I am told that it is still very visible. It must have been great paint to survive exposure to the elements for nearly 60 years. I was obviously a potential graffiti artist, but some how or other, I didn't make the grade TG. Best wishes, Nick Cunningham
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Post by annemcnamara on Jul 11, 2011 16:54:22 GMT
Hi Nick, great to meet you and your wife after Mass on the Curragh yesterday. What a pity your plans did'nt come to fruition, perhaps next time! I was amazed how quickly Marie Cramer remembered you and recalled seeing you in Newbridge in your Garda uniform many moons ago. Best wishes, Anne.
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Post by livenowpraylater on Jul 11, 2011 23:34:52 GMT
Yes i remember the fires on the Curragh planes at closing time, myself -62 Kelly - Cpl power-Jack Southern-John Brennan (later joined the MPs) Mick deniff Maz Coyne, and others was great fun for the culprits to watch, not so great to have to put out , land rover didn't carry enough water (60gal) to put out a fag let alone a grass/firs fire, as you were putting the fire out with a long pole with a square of leather nailed to it you were breathing in the ash and smoke , curragh memories,
Cheers Ned.
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 12, 2011 6:40:52 GMT
Hi Nick.
Not only a musician but a potential artist with oils or spray can.
Can you remember the brand of paint I could use some of that the stuff they sell now a days only last a couple of years then the whole job has to be repeated.
I would have placed a bet that one of the ladies you met on Sunday was indeed Marie.
And at any rate aren't you paying a visit to the camp and its environs every time you log on here.
Andy
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Post by nickey on Jul 12, 2011 21:10:34 GMT
Hi Anne I was disappointed that the planned Cunningham get together didn't happen. I was consoled though, by my chance meeting with yourself and Marie. It never occurred to me that you and Matt are related. It also didn't register with me that the young boy who died so tragically all those years ago was your beloved brother. I very clearly remember the numbness throughout the Curragh at the time. It was as if the lights had dimmed. I can also recall us selfish and thoughtless lads wondering and asking, "when will everything return to normal". Life did return to normal eventually, because all tragic and regrettable disruptions have to. I hope that in the intervening years, all of your family had loads of good luck and happiness.
I was surprised and slightly amused that Marie remembered coming across me on the street over 40 years ago. I didn't remember the occasion at first, but when she reminded me, it became clear and I remembered. When I saw Marie beside the car with you, I instantly recognised her. With the exception of the years behind us, she hasn't changed one bit. Best wishes, Nick Cunningham.
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